Manhattan School of Music Reviews

"Manhattan School of Music provides a great variety of subjects to choose from that range from Brazilian Rhythms; Jazz Improvisation; to introducing methods on dealing with Performance Anxiety; and developing a physical awareness of your body to improve your performance standards. The professors are passionate masters in their fields, and depending on the professor, they can provide further insight on how to approach your instrument and the concept of music itself. However, the school system is a bit outdated in that a lot of the administration is done in person- they did not yet have an effective system that would allow for things to be completed online. While this may encourage for more human interaction, it can be inconvenient if one does not live in the vicinity of the school, or needs to get things done in a timely manner. If you were not already a student here as a undergraduate and had the resources, it is also hard to build a community and connections within the brief period of two years as a master (which is vital if you plan to make a successful career as a performer). You are more or less on your own- the school does not provide much in terms of building outside/inside connections. If you are an independent learner; have already built up your network to a degree; and want to study with a specific professor, then the Manhattan School might be a good choice for you to further build, develop and fulfill those connections, especially within New York City. Otherwise, it may be wise to first consider other prospects before looking into this school."

"Manhattan School of Music is an incredible school for exceptionally talented and determined young musicians. Not only will the insightful faculty inspire, the students themselves provide the most lasting education. The personal challenge issued by each ambitious young performer is both undeniable and unavoidable. Dreamers welcome here. Those with no vision...turned away at the door."

"Great program, working with world class artists and teachers. Lots of people from all over the world and you get to make life long connections all over the globe. Only downfall is that there are too many students for a conservatory therefore less performance opportunities. Also, there is very little scholarship and a very expensive tuition cost and living cost in NYC. Other than that, this is an amazing school where you grow a lot as an artist and have a great professional performance experience."

"Compared to the undergraduate program, the graduate program is less academically intense - students have the freedom to choose various elective courses that particularly interest them, instead of being overloaded with core curriculum classes. Many opportunities are available to help graduate students develop professionally, from teaching video conference music lessons over the internet to students across the nation to gaining experience teaching young children in-person as part of MSM Sunday - one's flexible schedule will also allow for off-campus employment, if desired. All the faculty are extremely knowledgeable and helpful, not to mention world-renowned in their own distinctive fields; they are always approachable and willing to help students network and make connections. The only con to the graduate program is the financial expense: going to graduate school for the arts in New York City is truly the ultimate dream, but a pricey one. As a private institution, MSM does not have as much scholarship funds available to students as other schools may have, but each year, students have the opportunity to re-apply for financial aid and improve their GPA/jury scores to qualify for more scholarship. Overall, it is a wonderful environment to be a part of!"

"Manhattan School of Music is a well-respected, and competitive conservatory, ranking among the finest in the world. Students can expect to be educated leaders within their respective industry. However, the school does not have much financial aid to offer its students, especially those who are US natural-born citizens. International students receive a major advantage. With that said -- Living in New York City can be expensive on its own without the added burden of tuition expenses."

"As a music major, there are few schools that rival Manhattan School of Music's Programs. They are featured in reviews nationwide and internationally. The one con i can really think of is the lack of diversity. As an African American Male, there aren't many other ethnic groups to speak of other than the vast majority of Caucasian and Asian students."

"This is truly the right program for me. So far it is a better experience than my undergraduate program at another school. I love my professors and private teacher."

"The education here is good, but not as good as it used to be. One lesson a week is far from enough for one to become a musician. Many years ago, one should know everything about music to become a Dr. ,but now all you need is to give a presentation. It also happened in graduate program. One jury, one concert, and them you can graduate. What you can be is now depending on your self-education. That's not too bad, but absolutely not the best way of education."