NORTHWESTERN

[CrappyEuph]

I went there from 1999-2003 and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Music Education and Euphonium Performance.

Rex Martin is a fantastic teacher and a friendly, very funny person; I'm sure you will enjoy your lesson with him. He is a student of Arnold Jacobs and very much a proponent of "song and wind." Also, Professor Martin will play a lot during lessons, which is great because his sound is amazing.

My experience in Northwestern's music performance department was terrific. If you have any specific questions, email me at lipton@unt.edu and I'll be more than happy to answer.

- Jamie

[WoodSheddin]

The music school has a little money to spend but what they told me is that they like to use it on instruments they need, like violas. There are too many tubas wanting to go to Northwestern to get any money.

They gave me a tidy scholarship when I went there. Not sure they got their money's worth at the time, but there is money.

[CrappyEuph]

The music admissions office generally doesn't award merit-based scholarships - at least, not anymore. They do, however, work very hard with the financial aid office so that everyone who is accepted to the school gets the financial aid they need in order to pay tuition.

[Steve Marcus]

Rex Martin is a fantastic teacher and a friendly, very funny person; I'm sure you will enjoy your lesson with him. He is a student of Arnold Jacobs and very much a proponent of "song and wind." Also, Professor Martin will play a lot during lessons, which is great because his sound is amazing.

Rex Martin is a stickler for detail in your playing (as all teachers should be)--articulation, tone, proper breathing, and rhythm--particularly rhythm. You'll be subject to his menacing reel-to-reel recording of your playing heard at half-speed to measure your degree of precision (unless he has upgraded to some digital equipment).

But Professor Martin will also concentrate on the musicality of your performance with regard to phrasing, interpretation, dynamics, etc. He'll have useful and insightful comments even about pieces he hasn't heard before, a testament to his fine musicianship.

Most importantly, Rex Martin loves to teach. Although he has performed with top symphony orchestras, ensembles, and as a soloist, he enjoys the pedagogical activity as his full-time pursuit in the studio at Northwestern and in Master Classes all over the world. He is as patient with the less advanced student working on long tones and other basics as he is with doctoral candidates.

[tubajoe]

I'll jump in on this one...

It's a great place -- a very expensive place... but RM is worth the money. He's absolutely world class.

The great thing about NU is that you will also learn simply from being immersed amongst so many great players. The level of expectation is very high.

They do give money on a need basis and I have heard it also depends on how many students they accept during a given year. Don't expect it to cover your expenses tho. (all that depends on your status too... grad/undergrad etc)

Chicago is a great place to learn as a tuba player -- as in addition to the school you can catch all the CSO performances you want. That itself is an education all on its own...


If you end up going to school there, dress warm, as the winter there SUUUUUUCKS.


peace

[brianf]

Its great hearing all about Northwestern and what it costs to go there. Over $30,000 a year and that's just for tuition. Add room, board, books and all that nice stuff, you are around $50,000 a year easily. If you are an undergraduate multiply it by 4 - $200,000. Ouch!!!! Seems Northwestern is more for graduate school these days.

I did grad school there and graduated in 1980. It was considered expensive then but I got out of there for $3600 in tuition and they even let me pay it over 10 years at 3% interest. At that time it was expensive, today it is a bargain!