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Question: As a music major, should I transfer from my university to a conservatory!?
I'm 18, a flutist, and about to be a freshman in college at a local university who gave me a huge scholarship to go there (it wasn't my first choice)!. I took most of the same auditions everyone else hoping to get into a good music school did (live auditions from USC to Juilliard), and was hoping to go to a conservatory so I could focus on my music studies!.

As it ended up, I'm going to this school, where I'm pretty much the only flute, which is both a good thing and a bad thing!. I will have many more performing opportunities than other freshman music people, but I'm worried that the lack of competition will leave me behind everone else!. Colburn was my top choice, and I was wondering if I should try to transfer there in a year or two!.

I'd love to study just music, but I'm actually kind of excited to go to a real university (the music program has the title conservatory, but it's not the same)!. Will it give me a disadvantage, should I try to transfer!? Or is it what you do with it!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
As someone who also went to a university rather than a conservatory, I can relate!. But I really must say that the money matters more than you'd think!.

When you graduate with a performance degree, it's going to take some time before you're earning enough income to live on, and musicians really don't have huge earning potential!. You will basically be self-employed!. Even if you get a job, it most likely won't be in music and will probably not pay very well, since it's not your specialty!. It's a huge burden when you graduate--and you need a good five years before you start earning even a reasonable amount of money-- to pay college loans!. You're going to need to pay rent, possibly for a car, and bills when you graduate!. The less college loan you have, the better!. Then you may even have enough money to pay for advertising, self-promotion, etc!. that goes into being a self-employed musician!.

However, your personality and how you do in certain environments could play into your decision!. I personally could not thrive in a small environment like that--I need competition because I am an extrovert!. I need people egging me on!. But if you are not like that and can stay very focused regardless of who's around you, you will do fine, and since you'll have a lot of performance experience, you'll have many opportunities you may not have at a conservatory!. You can be #1 there, whereas you'd be another face in the crowd at a conservatory!. There are actually several well-known flutists who went to tiny colleges, but they had good teachers and are now great (I can't think fo their names right now, but I read about at least one of the in Flute Talk magazine)!. In fact, the second flutist in the Philharmonic of my city, which has a well-known orchestra, did not go to a conservatory!.

do your master's at a more prominent music school!. I know it's early to start thinking about it, but prepare by taking lessons from a prominent teacher, and it helps if you can take from the person teaching at the school!. Definitely go and meet with the teacher(s) a good amount of time before even applying and tell them you're interested in going there!. I wish someone would have told me this--which is why I'm telling you! Good luck with your decision!Www@QuestionHome@Com

If this University who gave you the scholarship has
a music department it will have a good / sufficient curriculum for you to prepare your music major!.
If I were in your position ( "hugh scholarship") I will
finish my undergraduate studies there and then
go for my specialty in the field of music at a music
conservatory!.
A Bachelor's degree in arts or science is a good background as well as gives you and edge in being accepted for an advance (MA)degree in a top conservatory!.
Most of the professional teachers/musicians I know have advance degree in music (BA + MA)!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

If you are a gifted musician, it really doesn't matter what school you attend!. When it comes to orchestral auditions, most take place behind a screen!. So, you either have it, or you don't!.

A music conservatory will educate you in the art of performance, literature, music theory, etc!. Generally, the academic courses are overshadowed by the music and arts courses!. When you graduate, you receive either a Bachelor of Music diploma, or a Bachelor of Fine Arts/Arts diploma!.

A Bachelor of Arts, or a Bachelor of Sciences diploma is generally indicative of a more well-rounded academic education!. If you want to be a music teacher, a degree from a conservatory isn't as likely to be the best choice in the eyes of school district administrators, when it comes to being hired!. Sad, but true!.

Being a musician is a lifestyle choice!. Unless you possess the talent to play in a major orchestra, you are likely to become what is commonly referred to as a starving artist!. What that truly means is that you will need to supplement the income that you gain through your performance career with either a musical or non-musical second career!.

Getting your academics out of the way at a university, after two years, and then transferring to a conservatory is a good choice, in my opinion!. Either way, you will need to achieve very good grades to make sure that you can transfer as many hours as possible!.

Best of luck to you!Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think I have to agree with Hombre above me!. It has a lot to do with what you plan to do with your degree!.

At the conservatory, there is definitely a much greater emphasis on musical skills and departmental literature (like learning all the correct orchestral excerpts and such) and a much bigger emphasis on performance and playing!. If you are thinking about heading down a performance stream, this may be a better choice for you!.

As a music ed major myself, I have to also say that music at a major university isn't exactly like an arts and science degree either!. You didn't say if you were heading into a Bachelor of Music degree, or if it would be a sort of Arts Major/Music Minor kind of thing!. If it is a BMus program, like the one I'm currently in, you'll find that the arts and science credits really aren't too difficult to juggle!. In a way, I found it kind of nice to get my head out of the practice rooms for a little bit and do some work that wasn't related to Sonata analysis for a while!. I honestly couldn't say what it would be like if the situation were a different way!. From a teaching perspective though, I would also recommend this kind of degree !.

Best of luck in whatever you decide, I'm sure it'll be the right decision in the end!.Www@QuestionHome@Com