For students who are in the process of researching colleges/universities, one of the best ways to learn more is to schedule a college visit. Taking the time to visit a campus and ask questions will ultimately help you with your decision-making process.
The most successful way to compare schools on your list is to be prepared with questions. Don’t be afraid to ask these of your tour guide, professors, or admissions counselors. But as important as the campus visit is, it can be a waste of time if you don't ask the right questions. This is your chance to get to know what life would be like on a particular campus!
To help you with planning your college visit we’ve compiled a list of questions with assistance from Donna Menhart, Director of Undergraduate Studies at The Hartt School.
1. Will you have access to full faculty?
At The Hartt School the student to teacher ratio is approximately 5:1. Hartt classes are typically small, with a maximum of 20-25.
2. Is the faculty active in their discipline?
Yes, as scholars, theorists, and performers, Hartt faculty members are internationally recognized and are involved with professional performances and lectures, they present at and attend conferences and symposia, and are contributors to numerous national and international scholarly publications. This allows Hartt faculty to maintain their knowledge of trends in their discipline.
3. What are the performance opportunities you will have?
Whether you are a Music, Theatre, or Dance student we have a robust amount of performance opportunities. Solo recitals, orchestra, ensembles, choirs, chamber groups, main stage and black box opera performance, and theatre productions. The Hartt School has over 400 performances and events each year.
4. Are there opportunities for student to student or student to faculty collaborations?
Here at Hartt, collaborations are a major focus in all disciplines. Some examples of cross discipline collaborations include:
- Our composition students work with our Theatre faculty to compose music for the Actor Training productions. In the spring semester senior choreographers work with music composition students to produce a senior dance performance.
- Every spring semester, the entire Hartt School comes together to produce the annual Collage Concert. This collaborative concert features 90 minutes of continuous music, dance, and theatre. All performing disciplines participate in Collage.
- Hartt ensembles often perform new works composed by Hartt faculty.
- In addition to collaborations within the school, Hartt has collaborated with other schools within the University of Hartford including performances in the Hartford Art School gallery spaces and the acoustics program within CETA (College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture.)
5. What are the internship or partnership opportunities available?
Internships and partnerships are available in every discipline in The Hartt School. Here are a few examples:
- Hartt Music Management and Performing Arts Management have had internships throughout the country at various symphony orchestras, regional theaters, and recording studios. Some of these include American Ballet Theatre, ASCAP, Blue Note Records, Clear Channel Communications, Columbia Records, Madison Square Garden/Fuse, Newport Music Festival, Sony Music Studios, just to name a few.
- The Hartt School has a unique "Partnership in Training" with the Tony Award-winning theatres, Hartford Stage and Goodspeed Musicals. Music Theatre and Actor Training students have the opportunity to work in these theatres including of Hartford Stage’s A Christmas Carol, and Goodspeed Musicals’ Festival of New Artists.
- Hartt Music Education Division has significant associations with schools across the state. Music Education students observe and student teach within these schools. Hartt Music Education’s Division has a 100% job placement for those seeking employment.
6. Are there any new programs are under consideration?
New Courses and programs are continuously being created at Hartt. In the most recent academic year, a new course or program proposal from almost every division has been reviewed. Hartt faculty and administration is focused on examining and incorporating contemporary trends into all curricula. It is also important to Hartt to develop new courses that will prepare students for their careers.
7. What is the advising system like?
Each student is assigned an advisor for his or her years of study at Hartt. All students have access to a full time academic advisor who will assist them with any academic concern or question. Students meet every semester with their assigned advisor to discuss their progress as well as discuss what courses should be taken.
The University of Hartford uses a platform called the Student Success Collaborative. With this platform faculty and student advisors are able to proactively address student’s needs and increase communication to help students succeed.
8. What types of groups/ensembles are there?
Bass Band, Capitol Winds, Cello Ensemble, Chamber Music, Composers Ensemble, Jazz Ensembles, Dance Performing Ensembles, Foot in the Door (Contemporary Music Ensemble), Percussion Ensemble, Steelband, Hartt Orchestra, Theatre Performing Ensembles, Trombone Ensemble, Undergraduate Opera, Camerata, Chorale, Chamber and Touring Choir, Hartt Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band, Performance 20/20 (Hartt’s Honors Chamber Music Program)
9. What is the relationship between the school and surrounding town?
Faculty and students at The Hartt School are committed to giving back to the community. We have students and faculty going into nursing homes/senior centers, libraries, and clinical settings and hospitals to perform. We have initiatives that are focused on creating community connections including the Hartt Gigline, Hartt@Home and internal committees that are charged with creating opportunities for community outreach.
The Gigline is a resource that facilitates opportunities for Hartt musicians to perform at private/corporate parties, fundraisers, weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs and more.
Hartt@Home is a performance outreach initiative of the Hartt Foundation Board of Trustees. Now in its second year, Hartt@Home brings together exceptional student performers with friends of The Hartt School who host students’ performances in their homes. The social/musical atmosphere is relaxed and the event is most often an important opportunity for the student to perform in public prior to delivering a degree recital. Hartt@Home is building audiences for Hartt School, serving the professional needs of emerging student artists, and rekindling and deepening relationships with Hartt alumni – one living room at a time.
To learn more about The Hartt School visit them on Acceptd or at www.hartford.edu/hartt
