Hey guys, I just recently found out about talkbass so I'm new to the community. Anyways, I was wondering if you guys could help me look into grad schools. I'm in desperate need of an assistantship or something of the sort so I was wondering what are the top programs with the best scholarships for bassists. Thanks!
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Double Bass Top Grad Schools for Full Rides/Assistantships
- Thread starter soddy7
- Start date
- Jan 24, 2002
- 2,117
- 950
- Disclosures
- NS Design / AER Endorsing Artist
Are you looking at orchestral/classical programs? If so, there are a few options. Some schools guarantee full scholarships, some almost always offer one, and others can only do so for certain students. The best way to find out about scholarship opportunities is to contact the admissions departments and professors at whatever schools interest you.
Curtis will provide free tuition but will leave living expenses to the students. Colburn offers free tuition and free room and board. Neither offer true graduate programs, but you can get an artist's diploma. Curtis is also a little bit weird about taking older students, but it is possible.
Yale offers full tuition and possibly a small stipend. Rice almost always offers full tuition to graduate students.
The New World Symphony isn't a school so much as a training orchestra, but they actually pay a reasonable stipend.
Many schools in Europe are remarkably cheap and worth investigating. Some will offer stipends.
Curtis will provide free tuition but will leave living expenses to the students. Colburn offers free tuition and free room and board. Neither offer true graduate programs, but you can get an artist's diploma. Curtis is also a little bit weird about taking older students, but it is possible.
Yale offers full tuition and possibly a small stipend. Rice almost always offers full tuition to graduate students.
The New World Symphony isn't a school so much as a training orchestra, but they actually pay a reasonable stipend.
Many schools in Europe are remarkably cheap and worth investigating. Some will offer stipends.
When I applied to Northwestern as an undergrad, it was indicated to me that the graduate bass students all received quite generous financial aid- all of the grad students I talked to paid no tuition.
Cincinnati conservatory grad students are very well off when it comes to scholarships.
But if you woo the teachers, be patient, and know how to negotiate and sell yourself, you can get a great scholarship almost anywhere.
But if you woo the teachers, be patient, and know how to negotiate and sell yourself, you can get a great scholarship almost anywhere.
Just to update, a couple changes at Colburn starting this fall:
-there is a $1500/semester fee
-there is a Masters program
The living expense at Curtis is $15000. :x I'm getting a much better deal going to a conservatory 
Yale School of Music offers full tuition, as well as approx. 3,500 per year to help with housing (I don't think this is mentioned on their website but I think everyone who enrolls there gets it) - I believe that Artist Diploma and DMA/MMA students receive a larger stipend. New Haven has some good deals on housing and is conveniently located between Boston and NYC, however honestly it is an awful city (except for the pizza). Don Palma teaches there and I can't recommend him highly enough. Another plus of Yale is that they refund your expenses of taking auditions (around $500-$700 per semester).
Apparently the DMA program at University of Georgia offers a pretty generous stipend in addition to full tuition ($10,00 per year). I'm hazy on the details there, perhaps someone else can verify this.
Apparently the DMA program at University of Georgia offers a pretty generous stipend in addition to full tuition ($10,00 per year). I'm hazy on the details there, perhaps someone else can verify this.
Grbass, you're right about Yale - full ride and stipend. It was $2.7K when I left in 2010, but I think it went up. Good school and Don Palma is excellent. A really stand-up guy, too.
Agreed with the the above about Don palma and Yale great school and Don is great. Also Lynn university in Boca Raton brings Tim Cobb every other week to teach, small studio 4 or 5 players and each one gets 90 minute lessons plus 2 hour studio class, and it also gives full rides to all.
