Should you go where your scene is, or where the money is ?
I'm a modern music student (24M) who recently got accepted to two conservatories in my country. I can't decide which one to pick, so I come for your advice.
The main reason I want to go to any of them is because that will get me a teaching degree, with wich I can get into a titular position at any state school/conservatory.
But I also have a dream of becoming an artist/songwriter, and so I'm preoccupied by the contacts and the local scene I'm gonna grow in.
The first one is situated in my country's capital.
Pros :
\- in addition to the teaching degree, also provides a musician degree and a musicologist degree. However, those two are kinda useless in my field (pop/rock/jazz bassist), but they sound good on a resume
\- I already know a lot of musicians in this city, from previous jazz studies in the capital
\- better overall musicianship among students
\- more money and more industry people
\- I know a few aspiring filmmakers in the city, with whom I worked as a composer
Cons :
\- the local scene there is very fragmented and eclectic, but mostly rap/electro/jazz, while my personal project is more alternative rock oriented
\- very expensive city, poor living conditions
\- very competitive scene
\- since this school makes you study for 3 degrees at the same time, it spends less time on teaching you pedagogy
\- the school itself is quite conservative and elitist
\- supposedly, the school has a lot of classes that tie into professionalising your own music project, but looking at it's curriculum I fail to see any appart from a few here and there. However, it has a lot of academic/research classes for which I do not care about, and I fear I won't have time to work on my stuff anymore
The second school is in an other big city in my country.
Pros :
\- the local scene is very alternative rock oriented, very experimental, more in line with my project
\- the city is smaller but with a big artistic/student vibe, the scene is less competitive and easier to grow into
\- the school is very progessive
\- the classes are very pedagogy oriented, lots of practical courses ; I feel like it would make me a better teacher
Cons :
\- less overall musicianship among students
\- less money and industry in the city, no international ties
\- I don't know anybody there