Academically and Musically Strong Schools?

College Majors Music Major
1

I’m going to be a senior in the coming fall so I’m seriously considering which schools to apply to right now.

I think I’m good academically, with a pretty decent GPA and SAT score. I’ve also been told that my extracurriculars should be fine as well, even though they’re all centered around music.

But at the same time, I really enjoy playing the piano. I’ve been playing for around ten years now, and I just can’t see myself giving that up when I go to college. Piano is something that I’d like to continue pursuing for the rest of my life. As some background information, I do compete in competitions both locally and internationally. I’ve soloed with an orchestra before and have also been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall. I realize a lot of people have done these things, though, and I don’t think I’m on the same caliber of conservatory students, even though I would say I’m pretty good at the piano.

Either way, though, I would like to double major in piano performance and something else (still trying to figure out the ‘something else’). Does anyone have any suggestions for schools that have good piano faculty and that are supportive of double majors with music? Or just any general suggestions? I’m currently looking at the Ivies and some other private schools. Thanks in advance!

2

Many many threads on this subject over the years. (Try a google search.) Here are just a few:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1776599-dual-degree-double-degree-joint-degree-programs-down-south-emphasis-on-b-m-b-s-or-b-a-b-s.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1735761-double-degree-programs-p1.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1716341-double-major-degree-music.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1762149-choosing-between-a-bm-degree-and-a-ba-degree-in-music.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1596839-mathematics-and-music-double-major-double-degree-p1.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1580541-music-minor-and-dual-degrees-issues.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/653686-liberal-arts-music-double-major-schools.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1773576-suggestions-for-double-degree-friendly-violin-faculty-to-visit-for-trial-lesson.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1343994-good-school-for-dual-degree-double-major-in-music-perfrmance-and-x.html

I could add more, but this is enough to get you started. And, of course, we always recommend starting right at the beginning with the Peabody essay about the different degrees. I’m sure there are many links to that essay in these threads.

3

Again, as Spirit Manger said, start with this essay: http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html

You can audition for a BM conservatory or music school program (free-standing, or part of a university or liberal arts college). For that, 1/4-1/3 of your classes would be liberal arts and 2/3-3/4 would be music, including theory and music history etc.

You can apply to a college or university BA program for music, which may or may not have a performance component (many don’t) and may or may not have auditions for admission (many don’t but you can submit an arts supplement with a recording, music resume, awards, concert programs, and music teacher letters of recommendation.) Some will have performance for credit, some will have only extracurricular performance.

You can apply to a college or university for any major at all, other than music, and continue with lessons, practice and extracurricular performance, and some will give credit or help pay for lessons. Lessons can be on or off campus of course.

You can try to double major, or major and minor. Music majors are usually intensive and sequential so it can be hard to combine with, say, a science, in a double major.

You can do a double degree, which is usually 5 years. If you had a strong interest in another area I would recommend that. Bard, Oberlin, Lawrence, Harvard/NEC, Tufts/NEC are often mentioned. But you can also attend Harvard or Tufts or any other school and do music off campus, privately, at NEC or elsewhere.

You can major in piano for a BM or music for a BA and do fine. You do not need to try to think of another area to study for backup. Music majors are respected by employers, grad schools and med/law school etc. If you do have another area of interest, that is another story.

Read the essay and see which student you feel you most resemble and come back anytime for more questions :slight_smile:

4

Thank you for both of your responses!

Compmom, I just read the Peabody essay, which was pretty helpful. I think the situation that describes me the best would be Jennifer’s.

I’m actually not very interested in the idea of double degrees, as I’ve heard that it can be very stressful coordinating schedules between two schools. And, as I’ve mentioned earlier, while I think I’m pretty good at the piano, I don’t think I can compete with all those kids who are coming out of the pre-college divisions of conservatories like Juilliard and Colburn.

By the way, does anyone have any suggestions on schools that have good piano faculty that are also supportive of double majors?

At this point, I’m deciding between double major (or major/minor) and doing piano as a music major. When you were mentioning the last option, a major in piano for a BM or music for a BA, you said “if you do have another area of interest, that is another story”.

The issue is, while I can succeed in the most difficult classes at my school and get A’s, I don’t have a particular passion for any of those subjects. I’ve talked with another adult who was a music major and she said that she really regretted just doing a music major. She suggested to do something else and do music on the side, which would provide a much more comfortable living. I’m pretty sure I could go into something else and have a more stable future financially, but piano is my main interest. But on the other hand, I’m just nervous about the uncertainty and competition in the music world.

5

Jennifer is a little different in that she had another interest, literature. The suggestion in the essay was that someone like Jennifer start out with a double degree and/or a campus that offered both a BA and a BM, and that it was likely she would end up with one or the other, not both.

Double degrees may be easier than double majors because you have 5 years- but others can correct me if I am wrong.

You do not have to major in music or piano to continue with piano.

And if you major in music or piano your career path is not limited to music.

If you are looking at Ivies and other private schools, it does not seem as if you are headed for a conservatory BM.

I would think you might want to apply to universities/colleges that you really like for a variety of reasons (location, size, general vibe), that give you access to an excellent piano teacher, on or off campus, and some performance opportunities in and out of school. You can take some music classes and take some other classes to explore other areas, and then decide what you want to focus on.

Most or all of these schools will not have auditions for admission but will have them for extracurriculars.

I will PM you about something else :slight_smile:

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Oberlin