Manhattan School of Music offers students a challenging and nurturing atmosphere in which to grow both musically and personally. The path to becoming a musician is an exciting one to take, and the Student Life office is here to help guide you through its pitfalls and potholes. We also take pride in the accomplishments of our extraordinarily talented and gifted students and rejoice in the diversity of their personalities.

With a beautiful residence hall that was first opened in 2001, we have become a campus, not just a building. A sense of community has grown out of this amazing structure, which has spacious rooms with incredible views of one of the most stimulating neighborhoods in Manhattan. We are surrounded by prominent institutions such as Riverside Church, Jewish Theological Seminary, Columbia University, Teachers College, and Barnard College. The Morningside Heights neighborhood is in the midst of a growth spurt that will continue for decades. There is convenient public transportation to all points of New York City and all that it has to offer. I encourage all students to take advantage of this unique city. I also emphasize a line from the song “New York, New York” and remind students: “If I can make it there/ I’ll make it anywhere.”

New York City and Manhattan School of Music offer challenges that are often new to students, especially those who are coming to New York for the first time. The office of the Dean of Students operates on an open-door policy, and I am available to students whenever they have a problem, need advice, require information, or just want to talk. As a professional musician, I have been there and done that and I am well acquainted with the pressures and the pleasures of a career in music. The Student Life office and its staff offer a huge range of services and resources available to all students. From your orientation as a new student, right up to your graduation, we are here to help. We try to create social occasions to relieve the tedium of practicing and allow students to get to know one another. We give advice about counseling and health services. We organize everything that involves students and enjoy working with and for all the students who choose this institution as their home for their education.

Manhattan School of Music is a wonderful college, and I hope that you will join me in hearing its sounds and take pride in its products.

Elsa Jean Davidson
Dean of Students
ejdavidson@msmnyc.edu