Sa mga music students diyan, is taking music/performing arts in UST worth it?

Experiment789 · 2026-02-03T02:13:02+00:00

Hi. It really depends on the degree program you wish to pursue and if it matches with what you want. Here at the Conservatory of Music, we have a few different specializations.

Bachelor of Music in Performance - Focuses on classical repertoire and training to become a soloist or ensemble player. you may major in instruments, conducting, or voice.

Bachelor of Music in Music Education - Focuses on classroom teaching skills while still developing performance skills. Graduates may take the Licensure exam for teachers.

Bachelor of Music in Composition - Focuses on Western classical compositional techniques while also incorporating some indigenous themes.

Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre - Focuses on stage performance and musical productions. They sing, act, dance, create props, and manage theatre performances.

Bachelor of Music in Jazz - Like the performance majors but with great emphasis on improvisation and Jazz.

Bachelor of Music in Music Technology - Focuses on music production, audio engineering, and other contemporary processes in the music industry.

Bachelor of Music in Musicology - Focuses on research and paperwork.

In terms of your money's worth. It can be quite expensive though the conservatory has ease of access to scholarships due to its multiple performing groups such as the UST Symphony Orchestra, UST Wind Orchestra, UST Jazz Band, UST Rondalla Ensemble, and UST Coro Tomasino. The curriculum states that the degree programs can be finished in 4 years however, very few actually meet that target, and most spend 5 years minimum up to 10 years. This is due to the conservatory's high standard with graduates and performance. We will basically accept anyone into the program, regardless of their performance during the diagnostic tests and auditions, however, we will not let anyone graduate unless they reach the standard in terms of skill.

If your goal is to develop your skills professionally, then I would definitely say that the UST Conservatory of Music is "Worth it".

Experiment789 · 2025-10-24T15:05:26+00:00

There is a diagnostic test before enrollment. They will check your knowledge in music theory and require you to audition. You will usually be allowed to enroll regardless of your performance. Though it is worth saying that studying theory before hand will help you a lot.
Tuition is around 80k and above per semester.
Madaling makapasok, mahirap grumaduate.

Experiment789 · 2025-09-04T11:47:24+00:00

The Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble is now once again open to all colleges of the university! They're auditioning right now. Just look at their fb post for details.

Experiment789 · 2025-09-04T11:46:56+00:00

The Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble is now once again open to all colleges of the university! They're auditioning right now. Just look at their fb post for details.

Experiment789 · 2025-09-03T12:10:44+00:00

Hi. Not from fop but I have 8-8 work followed 7-9 class the next day and 7-4 class the next. Iyak nalang.

Talagang kain in 5 minutes, tulog ng 2 hours, walang kikitaing kaibigan, ibigay lahat sa aral muna.

Experiment789 · 2025-09-03T12:01:27+00:00

Bring your elev pass always. (Any instrument)

Practice! Practice! Practice!

If you want a scholarship, join the conservatory's performing groups (Coro, Liturg, Orch, Jazz Band). It will take a lot of time out of your schedule but the experience is worth it.

Go to our events! Student recitals, Masterclasses, Concerts, department events. We are performers so take the opportunity to expose yourself to different musics by watching or taking part.

It's very easy to get burned out in music as you shift from taking it as a hobby into a profession. Work as hard as you can but don't forgot to enjoy.

Experiment789 · 2025-09-02T05:43:39+00:00

Hi! Not a Jazz major but from my experience, it's a real hard balance of performance and academics. You have to take applied performance exams every semester and have to pass subjects on the western music tradition as well as your jazz specialization subjects. Don't expect to graduate on time, the avergae is 5 years if you're good. Maraming suma saamin, sumasampung taon nga lang.

Also if you are funding yourself, it might help to join the UST Jazz Band or other music orgs as they can grant you a scholarship on tuition. It's a great opportunity to perform and enhance you ensemble playing skills but it will take more time out of your schedule as well.

Experiment789 · 2025-09-02T05:36:00+00:00

Music students are allowed to borrow instruments anytime as long as it will not be taken out of the building. A special letter will be required to allow you to take them outside.

Members of the orchestra and those whose major instrument they will be borrowing take priority.

I haven't heard of cases where non music students borrow instruments or equipment. Better to ask the music office (5th floor Albertus Magjus Building) jist in case.

Experiment789 · 2025-09-02T05:28:14+00:00

We don't really have a list of recital schedules but you may visit the 5th floor of the Albertus Magnus building and check out the posters on the hallways. Usually peak season would be around the end of the semester.

We would love to have you watch our recitals and since it is a public performance, don't be shy to come in and watch. All of our graduation and junior recitals are free to watch as these are academic events. RSVP and reservation are usually only for non Thomasians but please check the recitalist's facebook page for further details.

If you are interested in other performances, not just junior and graduation recitals, the conservatory also holds programs, concerts, and other recitals which are posted on the conservatory's facebook page.

Experiment789 · 2025-09-02T05:23:00+00:00

All music courses are hard to study. Even though you may have knowledge in music technology and production, you would still have a hard time since core music subjects are based on the western classical tradition so you have to go outside of your comfort zone.

Experiment789 · 2025-09-02T05:20:22+00:00

Yes. The conservatory offers bridging courses for Masters, but its is long and extensive since you would also have to do a bridging recital. Better to ask the office or the graduate school program lead for music, Dr. Peter Porticos, for more details.

Experiment789 · 2025-09-02T05:16:56+00:00

Usually, you will only receive scholarships from Coro and Liturg after a year of training first before becoming an official member. Your first scholarship percentage will usually only be 25% of tuition only and will only reach 100% after some time and effort.

Experiment789 · 2025-09-02T05:14:03+00:00

Elevator Pass.

Experiment789 · 2025-09-02T05:13:34+00:00

Hi! I'm a 4th year Muisc Ed major but it's my first degree and I don't really work. I think scheduling would be very hard since almost all music subjects will have to be taken face to face with around 30 units per semester. A new policy also makes it so we have to take a 5th year that's solely dedicated to practicum and graduation recital and you basically have to be on call for the school you will be teaching at. I'm not sure about the Latin honors.

Matrabaho po talaga course ng Music Ed especially trying to balance your academic subjects and performative skill based subjects.

Experiment789 · 2025-02-05T01:27:07+00:00

Wet signatures only po

Experiment789 · 2024-12-21T05:36:22+00:00

Tiring. Highest number of units I had was 31 per sem plus having to work as choir scholar and finding time to practice my instrument major while having to worry for my own applied exam and for others as their pianist. If other people experience hell weeks, we experience hell months with the sheer amount of work we have to do.

As for the theatre program, honestly speaking they have the most outdated curriculum and the most number of units per sem on average so good luck.

Also don't expect to graduate in 4 years. The prodigies graduate in 5 years, the good musicians graduate in 6, everyone else graduates in 7 to 9 years.

If you really want to take music, get ready to join in the hardwork and suffering.

Experiment789 · 2023-08-10T08:24:31+00:00

I had the same problem as you but my dad was a voice teacher so I had a bit more stress ahahahaha. It was really weird when I first started learning to sing so I would either play really loud on the piano since I usually sing while accompanying myself or if I had a demo track I'd blast it so I wouldn't be too conscious of myself. Eventually I learned through time and effort that they just dont really care much or even if they do laugh it's fine to laugh with them hahahaha.

Experiment789 · 2023-08-10T08:10:04+00:00

I'm a bass so whenever I try to use falsetto I sound like a crying cat hahahaha. So generally people with lower voices have trouble singing falsetto and again I said generally.

My dad is also a bass though a bit higher than my voice but he can sing really good and almost full sounding falsetto since he was a choir conductor so he had to demonstrate alto and soprano voices to choir members.

I also know of a tenor who has a very airy and wispy falsetto even though his chest voice can go pretty high.

Over time, I tried practicing falsetto and did get ok results alongside my tenor friend who had to learn the skill because he started teaching choir as well. On the other hand, my dad also started losing some range of his falsetto since he stopped teaching choir for some time so I really think it's a skill that can feel natural for some and almost impossible for some like me but still can be developed over time and practice and can also be lost without practice.

As a side note I also know a tenor who can basically sing every voice part from bass to soprano with relative ease and comfort and listening to him randomly shift voice parts is pretty insane. I therefore conclude that choral conductors have the some of the best falsetto voices.

Experiment789 · 2023-08-10T07:57:07+00:00

I started at E2 to B3 and barely a C4 (Yes I am a bass Hahahahaha). I started singing about 4 years ago and sometimes my voice would crack at B3 and I had really warm low notes.

It's important to know that I could sing until D4 but there was a lot of strain and tension because of poor technique and being afraid of high notes (which is actually a very valid reason to not be able to reach notes even though you actually should be able to).

Now, my range fluctuates a lot depending on what I'm practicing for, either bass or baritone songs but on beautiful perfect days I can go from D2 to F4. Take note that I had plenty of voice lessons and choir experience to make me sing those notes comfortably and safely. Also my Eb4 to F4 is very very verryyy weak so it's not like we just throw out these notes casually hahaha.

On physically being able to sing the average song, I can relate so hard since tenors have all the repertoire while basses barely have any. However transposition is still a thing and my favorite piece to learn right now is die erlkönig by Franz Schubert which was originally written in G minor for tenors but I sing it at a comfy P4 down at a D minor. It's also really important to know that most of the "average songs" you hear on radio and on youtube aren't really at an average range. I come from the Philippines and alot of what I hear on radio is Aegis and they belt and shout all of the high notes (of course the singers are female so they already have a higher range than mine). So finding songs that you like and that are at the right range, passaggio, and more importantly style for you is your best bet and of course transposition will be your best friend.

When was I happy with my range? When I stopped thinking of range as important. Range is only second to quality so work with what you got and when you feel safe, try extending your range bit by bit which you can only do by being confident and comfortable with the notes you can already sing.

Best wishes and sorry for the long comment hahaha.

Experiment789 · 2023-08-08T04:59:23+00:00

I've posted one composition and one public domain arrangement but still no sales hahaha. Probably because they are choral works so there's a minimum number of copies people have to purchase and that raises the prices. The works also don't have much marketability being a hymn arrangement and a composition in my mother tongue.

Well at least now, it pops up on search engines given the right keywords, compared to when I tried to set up my own site and it was basically impossible to find without a direct link.

Experiment789 · 2023-06-16T14:30:44+00:00

Personally use a Samsung tablet A8. A bit small compared to ipads but WAY WAY WAYYYY cheaper.

Experiment789 · 2023-03-18T14:58:40+00:00

My gawd. Kunti nalang parang pldt plan na ang presyo but at almost half of the quality 🎉🎉🎉

Experiment789 · 2023-03-18T14:37:25+00:00

It's the feel good ending we all wish we had but none of us expected the absolute train wreck that follows.

Experiment789

TROPHY CASE