HOW DO I CHOOSE A SCHOOL?

 

First of all, do your homework. You are going to need to do some research. Start by asking yourself some questions:

 

*What are my goals in higher education?
*Would I be happier at a conservatory, focusing strictly on music; or would I be better off getting an undergraduate degree at a university where I can get a more rounded education?
*Would I be better suited to a big school or a small one? Big city or smaller?
*How far away from home am I willing to live?
*How much money do I have to spend, and where can I get scholarships?
*Do the schools I am interested in have voice teachers who I want to study with and who are willing to take me on?
*Do the school and the community it's in offer sufficient performing opportunities?

 

For people who want to be performers, the most important choice is the teacher, not the school. To make connections with teachers, you need to visit the schools you're interested in and take a sample lesson; and also observe other people's lessons and studio classes. You can also participate in summer workshops, where you get more time to work with teachers. Aspen, Tanglewood, Brevard, and the Seagle Colony all offer programs for high school kids, I believe; and they are all reputable programs. You must research pay-to-sing programs carefully as they are not all honest.

 

To research colleges and teachers, here are some resources:

 

National Association of Teachers of Singing
www.nats.org

 

US News and World Report listing of top US music programs
www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/beyond/bcarts.htm

 

Classical Singer Magazine
www.classicalsinger.com
(Check out their reports on pay-to-sings and music schools; also, request a back issue of the University/Conservatory issue. Also check out the forum and ask the singers there for their recommendations.)

 

Opera America
www.operaam.org

 

The New Forum for Classical Singers
www.nfcs.net
(Another excellent forum of professional and student singers, who will be glad to tell you about their schools and experiences).

 

There is an excellent article about choosing teachers on David Jones' website:
http://www.voiceteacher.com./finding_teacher.html

 

Some of the top schools include Eastman, Curtis Institute, Julliard, University of Indiana, University of Texas, University of Michigan, Oberlin, New England Conservatory, and Northwestern University. They are all very different and a lot of what you get out of them is going to depend on what environment suits you best, and whether you really connect with your teacher. Your education and the training of your voice is YOUR responsibility, so choose wisely. Don't be afraid to re-evaluate whether the school and teacher you've chose are meeting your goals, and don't be afraid to make changes if your goals aren't being met.