Graduate Programs

skinnytuba · Post by **skinnytuba** » Sat May 19, 2007 10:20 pm

I am currently looking at graduate programs in tuba performance for entry in the Fall of 2008, and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions of places to look into.

So far I have looked into:
Indiana Univ.
Univ. of Illinois
Northwestern
Univ. of Wisconsin (Madison and Milwaukee)
Univ. of Georgia
Cincinnati Conservatory

I've looked into a few other, but I'm not too familiar with many schools outside the midwest. Any other suggestions? I'll be looking for an assistantship, but will first and foremost be looking at the instructor, and the quality of the program.

Thanks for any suggestions!

MikeMason · Post by **MikeMason** » Sat May 19, 2007 10:24 pm

tubaguy9 · Post by **tubaguy9** » Sat May 19, 2007 10:38 pm

What about UNI and Tennessee Tech.?

Mojo workin' · Post by **Mojo workin'** » Sat May 19, 2007 10:41 pm

Don't get another piece of paper that says that you can play. If you've got serious aspirations to teach at the college level someday, continue on your path. If not, move to Chicago or New York or somewhere else to get yourself around a worldclass player and teacher, and study with and listen to him/her. Good schools are too damned expensive these days to get a degree from that will not give you secure marketable skills. I wish someone had said this to me about 15 years ago.

Phil Taylor

tubaguy9 · Post by **tubaguy9** » Sat May 19, 2007 10:47 pm

Mojo workin' wrote:Don't get another piece of paper that says that you can play. If you've got serious aspirations to teach at the college level someday, continue on your path. If not, move to Chicago or New York or somewhere else to get yourself around a worldclass player and teacher, and study with and listen to him/her. Good schools are too damned expensive these days to get a degree from that will not give you secure marketable skills. I wish someone had said this to me about 15 years ago.

Phil Taylor

Holy crap! That's exactly the feelings that Funderburk and Morris have...

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Sun May 20, 2007 1:26 am

What do you plan to do with your master's degree? If you want to be an orchestral performer, you don't need any degree to do that. You don't even need a high school diploma!

I went to a theological seminary that offered a multifaceted Master of Music program in Church Music with a concentration in Tuba (Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas). The nice thing about a degree like this is that it prepares you for almost anything. I was able to study with whichever tuba player I wanted, provided he meet Seminary criteria for teaching. So I studied with the late Ev Gilmore of the Dallas Symphony.

The degree, which is intended for professional Christian missionary musicians, is designed for anyone going into church music (any area), music education, musicology, ethnomusicology, musical performance, and a host of other areas of music.

The best advice that can be offered for this topic is from someone who went to graduate school, earned a master's degree, and what they achieved through that master's degree. Anything else in Monday morning quarterbacking!

Biggs · Post by **Biggs** » Sun May 20, 2007 3:03 am

If you're looking at the other Big 10 schools, you shouldn't leave out the University of Iowa (which, by the way, is only about one hour from Macomb). I won't comment on the tuba studio or school of music because everyone is seeking something different in their studies, but I will say that the atmosphere is absolutely fantastic. Iowa City is a great place to be a student; the cost of living is relatively low and the town itself caters to the university crowd. PM me if you are intrigued.

EDIT: Sorry, the trip is more like 2 hours, at least. I had a case of latitudinal dyslexia. Still worth the drive though.

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Sun May 20, 2007 3:27 am

Experience does not always come from education. Carol Jantsch had experience at her university, but not in the "real world." Believe it or not, the experience you get in community orchestras and bands has a lot of weight.

I people with master's degrees in musical performance who couldn't play in a community orchestra.

It's PHILADELPHIA--research also includes GOOD SPELLING, otherwise you won't be believed.

Tubaguyjoe · Post by **Tubaguyjoe** » Sun May 20, 2007 9:16 am

Why don't many people consider going out of the country to study? Doing an exchange program for a year in Germany opened my eyes to many different styles of playing as well as simply a new culture. It costs 500 Euros per semester to go to school here. Thats about 750 US dollars. A grad degree is about 2 years...and your only requirements are Playing with the orchestra, lessons, grad recital, and practice, practice, and more practice. You learn a new language, meet some beautiful women, drink some amazing beer, and get better at your instrument. Best expirience of my life...that's also why i'm still here! Not to mention there are simply 250% more jobs in this country than in America. It's only 12 hours on a plane away! Thats my 2 cents having lived it myself...seems to be working so far. But regardless of the country you decide to study in. The only thing that matters is your private teacher...nothing else. -Joe