interdisciplinary degree - music composition/performance + visual art?

[FOWJS]

Hi everyone,

I feel like I've gone around in circles in researching grad programs and not getting very far, so I thought I would try this forum.  Background first: My undergrad degree is a Bachelor of Music in oboe performance, but after graduating, to the surprise of my professors, I rejected classical music and began playing in rock bands and experimental groups. From those experiences with touring and recording, I began to write my own music, which could loosely be called "avant-garde pop music" (in heavy quotation marks). I score all the music, the instrumentation is non-traditional, and I have a second album coming out in November that is closer in vein to contemporary 'new music' than other things I've done. In addition to this unusual composing, I'm also self-taught in the visual arts, and have done some large-scale community-based art projects. For example, I've had two solo art exhibits in galleries, did a time capsule project where people brought items to include in a time capsule to be unearthed in 2059, organized a music festival of underserved music for underserved audiences, and on and on. In other words, a real hodge-podge of what I consider 'interdisciplinary' projects in the truest sense of the word: whatever the subject matter calls for, that is the medium I choose, be it music or visual art. I'm also older, and have received some grants and done some residencies for music, so I'm not straight out of school.

 

Now I feel I've exhausted how far I can push myself, and want to expand my aesthetic and technical skills through a graduate program. Finding a program where I can both pursue music (as the driving force) but also incorporate visual art, is proving very difficult. So far I've found:

 

Simon Fraser University (in BC, Canada) - MFA in interdisciplinary arts (music concentration)

Bard - low-res MFA in music/sound (super-expensive)

University of Kent (in Kent, UK) - MA in sound and image

U. of Northern Illinois - MM in individualized specialization

U Michigan - MFA in Art/Design+ (the + means you take courses outside your area).

 

I was initially thinking to find a music program that would let me pursue interdisciplinarity through the visual arts, but maybe I'd be better off the other way around: finding an MFA art program that would let me write music. ??

 

So, with all that said, does anyone know of any programs that would fit my criteria? It can be a music master's degree or an art MFA. Whenever I search with the term 'interdisciplinary,' up pops up a lot of video-based, electro-acoustic performance stuff that isn't really what I do. Any help or advice would be much appreciated, even if it's negative "don't go to grad school" type advice.

 

Thank you!

 

[comp12]

One program I can think of is the SAIC's MFA program in Studio, which has a number of emphases. One of them is "Sound."

A lot of "Computer Music" grad programs are also heavy into installation-type work. But many of them are very heavy into technology (coding, programming, interface building, etc.) and/or computer research. That sounds like it may not be up your alley, so perhaps you are right in that you might want to consider "art schools" with faculty and resources available for sound, rather than vice versa.

[queenleblanc]

Depending on the level of focus you want to pursue music and/or art, here is my advice:

 

Find someone out there who does what you do.  Maybe even find several people who do what you do.  Figure out how you can best learn from them.  Are they an adjunct or full prof within a grad program?  Do they have a private business or self-employed by their art?  Are they working with production or recording companies?  Can you find anyone who does at least one element of what you do in one area, and match that up with someone who teaches a grad program in the other area you'd like to focus on?  

 

I think you could go several routes here: privately pursue development/knowledge in one area plus grad school for the other, or a purely privatized approach of private lessons or apprenticeship with one of the people who does what you do.  I can imagine finding a program like what you want could be very difficult.  If you find one that allows you to take courses or earn certification outside of your grad degree (within another dept at the university), that might be something to pursue as well, but only IF you need your training to show up on a university degree.  You can always put down your studies and experiences privately on your resume because it's relevant to your resume in that field.  In fact, sometimes those private experiences can be worth more than a degree.  For example, someone who takes private instrumental music lessons with Keith Lockhart for 2 years has the potential to be much better off than someone who spends thousands on a degree doing coursework only tangentially relevant, and lessons with someone else.  If that person desires to be a performer in a symphony orchestra, the 2 years of study with Lockhart means a job, whereas the degree is only a start. (just an outside example, you can apply this to your situation of course). 

 

Don't know how much that helps, but those are my initial impressions after reading your post.  Best of luck with your search and the decision! 

[FOWJS]

Thanks for the replies, esp. the SAIC recommendation. While I understand the possibility of taking private lessons from a variety of folk, and gaining skills that way, I feel like that's not too far off from how I operate now. I've been working and doing my projects 'on the side' for over a decade and now I'm really hoping to focus and immerse myself in them. It feels kind of like now or never. I'm looking for a community of like-minded musicians/artists doing something similar to what I am, in addition to faculty, and I'm just coming to the realization that not many people are doing similar things. It kind of gets me nowhere, or at least severely limits my choices.

 

I guess I'll just have to keep searching!

[Counterpointer]

I don't know too much about this, but you could do some research on University of Regina, Columbia College Chicago and CalArts' Interschool Masters Degree

[Windy]

Bard has some financial aid so maybe look into making that affordable. That looks like a perfect program for you.  Brown's MEME program is techie but might suit you: look up the faculty and projects. Princeton's PhD in composition is multi-disciplinary in many ways and your music background and directions might fit. I would even look into Harvard, UCSD, Northwestern...

 

Seems like you could focus on music (another direction might be Berklee, or UC Thornton?) and maybe do art on the side, though I understand you don't want to keep them separate.

 

I like Cat's ideas but understand that is what you have been doing.

[Sassa]

If you are still looking for something along this line - check out CUNY. The CUNY Grad Center and at least one of the colleges within the CUNY system offer interdisciplinary programs that may work well for you. I think there is something at Brooklyn - PIMA - which could up your alley.

[gr8pumpkin]

I think Cal Arts would be your best bet.  I think if they could admit 100 of you, they would.