Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Music Schools/Conservatories in the US

By the way, which music schools are top in their DM piano programs? Juilliard? Indiana? Yale?

Well, I dont think it's entirely true about connections either. My current teacher got into both Curtis and Juilliard without a single connection or winning any semi-large competitions. He just went in and played the **** out of Chopins third scherzo, Bach's Second English Suite, and Scubert's A minor sonata.

Cool... who is ur teacher? Pumkinhead

Mark Richman. And here's the funny part. He turned down both Juilliard Curtis to study at UCLA with Aube Tzerko. He says that he learned more from that man than any institution could give. I guess that certain posters on here are completely right. Pursue the teacher!

That sounds cool~

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Carnegie Mellon, or I may have missed it since I was just browsing through.

http://www.cmu.edu/cfa/music/

Elena
www.duoscarbo.com

I realize this school isn't in the US, but any word on McGill? I've read that it is the top music program in Canada. I'm interested in doing a double major, and a school known as "the Harvard of the North" will certainly be considered (at under $15,000/year!). I'm just hoping the piano department is a good one...

pianojerome--
you say you are young and naive, but your comments are very wise. If you can stay naive as you gain more experience and get older, you will do very well indeed.
Thumbs up and good luck!

what's the top conservatories specifically for piano not just music, in the world? Juilliard and Curtis are often quoted as the best in general but what would you guys say are the premiere conservatories for studying piano performance? Are juilliard and curtis still at the top?

yah, but these top teachers might have so meny students or activities that they might not have much time and energy to work with you as an undergrad. It might also be very hard to get into their studio as a freshman. Can anyone share some info about other piano teachers at these schools, especially Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University? Comments from those who have experience with these schools are especially welcome. Thanks.

Curtis: impossible for 99%
Why do people even mention Curtis? It's free tuition for as many years as it takes for you to graduate. Yes, housing costs some money, but my understanding is that there are private homes who host students and they are building new dorms to open soon. The bottom line is this: Curtis is probably the ultimate music school in the US, and it just not realistic for most students to even add them to a list. And don't forget... Curtis is not for only US residents, it's for anyone and everyone from all over the world. Being a US resident doesn't help you at all. Better to investigate other options.

Requiem Aeternam wrote:
"what's the top conservatories specifically for piano not just music, in the world? Juilliard and Curtis are often quoted as the best in general but what would you guys say are the premiere conservatories for studying piano performance? Are juilliard and curtis still at the top?"

Please remember that top in America is not necessarily the same as top in the whole wide world....

I know a freshman at University of Alabama that was recruited for a program just like that. I think Florida State also recruited him, so they may have a competing program.

Nancy

Does anyone know if there are music programs in normal universities/colleges in US? So you can study something else as a major and music as a minor or something likely? Does that exist?

yea... hundreds...

the best ones?

Northwestern
Indiana
USC
Michigan
Rice

but keep in mind, most conservatories ALSO offer University/2nd major option...

Cleveland Institute with Case Western Reserve University
Juilliard with Columbia University
Peabody with Johns Hopkins University
etc.

ANY school you go to pretty much, you can major in a 2nd field. With exception of VERY few small conservatories, such as San Francisco Conservatory...

If you want to major in something else and take music as a minor, I think most major universities and many private colleges will have something for you. If you are really serious about music, there is rarely time for anything else like a second major!

I plan on going to IU if I ever retire from the music industry. I've done a lot in it but never had the piece of paper.

IU has the most wonderful piano faculty in the states.
Good luck~

Why would a department have a cut-off age? What possible use could that serve other than giving it an elitist air?