It seems like just yesterday when I was perusing these boards four years ago as a high school student getting ready to mail out his conservatory applications. I remember the large amount of positive advice and feedback from other students going through the same thing and those that had went through it. I was happy to have stayed on PW this long.....as I'm now at a new juncture....

Grad School.

These years so far at the Manhattan School have been, for the most part, invaluable for the foundation they have give me as a musician and human being. I am happy with my teacher, the environment, and having New York City at my disposal. If I had a choice, I would want to continue and get my masters degree here, already being comfortable with the environment and teachers. But the tuition keeps me back. Despite the financial aid I already have and anymore they may be willing to give, 50,000 dollars a year is just more than I am able to cope with.

So given that the facts be what they may.....Here is a very tentative list of schools I am planning to audition at in 2009. Any input about anyone who has had any experience at any of them or knows anything about them, please speak up:

University of Southern California (USC)
University of Maryland, College Park
Mannes College of Music
San Francisco Conservatory
Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music
University of Michigan School of Music
Peabody Conservatory of Music
Montclair state university, NJ
SUNY Stony Brook, New York

Give or take a few...this is my, for now, tentative audition list of schools. They have been chosen by the prime consideration of, from what I hear, being schools that are generous in their awarding of financial aid, or offer a lot of graduate assistantships and teaching positions, and or course, the all inclusive costs are less than 50K per year. Since I have a few months, I'm sure some other places will gradually become part of the list and others will slide off, but I'm interested in hearing what people have to say about these places.

Any other advice would be helpful, suggestions about the transition from undergrad to grad school, other possible ways to deal with tuition costs, etc.

Thank you again Piano World, long time confidant

IMO, you can strike Mannes, San Fran, and USC from the list. If you're going to go back to the West Coast, I would say that the way to go would be to do a MM somewhere else and then go to Colburn for an Artist Diploma.

I have a friend who worked with Slobodyanik, and he had nothing but great things to say (after all, the guy has played everywhere and with everyone), so Montclair might be a good bet. It's an underdog choice, but you could learn a ton from him.

If you're going fom SUNY, there's a better chance of getting into Dahl's studio than Kalish's. They team-teach, so you might get some lessons with him.

IU has tons of assistantship money, but there are about 350-400 piano majors. Depends on you how much that bothers you. Shaw, Cohen, and Battersby are where it's at. Pressler...well, it's pretty competitive to get into his studio, and perhaps even moreso now since he might retire soon.

Also keep in mind that Yale is free. They only take 1-3 new pianists a year, though.

Why not Juilliard? That Mr. Lowenthal is amazing goes without saying. The cost is a factor, but from what I hear they are more generous with grad scholarships than undergrad.

I'm wondering if you're giving up on
a concert career. I would think
that you should give it a try. If you
don't have the repertoire for it at
this point, that is, several concertos
solidly memorized, then you'd just need
to accumulate it over time, and maybe go
on tour when you're older rather then
right now.

If you're worried about money, then just
getting a terminal masters degree makes
no sense, as it wouldn't add much to the
credentials you already have, and you
wouldn't be able to teach at the college
level with only a masters. Therefore,
I would suggest going out an getting
some job--maybe not even in the music
area--and accumulating the necessary repertoire
in your spare time for a future shot at a
concert career.

Definitely should consider Iowa and Tucson for grad school as well - and Ann Arbor. All have good piano programs. I wonder why Gyro says you are giving up on a concert career, just because you want to go to grad school. Grad school won't hurt a concert career and could well be your best ticket toward it. It is untrue to say that you couldn't teach at college level with only a Master's degree. Many music schools have teaching staff with only a Master's, although they aren't full faculty and tend to get treated as lesser employees in some places. But teaching and concert careers are far from exclusive of one another. The graduate program will, moreover, allow you the time to delve into many aspects of musicianship, musicology and deeper understanding of your craft that would come more slowly if you just jump onto the concert stage. The depth of one's understanding and education with only a Bachelor's is a far cry from what you could gain by spending a few years refining your skills and learning your trade in a good graduate program.

Primary difference between undergrad and grad school is that you spend more time focusing on your specialty and less time earning a broad background, which should come with the Bachelor's. Also your relationship with your teachers will be more collegial and less master/subordinate. Grad school can be the best years of your career! And most schools that accept you into a grad program do so with the understanding that you will be funded, so money shouldn't be such a concern, although I do understand that this can be different in the arts than in the sciences, where someone in a Master's and Doctoral program is usually fully supported.

Good luck and congratulations!

Plus, if you go to Iowa, you get to meet ME!

( )

Did you just move?? I thought you were in El Paso...

I highly recommend John Salmon and Andrew Willis from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
The MM and DMA programs are great and very affordable. I believe the out-of-state tuition is around $4,000 a year.

http://www.johnsalmon.com/

http://www.uncg.edu/~aswillis/

My advice . . .

Which ever school you decide on, make sure you really like your piano teacher. Seems obvious, but many times people just choose schools because of their reputation, location, money, etc. But I think one of the most important things is your teacher! Be sure to have a lesson with them, talk with them, etc.

I decided on a school that definitely does not have the reputation as some of the ones you listed, but the teacher I studied with is absolutely amazing and it changed my life. I am completely satisfied with my experience in grad school because of this =)

How good is the UIUC program, out of curiosity? (Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.) I asked this on a different thread but had no response.

Thanks.

Thank you all for your input.

Brendan, I had never actually even HEARD of Montclair, but I've heard from countless sources that Slobodyanik is nothing short of mind-blowing, so I did some research, and found out that he teaches there. As it so happens, I will be studying with him later this summer at the New Paltz institute, and I think the experience there will be a determining factor as to if I apply there or not.

My current teacher is pushing me for IU, as it was his Alma Mater, and he says they are very generous with money. As for Yale and Juilliard, I am still considering them, but, just the sheer odds at being accepted are pretty low, so low as to wonder if it's even worth the time to audition and travel. You would NOT believe some of the talent I've witnessed been rejected from both of those places (and, by the same token, some of the surprising acceptances that make is seem all the fishier). I think I will go ahead and at least mail in a Yale app, just for the heck of it.  

GYRO - just getting a masters degree is not "Giving up on a concert career"....most people who are entering international competitions and TRYING to go on tours are currently MM or DMA candidates, and as long as you are getting a MM in music,
you can still practice and accumulate repertoire. I have actually considered not going to school, or taking a year off and just working (probably teaching of some sort), and this may actually take place, I have to weigh all my options first.

and Kreisler.......You're in Iowa?? Didn't you just move to El Paso?? Tell us about Iowa!!

If you are already in NY, what about CUNY? Queens college has some very good pianists on faculty, and as a resident, tuition is $5000 a year. The graduate center at 34th street is a DMA,PHD program, but you can go directly into it, it would just take longer. There are some excellent musicians going there, and their recital hall is nice(so is Queens')

I had 6 good years at CCM--if you want to know anything about it, I'll hook you up with info.

Yes...I've been following my wife as she completes her medical education. We lived in El Paso for a year while she completed her clinical rotations, and now we're in Iowa City for at least the next four years while she does her residency.

I'm going to be teaching privately and freelancing here in Iowa city.

And yes, the news is as bad or worse than everyone has heard. Most of the arts campus, including the music building and recital hall, was flooded. Most instruments were saved but not all. Meanwhile, anybody who wants to help check this site:

http://uiflood.blogspot.com/

Wish us luck!

You and your wife and everyone in Iowa all need good luck with the catastrophe in the midwest of tornados and floodings.

I have been thinking of you and wondering if you had moved to Iowa yet.

Thank you for the blogspot.

Best wishes!

Betty