I am looking to apply to music schools next year, and I am looking for ideas about which schools and teachers are great, and which ones I should avoid.....

Any ideas???

The Best:
McGill University
University of Toronto
University of British Columbia
University of Western Ontario
University of Montreal
University of Manitoba
University of Alberta
Queens University


The Worst:
McGill University
University of Toronto
University of British Columbia
University of Western Ontario
University of Montreal
University of Manitoba
University of Alberta
Queens University



Honestly, everyone will tell you that their school is the best, and there will always be people who don't like those same schools. Each program has their own pluses and minuses. Find a teacher who you clique with and go from there...

Back to the Stacks
TMR

Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.
Albert Einstein

well said!!! This is a time-consuming activity - and TMR is precisely right!
If you find a teacher you connect to and really discover what you NEED and what you are LOOKING FOR this helps immensely...

Thanks for being a big fat zero on the helpful scale! Isn't this supposed to be a forum where other singers offer advice, and knowledge?

I am not familiar with a lot of schools, and neither is my teacher. I was asking other people's opinions, especially regarding teachers, because I have only had one my whole life. When I apply for schools this year, I will not have an opportunity to find out who I "click with" in advance. A lot of students are in the same boat. I don't want to be stuck with a bad teacher. It's not the school so much, as the teacher I am worried about.

I am not an idiot.... I realize that all schools have plus and minuses. But when you don't have an opportunity to work with teachers in a university setting before you get assigned someone, it is really worrisome.

I am applying to U of T, McGill, Dalhousie, and Memorial School of Music. If anyone has any teachers suggestions for those school, I would greatly appreciate it.

There are more schools that have music departments that are on that list. Those schools truly are the front-runners, but they all have their upsides and downsides. Besides, only now have you mentioned the schools you were interested in applying to. That could have helped any of us focus our comments.

The first rule is always to do your own research, as much as possible. And when you ask for input, be as specific as possible. People who are giving you their time (rather then who you are paying for expertise) are more likely to respond when you let them know your starting point. I've been on both side of that fence, repeatedly.

For example, for an undergrad, I personally would sing the praises of UWO over McGill, but really recommend McGill or UofT for graduate school if you wanted stage/opera experience. If you wanted other things, I would suggest different schools.

He didn't mention Memorial, Dal, Acadia, Windsor, etc etc etc. The "best" are also the most contentious. But "best" also depends on what you want out of your education.

Best of luck! If you'd like you can email me privately, but as you're gearing up for Fall 2010, the best thing to do is go to as many schools as you can, and take 'trial' lessons with as many teachers as is feasible. And I mean that in all honesty!!

sweetheart, relax. You've missed the point. If you google me you will find out I used to teach at UWO and I still adjudicate music festivals all over Canada and am a senior examiner for the Royal Conservatory, and am now in NYC teaching. I am not in Canada at a school anymore, but still know many who teach. It is not a big fat zero on the helpful scale. You have missed the point. Your question was wide open. It gave no specifics. TMR was simply trying to get you to be specific FOR YOURSELF. You are obviously young and inexperienced and there is no shame in that, but the sooner you discover WHAT you are asking and WHO you are asking it from, the more the answers will make sense to you!

If you read the forum and learn something, you will find that you need to research the teachers that teach at these schools and between you and your current teacher you have to figure out what you are looking for in your undergrad teacher so you can be more specific. You aren't going to know if you click, but you can start making enquiries, email and speak to teachers. Now you've given the specific schools you have applied to. Good. That gives us something to work from.

What are you wanting from the program? Ask yourself specific questions because knowing these answers will make your enquiries more specific and more deliberate. The more professional you can be the more people will take you seriously.

All music schools these days are very competitive. You need to know WHY you are going there and make contact with some faculty members in order to find out whether you need to bother. My first recommendation - find out WHO is teaching there - and email the head of voice to give them some of your background/experience and tell them you are applying - and would there be a specific teacher or several teachers you could contact in the likelihood you were accepted.

If you can get into an email discussion regarding YOU with anybody then that is a place to start! If you would like to email me specifically please feel free!


I hope that isn't a big fat zero in response! Just be cautious in your reactions - you don't know who is reading or who is responding to you.

He didn't yell "DO A DAMN SEARCH YOU LAZY BASTARD!" so I figure you're way ahead.

Less than ten posts below yours this was discussed two weeks ago on the Canada Forum.

I can introduce you to singers from every single one of those schools who could and would give you differing opinions of the programs and the teachers at each one.

But when you don't have an opportunity to work with teachers in a university setting before you get assigned someone, it is really worrisome.

If you are going to delve into your vocal career and training blindly, then you are a moron. An absolute moron... You're going to waste your parents money and your time if you don't do some research into the teachers that you want to work with. The only students who get "assigned" teachers are the students who haven't invested in their own careers before they start the process. Teachers choose the singers they want to work with, and the others are cannon fodder who pay the fees and will never be heard from again.

Talk to your current teacher about teachers you should work with...

Back to the Stacks
TMR

Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.
Albert Einstein

...a little playfull perhaps. But there was a lot of wisdom in TMR's response. The thing is, we can't tell you who to study with. Even a teacher who knows what they are doing won't necessarily work for every student.

If you ask an imprecise question, you can expect an imprecise answer.

*





















*I am not a doctor, and any opinions I express on this forum are my opinions only, and should not be confused with real medical advice given by a licensed professional. If you are concerned about your medical condition, always see a doctor!

I have loved loved LOVED my last two teachers. I have no idea if they would work out for you or not. You'd just have to give them a try and find out. That's fine if you are paying by the hour for lessons. If you are locked in for a semester or a school year, then you are in real trouble.

My advice, find someone who accompanies lessons at the above mentioned schools. More than one if possible. If they just give yes or no for teachers (although frankly some teachers are just a flat out no) that's not useful. But some advice about what kinds of voices or what kinds of personalities seem to work well with various teachers is useful. After that you will have to meet with them. You need to know that they know what they are doing (hear some of their students before making a choice) but you also have to click with them which is a highly subjective thing.

Houndentenor

"Get the trash off the street and back on the stage where it belongs." -- Bette Midler

Are you looking for grad or undergrad programs? I can talk to you about programs and teachers for at least a handful of those schools. If you leave your email, I'd be happy to email you.