Does studying music abroad sound inviting?

It should. There’s so much to gain by leaving the comforts and confines of what’s known and predictable. While the culture, geography, language, customs, food etc. may be very different from what you’re accustomed to, the common denominator is still the passion to study and play music. Learning in a collegial environment with students from other parts of the world can be incredibly inspiring. It can open up creative circuits and bring a wider perspective to your performance, composing, and general understanding of music.

You can study abroad for a degree, certificate, semester, or summer music program. There are many options for all of these. But how can you tell you’re ready for any of it?

We talked with admission folks at schools and programs around the world. What we learned was this:

Start by asking yourself 5 questions

1. How would studying abroad support my goals and dreams?

2. Which program(s) would be a good fit?

3. Am I someone who copes pretty well with change and who knows how to seek out support if and when I need it? Can I spot a potentially dangerous or unsavory situation before I find myself in it? Do I know what to do if it happens?

4. Can I advocate for what I need and want (as opposed to hoping and waiting for it to show up)?

5. Will my family (parents or other key people in your life) support my plan to go to school in another country? Do they have concerns or reservations? If so, what are they? What can I say or do that will help us get on the same page about studying abroad?

You’ll also want to consider

Timing:

• When is the best time to study abroad? And for how long?

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• Don’t assume studying abroad will automatically be more expensive than in your home country, especially if you’re from the U.S. Tuition is typically far less expensive in countries outside the U.S. Some schools in the UK and Europe offer 3-year bachelor degree programs, because students take the equivalent of U.S. general education courses in the last two years of high school. Living expenses may also be lower. But travel back home will, of course, add to your costs.

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• Do you want to attend a school where you can speak your first language? Or are you sufficiently bi-lingual to keep up with the formal and informal communication you’ll be immersed in?
• Living in another country will expose you to many cultural differences. For instance, in England and Italy, the drinking age is lower than the U.S. and beer may be on tap in the student dining room. You are expected to know how to consume alcohol in a way that does not interfere with your studies or become injurious to your health or behavior BEFORE you travel abroad. Otherwise, you may quickly be sent back to your home country.
• It’s also important to get a handle on the customs of the country you plan to study in before you leave home and then learn everything you can from the locals once you’re there.

The benefits of studying music in another country can be lifelong and life-changing. That said, for some music students, spending a summer or a semester abroad focusing on other areas of interest may have just as much of an impact on their music and will still provide opportunities to jam, practice, and perform.

If you can answer the first 5 questions and can address the other considerations reasonably well, it may be time to think more seriously about expanding your musical perspective through studying abroad.

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This post was inspired by conversations and visits with Performing Arts Abroad, Leeds Conservatoire, , Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Royal Irish Academy of Music, Trinity College Dublin, and Accademia Europea Di Firenze.

My wife and I are music teachers who have been teaching music abroad for several years. We have taught in a bomb shelter in Uganda; have worked in Caracas (where we also saw street riots); have conducted a concert under frangipani and coconut trees in Sri Lanka; and are currently preparing a concert in a Buddhist temple here in Yangon, where we now work at the International School of Myanmar.

by Thomas J. Stief

Are you seeking a sense of adventure? A yearning to experience different cultures, to meet new people, and to see a different side of nature? Do you have a feeling that there is a whole wide world out there to be discovered?  This kind of mindset, along with a sense of humor, flexibility, and the ability to meet new challenges, is a good starting point if you’re interested in teaching music abroad.

Requirements

International schools will typically require a BA and a US teaching certificate for prospective teachers. Usually, they’ll offer renewable 2-year contracts, housing, health insurance, visa assistance, and a set number of personal/sick leave days.

Getting Hired

Schools often hire through job fairs and ads, and more and more via Skype interviews.

TIE, ISS , SEARCH and CIS (see links in sidebar) are some of the organizations international schools use for recruitment purposes. While prospective teachers may go through one of these, often the application process is independently initiated by the candidate.

Some teachers stay in international education for one contract, some for the remainder of their teaching careers. Some stay in one school, some move through a number of countries and schools.

What to Expect

International faculties tend to be a mix of all age groups and often many different nationalities. Schools will typically have inservice programs that may include activities and workshops related to curriculum, assessment, and day-to-day operations. The culture and customs of the host country are also introduced. Most schools will operate a professional development program throughout the year via professional development days. The teaching language is almost exclusively English. However, English is often the students’ second or third language.

You’ll want to be able to teach many different elements of music, and be able to “sell” and run a whole music program. Also plan to hone your diplomatic and organizational skills. It is very important to be able to think on your feet and to be creative as well as proactive –– in your work life and outside of school.

You may find facilities and a program that match your preferences and strengths, but more likely, you will find yourself building, revamping and/or developing a program that will match the needs of the students, school and the community, and that will incorporate your personal strengths.

Getting Acclimated

Living and working in a new host country is both a blessing and a challenge. There are as many different circumstances and challenges as there are international schools! Researching ahead of time, observing and listening without judging, and staying curious and open-minded all will go a long way towards a smooth transition and laying the groundwork for a satisfying experience. Be ready for new customs, foods, religions, climate, and nature –– and differences in how music and even teachers are appreciated.

One of the best administrators we have ever worked for asked us during the interview: “And what do you do in your spare time?” More important than you might imagine is to have an “outside life,” especially when you live in a completely different culture, thousands of miles away from home and family. Some musicians join or start a choir or a local/expat group of musicians, or play in a local jazz club. I write music when I get inspired and am not out exploring.

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Thomas J. Stief is a musician, composer and educator who, with his wife Barbara, currently lives and works in Yangon, Myanmar. He received his training at the Richard Strauss Conservatory in Munich, Germany and the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS. He and his wife have performed concert tours as soloists and chamber musicians and have worked as music instructors for international schools in many different parts of the world.

by Julia Emery –

Studying abroad as a musician is a wonderful opportunity. Not only do you get the chance to live and explore within a new culture, you also have the opportunity to work with amazing teachers and musicians that you would not otherwise be able to meet or even study with. I am a cello performance major from the , and I am currently enrolled in a semester abroad program at Goldsmiths, University of London. Thus far, it has been a wonderful experience, both musically and culturally.

Getting to where I am now, in London, studying with an amazing cello teacher who has been taught by world-renowned cellists herself, was, I would have to say, more challenging than anything I’ve been through since arriving in London. Deciding where to go for a semester –– or year –– abroad can be quite a challenge (but a fun one, don’t worry!), depending on the resources provided by your university, the organization of the program you wish to attend, etc. I found, through my research, that being a music major is somewhat limiting in the options of where it is possible to go. For example, I really wanted to study abroad in India, but my cello professor reminded me of how difficult it would be to find a suitable cello teacher in India (simply because cello is not that common of an instrument there).

I ended up in England for a variety of reasons. London is such a vibrant city, especially musically. There are multiple professional orchestras playing almost every evening and operas and musicals and jazz clubs to attend on the rare nights when there is no orchestral music. I felt that coming to London would inspire new creativity within my cello playing and musical knowledge as a whole, and I was right.

Finding a Music Teacher

The next important step, after finding a city (or general area) where you wish to study, is to find a teacher to study with. I think it is very important to talk to your private teacher or other teachers within your music department about possible contacts in your country of interest because it helps if you have a go-between, someone who knows both you and your potential teacher, who can speak to the other on both of your behalves. I sat down and had a long chat with my cello professor about who to take lessons with in London. He had a contact for me (because, it seems, the global music community is much smaller than we think), who he suggested I email. I now have a wonderful, very gifted teacher here in London!

Of course it is also possible to find a teacher through the university you wish to attend during your study abroad. Emailing the music department and figuring out all of those logistics is important and best done early, because you may have an entrance audition recording which you need to send to the university, in order for them to place you, etc.

Traveling with Musical Instruments

As far as taking instruments to all corners of the world, depending on the size and mobility of your particular instrument, this may be an issue. It was for me!. If I had brought my cello to London, it would have cost me an extra airline seat, because I don’t trust the way in which most airlines handle the luggage they store below. In my case, because I did not bring my cello, I had to rent one from a friend of my teacher in London. I must warn you though; the process of finding a good rental instrument takes a while, so be sure to start your search at least a few months in advance.

Once arriving in London and getting settled into the school system, I have been having a wonderful time in the university orchestra and with my cello lessons. One thing I am having a problem with is the amount and quality of the practice rooms here. I think I am a bit spoiled, because University of Denver Lamont School of Music has a large quantity of amazing, almost soundproof practice rooms, whereas Goldsmiths is most definitely lacking in that respect.

However, apart from challenges associated with the practice rooms, studying abroad as a music major has, thus far, been extremely rewarding and I encourage it with all my heart. In my mind, there is no better way in which to learn about a country and its cultural and musical trends than to go there and completely immerse yourself.

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Julia Emery is a graduate of the University of Denver Lamont School of Music. She was a junior majoring in cello performance when she wrote this for »Æ¹Ïapp.

Been dreaming about a semester near a gorgeous beach off the coast of Spain? How about Paris, Croatia, Tel Aviv, or Ghana?

Study abroad is a popular option for students in many fields who want to explore another culture. Musicians and educators often talk about the benefits of spending time immersed in another country’s lifestyles and customs, in preparation for life as a music professional. From broadening your perspective as a human being and a musician to experiencing how your interests are taught, shared, and supported outside of your home turf, study abroad offers a compelling opportunity to learn in a new context.

Can I Still Graduate in Four Years?

BM performance degree candidates at many conservatories and music schools find that it is not possible to study abroad during the school year and still graduate within four years.

Schools that do build study abroad into the four-year curriculum typically require you to be at least a sophomore or, more likely, a junior; maintain a minimum GPA to qualify; and plan your study abroad well in advance in order to be sure you can fit it into your curriculum.

Bachelor of Arts students typically have more leeway in choosing coursework, and can incorporate a semester or sometimes an entire year abroad without delaying graduation. Music technology and music business majors may also find it easier to fit study abroad into a four-year curriculum. There is no set rule about study abroad; be sure to check with your school.

What Happens to My Financial Aid?

If you are receiving financial aid and decide to study abroad during the school year, your aid will typically continue and be applied to your study abroad tuition. Be sure to verify this with the study abroad office at your school. Many universities have their own connections with schools in other countries and you can get full credit through those programs for whatever you study. Check with your school about receiving credit if you decide to study abroad through another school’s program.

What About the Summer?

Studying abroad during the summer may be an easier option for music majors. Other ways to gain a different cultural perspective include service-learning travel projects offered by many schools and organizations, attending and/or performing at summer music festivals, and cobbling together your own plan. Some schools offer travel allowances, grants or scholarships for these purposes. Check with the study abroad office as well as the music school or department to see what’s available as well as to solicit other creative suggestions. Note that the visa process in itself is time-consuming and complicated; be sure to seek help from your school and allow enough time for your paperwork to clear.

For more on study abroad, see…