Visual and Performing Arts
Students who might be interested in studying the visual or performing arts in college will need to approach the college search and application process a bit differently. The College Counseling Team (and the Creative Arts faculty at Brimmer) can advise students about specific programs, schools, and faculties at conservatories and colleges.
Know Your Degree Options
There are several degree options:
1) A Bachelor of Arts Degree (BA) with a major in the arts from a liberal arts curriculum
2) A Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (BFA) or a Bachelor of Music Degree (BM), which are for artists and performers and more professionally oriented
Careful thought must be given to career goals when deciding which degree to seek. The BFA or BM degree is a more artistically focused and the majority of coursework for the degree will be in either art or music performance with a minimum of general education classes. A BA in music or studio art at a liberal arts college allows (and requires) the student to take classes in many academic disciplines outside of the major.
How is a Conservatory Different From a College?
Conservatories and art schools typically offer BM or BFA degrees. Students who choose this type of school are preparing for careers in the creative arts. Admission to these schools is usually heavily based on the talent of the student as demonstrated by the portfolio or audition. Some larger colleges and universities offer BFA/BM degrees as well as BA degrees in the arts, offering students more flexibility and choices in curriculum.
Preparing Portfolios and Auditions
In addition to completing a regular college application, students in the visual or performing arts usually need to prepare a portfolio or an audition. Specific information about portfolio/audition requirements are posted on individual schools’ websites. Art and architecture students are advised to begin working on their portfolios early and normally do so through the Advanced Placement courses in studio art beginning in the second semester of the junior year. Work from these courses is geared to filling portfolio requirements. Students preparing for a music, dance, or theatre audition can obtain assistance from teachers in the Creative Arts Department to prepare for a video or in-person audition.
Brimmer and May School
69 Middlesex Road
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-566-7462
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-566-7462
As an inclusive private school community, Brimmer welcomes students who will increase the diversity of our school. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, or any other characteristic protected from discrimination under state or federal law, in the administration of our educational policies, admissions practices, financial aid decisions, and athletic and other school-administered programs.