<p>operamom, the music department's info about private lessons may answer some of your questions: Private</a> Study</p>
<p>It seems like there are no faculty members in the Bi-Co who give private voice lessons, but there is a list of vocal teachers who are willing to teach on campus. You would have to pay for the lessons yourself, but you can apply for a subsidy if your D is taking Chorale or Chamber Singers.</p>
<p>Yes Operamom... that would be very inconvenient (and I think you're dating yourself by saying you had to take a bus from 69th street!). :) I was remembering my friends who went to Curtis for piano and voice. You can also go to Penn (consortium) and I'm sure there are plenty of private teachers in Philly and the mainline.</p>
<p>To get to Curtis from BMC/HC, take the R5 to Broad/14th street and walk about 5 blocks south. To get to Penn, take the R5 to 30th street and walk 5 blocks south and 3 blocks west. You can drive too.</p>
<h2>Regarding private lessons...</h2>
<p>Private</a> Study</p>
<p>"Students who are accepted in a faculty-led program (chorale, chamber singers, orchestra, piano study) can take partially-subsidized private lessons for one-half graded credit per semester with any teacher in the Greater Philadelphia area whose credentials are approved by the department of music. Students must take 10 lessons a semester and perform for a jury to qualify for both credit and subsidy. A roster of excellent teachers who are already approved for study and teach on campus are listed below, many of whom are associated with the Curtis Institute, Temple University, and perform with major musical organizations in the city.</p>
<h2>Lessons usually cost between $50-$65 an hour. Subsidies are between $100 -$250 per semester depending on student involvement in the program (Music Majors/Minors receive more subsidy)."</h2>
<p>I think it best to e-mail T.Lloyd and ask for student contacts who may answer your specific questions.</p>
<p>Thanks, b@r!um. I am glad that there is a voice teacher list, and D will email the HC music department.</p>
<p>HC Alum--I am, in fact, very dated. Thank you for the transportation update and the email contact. This will definitely help!</p>
<p>50 dollars an hour (granted, I come from Boston where everything is exorbitant and study with a well-known teacher which adds greatly to the cost) is not bad at all. I definitely intend to play in the Bi-Co orchestra, and my teacher thought there was a Tri-Co orch which is more rigorous, so I would prefer to do that. HC, thanks for the info. I have a feeling that to satisfy my musical needs I will need to go to Curtis (studying at New England Conservatory has made me a horn snob...) but I play in two college orchestras (Harvard-Radcliffe and BC) as well as NEC's premier orch., and while the college orchestras aren't anywhere near as advanced (HRO has its good players...and its not so good ones), both are a lot of fun. I made the clear decision not to go to conservatory because I wanted an LA education and I have a feeling that the horn will be something I play privately/teacher and with the Bi-Co orch but will quickly fall behind in priority to my academics! How reliable is SEPTA?</p>
<p>My best friend plays the French horn in Haverford's orchestra and Swarthmore's wind ensemble. She likes the wind ensemble a lot better, but she gets a subsidy for her private lessons and academic credit for playing in the orchestra.</p>
<p>Septa, or at least the RR trains are quite reliable (I have yet to experience a train that is more than 5 minutes late), but the train schedules change quite frequently due to ongoing construction work.</p>
<p>Ooh a fellow owl who plays horn! Cool! How does she find the schlep to Swat?</p>
<p>As between the three, I would want my kid to pick Wellesley. It has the reputation for being able to do the most for its students, and its academics are at least as good as - and probably better than - the others.</p>
<p>Bryn Mawr. It's just better. I'm biased of course, but I think most people pick Wellesley because of its name recognition over anything else.
Bryn Mawr, based on what I saw when I visited WC, went to camp at Wellesley and friend's at Wellesley, is far more academic. I think they have the same grade deflation, but I know that the rate of Bryn Mawr students getting PhDs is far higher. Also, Bryn Mawr has the highest percentage of women going to Medical school, so we have are just as professional as Wellesley.
It is far easier to get into Philadelphia than it is to get to Boston from Wellesley. The town of Bryn Mawr, though it is also small and suburban, has much more going on than the town of Wellesley; additionally, we have better town and gown relations. There are also better relations with surrounding schools (Haverford, Swarthmore and Penn vs. MIT). I personally feel that the tri-co provides a more accessible community than the schools that are in Wellesley's reach. As far as I know, we socialize and study with the tri-co more; the tri-co's students interact more for sure.
Finally, Bryn Mawr has traditions. Wellesley has these too, as most women's colleges, let alone liberal arts colleges do. However, Bryn Mawr College is firmly rooted in their traditions. I would hope that every woman could have the chance of experiencing the sisterhood and the legacy passed down through Bryn Mawr traditions.</p>
<p>It's understandable to pick another school over Bryn Mawr because you simply like it more, but it would be a huge mistake to pick Wellesley just because of its ranking or name.</p>
<p>froghorn, I told my friend that I know a prospective students who is a horn player and she is really excited to meet you if you come in the fall! I can give you her email if you would like - just PM me. She said the trip to Swat is "not too bad". You would have to take the shuttle at 6:05 and get back around 10:30 on Tuesday nights. My friend actually leaves earlier because she is taking private lessons from the director of the wind ensemble who is a horn player too. She says he is the best horn player and the best teacher she has ever had. Then she raved about how he knew all those exercises and how he adapts them to every individual student's needs etc. Sometimes he also gives her rides back to the college (he offered to give her a ride every week, but she is not comfortable riding with him every week).</p>
<p>I was wondering if anyone has any updated thoughts about which school between Smith and Bryn Mawr (at Haverford) has the better music program? Maybe there are new thoughts about them within the past few months. I don't plan to major in it (probably minor), but music is definitely a huge part of my life, so knowing which school has an easier commute and overall more pervasive program would be great!! =D</p>
<p>Also, would anyone have any idea about their East Asian studies (Japanese) programs?</p>
<p>Hi</p>
<p>I’m very interested in Bryn Mawr as well as Smith and Wellesley. My only concern is that Bryn Mawr seems to have a study-holic vide. I want to got to college and have a well-rounded experience. I do want to work hard but I don’t want to spend 4 years of my life in a library. Can some tell me about their exprerience about the balance of work and play at Smith, Wellesley and Bryn Mawr.</p>
<p>Hi hopefulU,</p>
<p>From my experience, Mawrtyrs definitely work hard to play hard, so to speak. Yes, my classes are challenging, but in a way that I find enriching and rewarding, not in a tedious, mindless busywork kind of way. I think our geographic location really helps students strike a balance between work and play. Whenever I feel stressed I can always hop on a train and be in downtown Philadelphia in 20 minutes to spend the afternoon at Rittenhouse Square or get dinner with friends. I don’t feel like I’m isolated or trapped within an academic bubble. Because of our Academic and Social Honor Code, students do not discuss grades with one another, fostering an inclusive and supportive community where the only competition is yourself. I definitely work hard at Bryn Mawr, but that’s why I came here-- to get an incredible education. But unlike other schools I contemplated, Bryn Mawr’s social atmosphere is very welcoming and laidback-- I can always find someone to go out with me to a concert or order pizza with.</p>