Master's Student
in Stage Directing for Opera, Indiana University at
Bloomington
Written in: March 2000
By Victoria Vaughan (vvaughan@indiana.edu )
I
am studying for a very specific M.S. degree in Stage
Directing for Opera, which is not offered anywhere
in Europe. There are 3 places in the USA that offer
it, and I came to Indiana University in Bloomington
because it has the best reputation and facilities.
I was looking for a very specific field and staff,
which actually helped me to work out where I wanted
to apply to.
The main suggestions for application and getting
settled in the USA would be:
Post your Application early!
Never underestimate the power of the US Postal Service
to make things three times as difficult as they need
to be. We Brits are so used to getting mail the next
day after it is sent that we forget how other countries
work (or don't work!) My university sent out six-weekly
status reports, and I once got two in the same postal
delivery. This gives you some idea of the extent of
the problem! Apply early.
Visa visa visa.
Oh dear, this can be tough, but there are things to
bear in mind. Several hundred people are trying to
get their I-20s within a 4-week period in June and
July prior to semester starting. On average, only
1 person in each university is allowed to sign your
form, and this slows everything down. Especially considering
that they too have to have their summer holiday at
some point. Try to get the university some proof of
your future income/funding as soon as possible, so
that you beat the crowd. Once you have been accepted
to that school, get the paperwork flowing. Also allow
tonnes of time for the visa. Again, if you're doing
this in summer, the queues get longer at visa offices.
Proof of Undergraduate Degrees
No-one in the USA knows what a 2:1 is. They all talk
in 'GPA' (this refers to the overall average of classes
that you take during your degree). The word 'Honours'
attached to your degree can have a surprisingly good
effect on your application, as it means something
else in the USA. This is not to say that you want
to lie on your forms, but just be aware that an undergraduate
in even the top university in America simply does
not have the same skills of independent study that
their British counterpart does. This links into study
style......
Study Style
Much spoon-feeding goes on, even at Masters level,
and this can be a bit of a shock for students from
the UK who are used to having a few detailed essays
every term, with lots of time to get things sorted
out. Many courses demand weekly papers, preparation
and sometimes tests and quizzes every few weeks. Sometimes
one can see why the lecturer is setting exams, but
often the test content is more like a drill (ie: 'parrot
fashion' learning) than a real test of knowledge.
Other times it feels like you're back in Primary school.
It all just takes getting used to, and will not be
the case at all universities and in all departments.
Talk to your advisor in your department and explain
it to them; until they know the difference between
school systems, they can't help you!
Language
Contrary to popular belief, we do not speak the same
language! The biggest lesson for me was that me speaking
with a vague American accent did NOT make me easier
to understand. In fact, it simply made me tired, in
a similar way that I would have been tired if I was
speaking a foreign language all day. After all, that's
what it is. Instead, I took to speaking with my normal
voice, which everyone seems to think is totally charming
(despite the fact that I have a broad South-London
accent). Then if people don't understand you, they
will ask. This is noticeably better than misusing
American words, and then you learn the way that locals
would say it. In Indiana for example, they use a double
conditional (eg: if I *would* have done something,
then it *would* have been different). Everyone talks
like that, and it simply takes getting used to.
Other Europeans
Meet other Europeans; when you're half way across
the world, they suddenly have lots more in common
with British culture than we normally give credit
for. Many Universities have a Host Family system linking
you with local families in the area. They tend to
be teachers or graduates of the University who live
in the the area, and they can really help you make
the transition (and then you get to go and have great
home-cooked food with them too!) The 'Greek' system
of Fraternities and Sororities can be strange, especially
if you're living on a 'dry' campus where there is
no alcohol, eg: Mid-Western Universities which might
be more conservative than say, metropolitan areas
or California! These 'greek houses' are buildings
full of 18-22 year old men or women, who have the
same general interests and can be known for big raucous
parties, although this is campus-dependant. It is
mostly for Undergraduate students, although there
are professional fraternities and sororities which
are open to all.
You will be asked 'Where do you come from' almost
every day. After a while it feels like racial harassment.
Sometimes people will ask if you're Australian (not
too bad) or if you're German (a little more interesting).
Sarcasm does not work; if you say you're from Outer
Mongolia they simply get confused! Then there's the
'Go on; say something' question. This can be tough
once your resistance wear down, as you may be tempted
to use expletives to illustrate your foreign accent.
This also does not have the desired effect; at this
stage the other party stops listening to your voice
and starts paying attention to the content of your
speech. Believe me; I've tried 'em all.
One nice final thing; American universities are very
well equipped. They set you up nicely for professional
work, and people here are happy to help you along.
This even goes for job applications when you leave;
as long as you're not in direct competition, you may
find that lecturers are more helpful here than in
the UK and will push button and open doors for you
to get work.
Advice for Music Students
Performance standards at the top US schools are stunning
(eg: Indiana, Julliard, Peabody, USC, etc.) and competition
is hot. Don't be modest about your ability as British
reserve simply doesn't cut it. Try not to get neurotic
about practicing; students will play form 8am to midnight,
and often compare the number of hours that they've
spent practicing each day. This is not indicative
of quality and can be daunting. However, it is important
to note that things are taken seriously and ensemble
rehearsals are run professionally. Double-reed players
all make their own reeds and there are special classes
in making reeds. Opera students may be expected to
have good language skills; productions are fully staged
with resident designers, directors, conductors, and
everything the Royal Opera has. Indeed, Indiana University
Opera is better equipped than the Metropolitan Opera
in New York -- this size of theatre can be scary when
you're used to singing in an old school hall equivalent.
Just go with the flow and enjoy the experience of
singing on a big stage; it's useful for practicing
for auditions!
Many words are different here. For example:
- the word 'recitativo' is pronounced with the
Italian 'ch' sound
- 'pianissimo' can be 'double piano' but NOT 'p.p.'
- note-values include 'quarter notes', 'sixteenth
notes' etc.)
- bars are measures (or you can say 'bar' and people
understand you)
