Office of Admissions Blog

By: Nathan Makolandra, First Year Dancer

My entire life I’ve always wanted to go to Juilliard. I thought, and have been proven right, that it is the best school in the country for dance. As I got older, I began hearing somewhat scary tales about what Juilliard stood for and its likes and dislikes. However, as my freshman year at The Juilliard School draws to an end, there are so many things I’ve learned about this school that I never even knew possible.

For example, I grew up as a competition baby, you know the type…Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, and Hip-Hop were my favorite things. I loved the rhinestones and the cheering and the crazy stage moms (you know what I’m talking about) as much as anyone. However, I’d always believed that Juilliard was a strictly BALLET ONLY school that admitted the best Ballerinas from across the country-and with one ballet class a week for the last six years of my home studio training, I didn’t think I had a prayer. Boy was I wrong. Yes there are fierce Ballerinas apart of each and every class, but there are plenty of competition dancers kick-ball-changing down these halls.

Another surprise was the daily schedule of a freshman at Juilliard. We have one ballet class every day (twice a week we have men’s or pointe class) as well as modern or partnering too. What’s really cool is that we have an Elements of Performing class that teaches you to be the best artist possible, as well as Ballroom with an incredible ballroom instructor. And if that isn’t cool enough, we get composition twice a week (for all you choreography babies like me), the ever-necessary Alexander technique, and even a six-week study with the world-renowned Irene Dowd. And that’s all just freshman year.

Now you may be wondering, as I did, about academics. We have Humanities (basically college English) twice a week and L&M (music for dancers) also twice a week. I should tell you that if you’re looking for a broad academic selection (i.e. Science, Math, or Social Studies) let me put it to you this way: this is a conservatory. If you want math and all of that…this might not be the right place for you.

Something else that I was completely shocked and amazed by was the opportunity for educational outreach and outreach trips. The school has loads of organizations that can help you to find the best way to get involved with outreach if you’re interested. I strongly recommend looking into it. Look at me: I am going to be participating in PEPS this summer! This program has eight freshman dancers that perform at local NYC high schools. Did I mention you get paid????? Do you like to travel? Well I’m going to the Philippines this summer to teach at performing arts high schools. Twenty-two hours around the world to teach dance…what could be better?

I hope that my experience has been a helpful and educational one for you. I never realized how much this school has to offer. All I can say is that if Juilliard is the place you want to be…then go for it. And remember that there are so many things to think about when choosing a school. I hope that Juilliard is right for you.

By Hannah Goldshlack, 3^rd year voice student

Juilliard is a conservatory in every sense of the word: the term “undecided” does not exist as a major, no one reads the textbook for the final exam in lieu of coming to class, and the words “frat party” are sparsely heard.  What distinguishes us from a regular four-year university, however, is not the absence of frat parties.  Our student population is atypical from the average 18-24-year-olds in the sense that each one of us is here with a very specific mission, plus the dedication and passion to match.  In essence, these are the qualities that motivate a young artist to consider conservatory life.

But before getting too excited about a world eons away from the standard college experience, keep in mind that Juilliard does not deviate so far from a standard academic curriculum.  Our liberal arts department is teeming with highly qualified professors from some of the most renowned universities in this country.  If you are anything like me, it will elate you to learn that you can kiss your graphing calculators goodbye.  Our liberal arts team is devoted to making sure that Juilliard students graduate with the ability to read, write, and speak eloquently via the development of critical thinking skills, while participating in a learning environment relevant to the arts.

Our Core Curriculum, which is designed for students in their first two years, addresses issues of morality, religion, philosophy, and aesthetics through the writings and teachings of classic theater, poetry, and novels.  Following the completion of our Core Curriculum, students have an impressive array of electives to choose from, ranging from foreign language to Norse mythology to existentialism.  The geek that I am says that these classes are exhilarating, enlightening, and fruitful, and that everyone should take full advantage of our learned faculty.  Music students also have the option of taking one class per semester at Columbia University, for which they receive a grade that appears on their transcripts.

Still, I know what some of you in the cooler crowd must be thinking: “Why should I??  I just want to play/sing/act/dance!”  The truth is that playing/singing/acting/dancing will occupy more of your time than the standard liberal arts curriculum, which is three credits per semester.  But how will you feel if you find yourself being interviewed on NPR and all you can muster are unintelligible or banal answers?  OK, this may be a slight exaggeration, but my point is that you will never escape the need to read, write, and speak publicly; plus, your playing/singing/acting/dancing will always reflect those moral, religious, philosophical, and aesthetic issues that prompted the composition in the first place.  Now is a time when it is not enough to simply apply a personal interpretation to a performance; the arts transcend what is solely personal to accomplish a universal thought inspired by something greater.

By Charlotte Bydwell, fourth-year dancer

1. Outside the confines of your discipline, you can be a member of student groups and take on leadership roles within the Juilliard community. As a programming assistant for the Office of Student Affairs and a staff member for Residence Life, I have been able to use my creativity in a wider range of areas and improve my time management and communication skills.

2. Educational outreach is a significant and important part of being an artist in today’s world. Juilliard has many pre-existing programs through which students can develop their skills as arts advocates and experience the profound effects of their craft on those who are not exposed to it on a regular basis. I have been repeatedly amazed by the efforts of my peers to find new avenues for outreach by developing their own projects. Students from all the divisions commit their free time to the development of outreach programs and cultural exchanges that extend the reaches of their art forms.

3. Fatigue. To accomplish the supplemental activities listed in #1 and #2, a huge amount of energy and effort is required. Completing the curriculum alone demands a commitment of your total energy beyond what I could have imagined. For four years, you are asked to perform at a very high level for nearly all of your waking hours. Finding a regime for your downtime that will allow you to recuperate from your daily exertions is incredibly valuable.

4. Proper nutrition is a crucial factor in being able to meet the emotional and physical demands of the Juilliard curriculum. Being a dancer, food was always a concern, but in the past four years I have seen the impact that a balanced diet can have on everyone -actors and musicians included. Proper nourishment is key to being present and focused throughout the long hours of class and rehearsal.

5. Along with that, indulgences are important. I could never have anticipated the quality and abundance of tasty desserts in the Lincoln Center area alone. Bakeries and restaurants offer wonderful treats that are the perfect reward after a hard week’s work. A personal favorite: Levain Bakery’s enormous chocolate chip cookies (74^th and Amsterdam). My newfound foodie identity has also led me to explore other areas of New York City in search of hidden hot spots and culinary gems. These discoveries have helped make NYC feel a little bit more like home.

6. A Juilliard student ID will give you discounts and freebies far beyond what you initially expect. Free movies at MoMA and $10 student tickets at the Brooklyn Academy of Music are only two of many cultural exploits that are possible on a student budget, thanks to a Juilliard student card.

7. Seeing in-house performances can be an education in and of itself. As a student, you can attend concerts, recitals and plays from all the divisions free of charge. It is truly inspiring to see the fruits of your peers’ labor and know that you are seeing the stars of tomorrow in action.

8. Although I anticipated having close ties with the other members of my class, I underestimated the importance and value of the bonds that I now share with my 24 classmates. They have been my support system throughout our four years together; they have offered their counsel in times of challenge and their congratulations in times of success. They will continue to be a strong source of inspiration and a valuable resource in the years ahead.

9. Everyone is at a very specific point on his or her own learning curve. When surrounded on a daily basis by high-achieving young artists, it can be difficult to not compare your progress to that of your peers. Learning to value my own journey, with its hold-ups and standstills, and give credit to myself for my individual set of skills has been a huge part of my development at Juilliard.

10. I didn’t realize that I would be on the brink of graduation and have no clear conception of where I hope to go from here. Juilliard was the dream for so many years, and I never really thought about what would come next. My four years have been filled with such a wide variety of experiences that I find myself blessed and cursed by having developed such a large array of possible interest and careers paths.

By Lyn Schoch, 1^st year trumpet major

1.  As I mentioned in my previous blog, I am reminded of the Olive Garden slogan: “When you’re here, you’re family.”  All of the faculty, staff, and students at Juilliard are supportive and eager to make sure your time at Juilliard is productive and beneficial to your art as well as your person.  Juilliard is truly a unique institution, and while the students here are constantly faced with very high expectations, the entire community wants to see nothing but success. 

Which brings me to the next thing…

2.  At Juilliard, success does not exclusively mean achieving perfection.  Our teachers and colleagues want to see us improve, whether that means becoming increasingly comfortable playing in studio class or winning an orchestral audition.  Sure, there is a certain amount of pressure to perform to the best of one’s abilities, but there is rarely any kind of unhealthy demand to achieve perfection.

3.  Lincoln Center is truly the single most amazing place to live, and there could be no better home for Juilliard and its students.  Between the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, the New York City Ballet, the 66th St. subway stop, and Big Nick’s Pizza, it doesn’t get any better than this.

4.  Just to clear up any confusion, Juilliard is a conservatory, which means there is no traditional academic curriculum that includes math, science, history, and english.  Students here are required to take a certain amount of humanities/english/literature classes, which may also include a foreign language, but you generally only take one of these classes per semester.  And of course, music history classes are required.

5.  No one here ever puts razors between piano keys.  People do not try to sabotage their peers, and any competition that arises is healthy and beneficial to everyone involved.  None of this “I’m the best” stuff.

6.  Itzhak Perlman can actually be seen around school from time to time, and President Polisi really is an accomplished bassoon player.

7.  The entire school consists of one 5-floor building, and the dorms are located right next to the main building.  The dorms are in a 29- floor building, and you can actually walk from them to the main building without going down onto the main street.  Did I mention that the dorm (and the school) is right next to Lincoln Center?  That means you are a two-and-a-half minute walk away from Avery Fisher Hall, the Metropolitan Opera, and the New York City Ballet.  It’s awesome.

8.  There are about 400 undergraduate students and 400 graduate students, so the entire student body is less than 800.  Music students represent the bulk of the school– only about 200 students are non-music majors.

9.  I have had an amazing experience being able to collaborate with the graduate trumpet players, and I’ve also been able to play with other graduate instrumentalists in orchestra.  There’s only one orchestra, so there is always a wide range of grade levels within the sections.  I can’t speak for other studios, but at least in the trumpet studio there isn’t a giant wall between the undergraduate and graduate students.  I have learned and grown so much from being around the older students, both in musical and non-musical situations.

10.  Being a student at The Juilliard School is the single most amazing thing in the world.  It’s just that simple.

By Lee Cioppa, Associate Dean for Admissions

New York City can inspire great love, and sometimes fear or intimidation, for those who don’t know it, or are not used to large cities.  There is no doubt that it is a mecca for the arts – full of opportunity both to perform and to see the world’s greatest artists.

But I am often struck by the little moments that can pass by so swiftly that they might not register as unusual, or uniquely New York.

Yesterday I wrote about my morning subway ride.  This morning, as I walked down Amsterdam Avenue from 72nd Street (a bit late to work after a late evening of auditions) I passed the branch New York Public Library that is just around the corner from Juilliard.  And there was a line outside, because it was about 10 minutes to 10.

Shouldn’t all libraries have lines of eager people outside, just waiting for them to open?

By Lee Cioppa, Associate Dean for Admissions 

This morning, I was on the subway at a ridiculously early hour, on my way to work for our January auditions.  Many train drivers are quiet, and don’t use the P.A. system except to announce delays, etc.  But sometimes, you ride a train with a driver who is feeling chatty.

So, I’m sitting down, a little bleary-eyed (having had only one cup of coffee before leaving my house), and the driver says:

“This is the 1 train to South Ferry.  Next stop, 96th Street.  [Long Pause]  And just a reminder, this is a very special day today.  Today is the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. and tomorrow we get a new president.  Happy Holiday, and God bless America.”

 Thank you, Mr. Driver, whoever you are.

By: Mary Ellen Beaudreau, Third Year Dance Student

On August 20^th 2004, I arrived at Juilliard, nervous and excited – greeted by a group of beautiful, energetic Orientation Leaders. Posted all over the walls of the dorms were signs that read: “Juilliard: You think you know but you have no idea.” It’s true. No one really understands what he/she is getting into when they come to Juilliard so I asked some fellow dancers about their experiences here. I found that many people had similar observations about the dance program and life at Juilliard. Here is what we wished we had known before coming to this school:

1. Juilliard: the Dance Program

Schedule

Our schedule is pretty intense. We usually start with an academic class, such as Humanities, that starts at 9am or even 8am if you have Alexander Technique. Then, after a 20 minute break we have ballet class, then a modern technique (Limon, Graham, Taylor, Horton, or Cunningham) followed by a Pas de Deux or Choreography & Composition class. Our lunch is about 40 minutes long and then we plunge into either another academic class or an elective such as Voice or Jazz and then into rehearsals held by guest or peer choreographers. Some dancers and choreographers stay well into the night – until 10 or 11pm, but this is only if you want to do extra independent projects.

Performance Opportunities

Although there are many opportunities to perform and choreograph, not every dancer will be cast in a piece. Freshman year is very slow as far a performing goes except for the opportunity to choreograph in studio workshops and performing Missa Brevis by José Limón in May. Choreography is not the focus at Juilliard although you do have the opportunity to choreograph in workshops and in the 3^rd and 4^th year shows.

Freshman Year

Be prepared to be overwhelmed by life in New York, new friends, roommates, the labyrinth of staircases and halls at Juilliard and new dance concepts and techniques. I was a little scared and unsure after my first few weeks at Juilliard and from what I know, most everyone feels this way. I remember standing at the barre and wondering why we were talking about the mechanics of a plié or the space between our shoulders and head. I panicked. I know now that there is a rhyme and reason for the slow pace in the first year of training. Try not to get impatient with yourself when gaining new concepts. Try to listen and learn from the teachers – they have been doing this a long time. Also, feel free to have an open dialogue with the teachers.

2. Outreach and Finding Community at Juilliard

There are many programs at Juilliard such as Art Reach that allow artists at Juilliard to collaborate and do outreach programs. Recently Art Reach raised money to perform in New Orleans. Art Reach is a great way to meet people in different divisions.

The Gluck Community Service Fellowship, another program, provides funding for you to form your own group of artists from Juilliard to perform in hospitals, homeless shelters and wherever there is a need. It is an eye opening experience to say the least.

3. Living in New York City

Dorm versus Apartment Life

I lived in both the dorms at Juilliard and in various apartments in Manhattan. Personally, I found the dorms to be quite smothering because the rooms are very small and you have about eight suite-mates. It’s hard to find your own space and those quiet moments we all need. I also found the cafeteria food to be somewhat monotonous after a while, and we did not have any access to a kitchen. The great thing about the dorms is that you are right at school. You can literally hop out of your bed and be in class within 5 minutes.

Apartment searching in New York City is draining, especially if you are looking for roommates at the same time. The prices vary, but I have found rooms in Manhattan, mostly in the Harlem district, that cost anywhere from $550 to $800 per month. I currently live in Hamilton Heights and I enjoy the diversity as well as being around so many families. It’s important to get to know the area that you live in and be responsible about how you get home at night even if you feel safe in your neighborhood.

4. Survival

Take care of yourself. Make sure that you get enough sleep and nourishing foods – plenty of well-balanced meals! Juilliard is rough on your body, mind and spirit. Take time to meet people and get out into New York City with your friends. Explore different neighborhoods in all the boroughs in New York City. Take the time to clear your head and have some quality “you” time. Read a book, stare into space, or go to the park. Counseling is also available for free at the Juilliard Health Office if you just need to vent. Find those people in your life who support you and will be with you no matter what. Mostly, have confidence in yourself, explore new concepts and ideas and never EVER label yourself or let anyone else put you in a box, artistically or otherwise.

There are many Juilliard dance graduates who have defined what “success” means to them. There are dancers who have joined major ballet and modern companies or freelance in various cities around the world. There are some who have gone on to receive degrees in other fields and some who have dedicated their lives to spreading art and dance around the world. Even those who have graced Juilliard for just a year or two take the experience with them forever.

By: Hannah Goldshlack, Second-Year Music Student

I am sure that all of you as prospectives, current students, parents, or teachers can relate when I say that mentioning the name “Juilliard” in the context of applying or attending elicits certain incredulous stares that imply your insanity. I have found that rather ubiquitously, people are under the impression that Juilliard is about as brutal as brutality can get. We current students have to laugh at these outraged reactions, because the number of erroneous rumors about Juilliard is overwhelming.

Rumor: The competition inside the walls of Juilliard is nothing short of cutthroat.

Fact: The fact is that if you have been accepted, you have already overcome most of the competition you will encounter at Juilliard. This rumor is easy to believe simply because of the very small number of students, but if you decide that Juilliard is the place for you, inevitably you will be pleasantly surprised that the environment among students, faculty, and staff is warm, constructive, and highly cooperative. Inter-departmental collaborating is one of the aspects at Juilliard that many current students find the most appealing and rewarding. Do not feel daunted solely from what you saw during auditions.

Rumor: Pianists stick razor blades between the piano keys.

Fact: I laughed in the face of the person who asked me if this rumor was true. I have heard this one from a few different sources, and I do not have the slightest clue who put that out there, but I can assure you that no one’s motives to succeed are strong enough to sabotage personal practice time, a fellow student, or the Steinway.

Rumor: Movies like “Save the Last Dance,” “Step Up,” and “Center Stage” are an accurate representation of how Juilliard functions.

Fact: Juilliard musicians do not sing or play their instruments obsessively in the hallways 24/7, our dancers do not look like stick figures, and it is not the norm for someone to have a nervous breakdown about a lesson. Movies that insinuate the Juilliard institution or explicitly call that mammoth hurdle Juilliard should never, ever, under any circumstances, be used as a gauge or guide. Juilliard students are just that: students! The only difference between the students here and the students at a regular four-year university is that we are focused on and dedicated to the arts. The notion that we are programmed robots who have never heard the word “fun” is untrue. Do not be fooled by that girl in “Center Stage” who developed bulimia because she felt it would get her ahead. The Juilliard atmosphere NEVER condones self-destruction.

Rumor: Your audition is not as important as having connections to the faculty and the school.

Fact: Juilliard students come from all different backgrounds, places, and levels of artistic education. Some graduate from fine arts high schools, some from public schools, some were former students of the Pre-College Division, and for some, their Juilliard audition was the first time they have ever been to New York. Maybe you already have already worked with some of the faculty; maybe you have never met anyone who affiliates themselves with Juilliard. A trial lesson is smart simply for your own understanding of the teachers’ styles and your compatibility, but it does not implicitly save you a place on the roster. All students who audition are heard objectively. If you don’t believe me, I come from a town with a diameter of five miles, most of which is corn and cows.

As the list of ridiculous rumors continues to extend based on other peoples’ lack or misunderstanding of truth, be wary. Juilliard is a place where students come to work hard on what they love, and to get the best arts education available. But I suspect you already knew that.