This is the time of year when students are making choices about where to audition and soon the choice will be deciding which school they want to attend. It can be an intense process with many details as there are applications to the university and auditions in front of faculty. Students and families face huge decisions that shape their futures.
Perhaps I can offer a perspective of value as someone who has taught at six different universities—three of them state flagship institutions. First I would like to outline the similarities and differences between various accredited music schools.
SIMILARITIES
-Rigorous Schedule
Students at all music schools take A LOT of classes—many are time consuming and for little or no credit hours.
-Curriculum
Students at various universities take essentially the same courses. They may have slightly different titles, but the coursework is generally similar between schools.
-Expectations
Students everywhere have to pass Ear Training, Music History, Theory, Class Piano, etc. Generally students give a final “Senior Recital” to display their performance skills.
THE DIFFERENCES
The differences between schools can be the determining factor for students. These are the most important factors to consider when making your decisions. Remember—a college or university is more about the students and faculty than it is about the name, the facilities, or the location.
-Faculty
This is one of the most important aspects of the decision process for incoming students. The faculty need to not only be respected in their field, but they need to be personable, approachable, and affable. Students need to meet the faculty, have sample lessons, have conversations, ask questions, and interact to get a feel for what the relationship will be like for eight semesters. The identity of the school is the people in it, so faculty play a huge role in the student experience.
-Programs offered
Here is an example—Some schools offer degrees in Jazz Studies and some do not. The advantage of a school with a Jazz/Commercial degree is that there are existing courses that give supplemental training in the jazz area.
-Level of Musicality
Listen to the students—go to concerts, listen on social media, find albums and recordings, and go hear rehearsals. The students and their achievement is a great indicator of what is happening on a day-to-day basis.
-Price
Be cautious of perceiving the value of the instruction as being connected with the price. Just because a school costs less does not mean that the instruction is subpar. Just because a school has a higher cost does not mean that the degree holds more value.
-Feel/Mood
Get yourself on campus and gauge the mood of the students. Are they happy? Ask several students about their overall experience.
-Ensembles
The ensembles differ from one school to another. Are there jazz combos or just a big band? Are the jazz combos being coached by faculty and perform regularly? Are there unique ensembles that aren’t band or orchestra—Brazilian, African, Gospel Choir, etc.? What small ensemble opportunities are available?
-Student achievement
What do the students sound like? Are alumni getting gigs or going to graduate school?