Re: [Hornlist] RE: Best Schools, competition Means Nothing, and actually
So, you want to be a "pro." Here's what I recommend: 1. Pick 5 or 6 schools that look good to you and apply for scholarships to them. 2. Go the one that gives you the a free ride. A BM in performance is a useless degree and has the lowest academic standing so don't pay for it. If you are going to pay, major in something else or music education but pursue the horn on your own, maybe study with the teacher there if he/she is good and play in ensembles. If you don't get any professional opportunities, you can at least fall back on your other degree. Also, looks very good for grad school applications where you might go and "find yourself." 3. If you do get a free ride, WORK YOUR ASS OFF if you expect to be the least bit competitive when you graduate. Just remember that the whole idea is to get better than everyone else. You won't, but at least you'll probably have entry-level skills and self confidence. Expect to take auditions into double digits until you get a living wage job or wait around for years in a big city to get enough freelancing and teaching to make a decent living. A lot of it is just plain luck: right place, right time. Expect a lot of disapointments and much frustration. If you do get a symphony gig, that's when the real trouble starts: working WITH some real jackasses at times and working FOR mostly IDIOTS! Kendall Betts BM, 1969, Curtis Institute of Music (non-accredited but it was FREE) Working musician since 1965 Half scholarship/half tuition academic student, earned half of credits for BS, University of Pennsylvania, 1967 Business man since 1965 Horn/music instructor since 1967 Misoptimist since birth "Get the right notes, the right rhythm and don't play too loud. It's a business." Mason Jones, 1965 ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
[Hornlist] RE: Best Schools, competition Means Nothing, and actually
When I was getting ready to go to college, many years ago, I got some tidbits of advice that I believe, turned out to be true and useful. If there's ANYTHING other than music that you think you might be interested in, do that instead. Music takes TOTAL commitment. Find a teacher who has MANY students playing professionally. That's what YOU want to do, right? You'll learn at least as much from your fellow classmates as you will from the professors, the better your classmates, the more you'll learn. - Steve Mumford ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
RE: [Hornlist] RE: Best Schools, competition Means Nothing, and actually two school lists.
Debbie Schmidt wrote: > On 4/30/07 8:13 AM, "Steve Freides" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > I recall a horn player who had been accepted at both Juilliard and > > Mannes - she went to Mannes because she got a full scholarship, and > > because she got to study with the same teacher as she would have at > > Juilliard. > > Steve, The teacher is a very important part of this process > but the quality of the other musicians in a teachers studio, > the quality of the orchestra and the quality of "skills > training" are all factors. The string players at Juilliard > are truly special so the quality of the orchestras is high > and thus the rep choices vast. Just like business school > those friendships and networking chances you have in > undergrad school are priceless as you progress in a performing career. > > I am not saying this person made the wrong choice for them, I > am saying that there are a lot of additional factors to look > at when you talk about schools and specifically the NYC schools. I agree completely, Debbie. In fact, my reasons for attending Mannes as a student were quite the opposite. I didn't really know my teacher but I didn't really care as much about that as I did the quality of the school. I was a very into the study of music theory, wanted to learn to read clefs, etc., at the time, and Mannes was a fantastic place for that sort of thing, and still is, which is why I went there. I didn't mean to mention the horn player story as an endorsement, just as a story I remembered. -S- ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
Re: [Hornlist] RE: Best Schools, competition Means Nothing, and actually two school lists.
I have to agree with Debbie. I went to the University of Texas at Austin, and while I found Wayne Barrington a great teacher and loved my time studing with him( he is now retired ), the orchestra at the school at times was well, terrible. The Wind Ensemble under Jerry Junkin was wonderful, even when some sections were weaker, he always found a way to make the group sound great and is joy to play for. Hopefully the orchestra is better know. I know I would of loved it if all the instrumental studios could at least produce enough quality players to fill out an orchestra. But that wasn't always the case. Being a good to great player at a school without many other quality players isn't very enjoyable. For me, I lived for playing in quality ensembles, it was at times a spiritual event for me. So my suggestion is to yes, find a quaility teacher, but equally consider the quality of the other studios, it will make your time at the school allot more enjoyable. -James - Original Message From: Debbie Schmidt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: The Horn List Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 7:53:00 AM Subject: Re: [Hornlist] RE: Best Schools, competition Means Nothing, and actually two school lists. On 4/30/07 8:13 AM, "Steve Freides" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I recall a horn player who had been accepted at > both Juilliard and Mannes - she went to Mannes because she got a full > scholarship, and because she got to study with the same teacher as she would > have at Juilliard. Steve, The teacher is a very important part of this process but the quality of the other musicians in a teachers studio, the quality of the orchestra and the quality of "skills training" are all factors. The string players at Juilliard are truly special so the quality of the orchestras is high and thus the rep choices vast. Just like business school those friendships and networking chances you have in undergrad school are priceless as you progress in a performing career. I am not saying this person made the wrong choice for them, I am saying that there are a lot of additional factors to look at when you talk about schools and specifically the NYC schools. Debbie Schmidt Tisch Center for the Performing Arts ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/ndspmustang%40yahoo.com __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
Re: [Hornlist] RE: Best Schools, competition Means Nothing, and actually two school lists.
On 4/30/07 8:13 AM, "Steve Freides" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I recall a horn player who had been accepted at > both Juilliard and Mannes - she went to Mannes because she got a full > scholarship, and because she got to study with the same teacher as she would > have at Juilliard. Steve, The teacher is a very important part of this process but the quality of the other musicians in a teachers studio, the quality of the orchestra and the quality of "skills training" are all factors. The string players at Juilliard are truly special so the quality of the orchestras is high and thus the rep choices vast. Just like business school those friendships and networking chances you have in undergrad school are priceless as you progress in a performing career. I am not saying this person made the wrong choice for them, I am saying that there are a lot of additional factors to look at when you talk about schools and specifically the NYC schools. Debbie Schmidt Tisch Center for the Performing Arts ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
RE: [Hornlist] RE: Best Schools, competition Means Nothing, and actually two school lists.
Matthew Scheffelman wrote: -snip- > Many schools have grad assistants teaching theory and other > undergrad courses. Find a school that limits this practice > severely. Some larger universities have grad students even > teaching horn students. This is not a bad thing unless you > are a performance major, which you said you are pursuing. > Just so you know... I was shocked to find this at the school at which I did my doctoral degree - undergraduates studied their major instrument with graduate students. They had to petition the department to get to study with an actual faculty member and this was granted only rarely. Another wrinkle I've come across that wouldn't even have occured to me, had I not seen it firsthand: teachers are assigned specific course numbers in private instruction, and therefore one might have a different major teacher every semester because, e.g., faculty member 'A' is teaching Horn I but not Horn II while the opposite is true for faculty member 'B'. This is not typical practice at schools with big performance programs but it does happen at other kinds of school that have music departments. -snip- > 3. Then, in no order, all the other New York area schools, > Eastman, Manhattan school of music, Mannes, Yale, Hartt, all > the SUNY schools. > David Jolley teaches at many and he is by far one of the best > teachers in the world. Many of the teachers at Julliard teach > at these schools. Eric Ralske teaches at Manhattan. Many > other variables When I was an undergraduate, I recall a horn player who had been accepted at both Juilliard and Mannes - she went to Mannes because she got a full scholarship, and because she got to study with the same teacher as she would have at Juilliard. -S- ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
[Hornlist] RE: Best Schools, competition Means Nothing, and actually two school lists.
Competition should not be used as a factor in deciding which music school to attend. Only how far a you want to take your playing should be your concern. What you have to offer as a horn player means more than winning or losing. As for choosing a school, Teacher then... location, location, location. Scholarships exist, so if you are a prepared student and have put in the practice, you may not have to pay for school. So why not try to go to the best? Do not settle with staying at home just because of money either. Get out of the house. Even a hour away from home will get you into a apartment and out of the family unit so you can understand and learn about yourself as a horn player. Learning about yourself outside the family unit may even be more important than anything else in this day and age. FInd a teacher with a defined system of musical (horn) development, strict routine, strong and objective listening abilities (very important) with a established institution backing them, these things will put you in a position to succeed with your goals. Many schools have grad assistants teaching theory and other undergrad courses. Find a school that limits this practice severely. Some larger universities have grad students even teaching horn students. This is not a bad thing unless you are a performance major, which you said you are pursuing. Just so you know... Here is a basic list of some of the best schools in the USA, also, two lists based on styles of horn playing. All VERY well rounded teachers, but these styles do exist. Five in no order, 1. Julliard, all the teachers at Julliard are some of the best horn teachers and players in the world. A great place for the most serious music students. Too bad David Jolley does not teach thereas David is far and away one of the best teachers in the world. Julie Landsman, Ranier Deintins, Jerome Ashby, David Wakefield, Bill Purvis, superstar faculty. 2. Curtis Institute, same comment as above. 3. Then, in no order, all the other New York area schools, Eastman, Manhattan school of music, Mannes, Yale, Hartt, all the SUNY schools. David Jolley teaches at many and he is by far one of the best teachers in the world. Many of the teachers at Julliard teach at these schools. Eric Ralske teaches at Manhattan. Many other variables 4. all the top Texas Schools. Some of the best Brass programs in the world, hands down. Besides the great horn departments, the brass rock there. check them out to learn more. 5. There are many Universities and schools throughout the country with amazing teachers and programs, promoting a well rounded player. Find a teacher you like. I teach at one. Colorado State University, Fort Collins. the above are, in the American, Met opera, LA studios, Pit, Broadway, ballet, chamber music specialists typical sound ( Bill Purvis also teaches at Julliard and Yale, he is a more European and a very well rounded type player/teacher) or other teachers. Below, are the more European, Chicago style of playing (still well rounded, no extremes),in no particular order. 1.Northwestern University in the Chicago area. Gail Williams is a great teacher and her students always impress me with their level of musicianship and attitude. 2. Boston University, Eric Ruske is one of the best horn teachers/players in the world. 3. NEC, New England Conservatory, Boston. Jamie Summerville is a great player and I hear a great teacher. 4. San Fransisco Conservatory of music, Bob Ward is leading the horns, a great teacher. SFC has been known in the past as a great place for getting your Masters. 5. There are many universities and schools in the USA with great programs catered to developing this Chicago/euro sound and well rounded sounding horn players. Again, I teach at one, CSU, Fort Collins There is not just one path to the beauty of becoming a concert artist. Have fun more than anything because if you are blessed with good horn playing skills, it is a fun life. No need suffering like most other professions. There are many bitter and pissy musicians out there too, but you can manifest your own destiny and happiness offering in music. All the best, Matthew __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
