GPA and music schools

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ufoneum
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Post by ufoneum »

In my experience, it's not so much how you do - but what you can do. Otherwise - the conservatory is not going to care what you got in biology only how you can play your horn. Don't get this confused with not being a well rounded student (aside from the pizza and beer way), but most of the time the audition is worth much more than your GPA.

Most of the major universities that I applied to for graduate work told me to, "just put my name on the GRE because it's a waste of time..." God bless academia!
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windshieldbug
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Post by windshieldbug »

ufoneum wrote:the conservatory is not going to care what you got in biology only how you can play your horn... God bless academia!
A university may put more emphasis on GPA, and you need to be accepted by the university in order to be accepted by the school of music, but it's going to come down to you performance. Like anything else, if you can perform, that's the main thing. You can work on the others...
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Post by phoenix »

Eastman is the only conservatory that I'm aware of that is concerned about GPA and SAT's. They're concerned about developing the "whole musician" so study skills are important. If you're applying to a music school that's part of a larger college or university, you might have to have the grades to get into that college or university before you are accepted to the school of music.
Gabe hit the nail right on the head with that one with Eastman wanting to develop the whole musician. If you get a scholarship there, you must hold a 3.0 GPA, as it is at most all schools.
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Post by Will »

windshieldbug wrote:A university may put more emphasis on GPA, and you need to be accepted by the university in order to be accepted by the school of music, but it's going to come down to you performance. Like anything else, if you can perform, that's the main thing. You can work on the others...
I was actually put on the waiting list at my current school. It was the music department that pulled me in the rest of the way. Actually, my GPA is much better in college than it ever was in high school.
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Dean E
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Re: GPA and music schools

Post by Dean E »

ATLtuba wrote:How imperative is it to have a high GPA to get into a good music school: conservatory or college.
Schools like to have a student body with high GPAs and board scores, because it makes their national and international ratings higher. Schools with the highest ratings can more easily attract outstanding faculty, draw an abundance of student applications, and charge the highest tuition.

However, highly rated schools are not for everyone. It can be a better value to attend a regional school.
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Post by danB »

Besides, arent there enough dumb tuba players in the world already? Come on, you all know a couple. Dont be afraid to read a book that isnt Arbans or a ITEA journal.

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Re: GPA and music schools

Post by Tom »

ATLtuba wrote:How imperative is it to have a high GPA to get into a good music school: conservatory or college.
Conservatory- You must be able to PLAY first and foremost. They find ways to make things work for top drawer players

College- You have to have the grades to get into the University THEN you have to be able to play well enough to get into the music dept. That comment may offend some people, but it's true...the standards are different and a university (by its very nature) is looking for something different than what the conservatory is going for.
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Post by funkcicle »

windshieldbug wrote:A university may put more emphasis on GPA, and you need to be accepted by the university in order to be accepted by the school of music, but it's going to come down to you performance. Like anything else, if you can perform, that's the main thing. You can work on the others...
Just make sure the music program wants you.. in my experience, if the music program wants you then applying to the university is pretty much just a formality. That's not to say that the music program won't consider your GPA, of course.
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Post by funkcicle »

bloke wrote:
Besides, arent there enough dumb tuba players in the world already?


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