<p>How is Amherst music department? </p>
<p>I play flute/ piccolo, and want to continue studying music and participate in various ensembles such as orchestra and wind ensemble. </p>
<p>How are the music ensembles? Does Amherst provide numerous opportunities to participate in music groups? Are the facilities good? </p>
<p>How is the music department in general? </p>
<p>Thank you :)</p>
<p>The orchestra at AC is very good. I've heard the conductor is a bit of a psycho at times, but their performances feature challenging music done very impressively. There are many other ensembles on campus, and you can start your own if there isn't one that suits your needs. </p>
<p>The facilities are good up to a point. I say that because the classrooms, performance spaces, etc. are beautiful and useful. However, practice rooms are severly underprovided. There are about 15 of them on the 3rd floor of Arms Music Center and a Few more in the basement of James/Stearns, freshman dorms. Unless you sign up in the music deptartment on a certain day in the beginning of each semester, you'll find yourself having to practice at 10AM or 11PM, or praying for a room to open up AND that scheduled practice room person not show up. Not that I see anything coming of it, but there is a petition circulating, i believe, to get more practice rooms.</p>
<p>The music major is strong at Amherst, I'm a music/econ double major, and I've had to oppportunity to work with quite a few great professors. They are very passionate about their work, so their offices are often open and they are very personable. They like to get to know you as an individual, which never hurts. Also, the fee-based lesson system is also very good. I took voice last semester and found a great deal of improvement by the end of the year.</p>
<p>Hope this helps</p>