<p>My daughter is a junior in H.S. and is a talented artist (drawing/illustration), musician (violinist) and vocalist. She would like to pursue all of these interests at a medium to small-sized liberal arts college. Unfortunately, our search is turning up schools that favor one over the other. In particular, good music schools that are not that strong in art. We are in the Upper Midwest but would consider anywhere in the country. Canada too. Anyone have any suggestions?</p>
<p>Well, I am pretty well versed in the art schools but not so much in the music. Try Goucher in Maryland. Boston University is another to look at. Skidmore, maybe?</p>
<p>Maybe Shepherd U, in West Virginia.</p>
<p>Take a look at Coe College in Iowa.</p>
<p>I think the issue is that at many schools to major in any of those subjects, it will require an audition/artistic review/portfolio. It’s not going to be possible to major in all three so she will likely have to prioritize them first then look at schools where perhaps a minor in another is available and then the third can be pursued extra-curricularly or with a couple of electives. Does she have any idea what she’d like to do when she’s finished college? That may help her choose the direction that best suits her.</p>
<p>You may want to check out the threads on the [Music</a> Major - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/]Music”>Music Major - College Confidential Forums) . Lots of discussion on double majors. But as alwaysamom says, she will probably need to focus on one major and possibly pursue her other interests as extracurriculars. Music performance is a lot more intense than parents or students realize.</p>
<p>Check out Bard in not-really-upstate NY, Lawrence in Wisconsin, Sarah Lawrence (not related) in Bronxville NY, Oberlin in Ohio (has a music conservatory, but also lots of musicians in its LAC).</p>
<p>It really depends what her goals are. Most “arty” traditional LACs will have perfectly decent music and art departments, but not high-power-conservatory type programs. People DON’T have to audition to be majors there; they tend to be non-bureaucratic and to work with kids to meet their needs. And wherever she goes, she is still going to face the problem that it’s hard to focus adequately on both, and that she could spend 100 hours/week working on just one of them at a top conservatory, Juilliard or RISD, and still be miles away from the ability to have a career in that field.</p>
<p>Luther College, Decorah, IA for music.</p>
<p>I’m not certain about the art program. Back in the last century, my sisters who graduated from there both took Pottery.</p>
<p>Bard has a conservatory integrated with the liberal arts college, which includes a well regarded studio art department.</p>
<p>Smith College, if she’s not automatically against women’s colleges. Really good art program, good music program as long as your focus is not jazz, chance to study abroad in Italy (among other places. But there’s a special study abroad program in Italy for those interested in vocal), good orchestra, ability to also play in the five-college orchestra and in small ensembles. Large chorus, strong a capella community, smaller but really well conducted Glee Club (the elite chorus), and do the Five College Opera project (doesn’t happen every year, but cool when it happens). </p>
<p>Also, she’d be in an area with a great art and music scene, so she’d have the chance to see some really good performers across a wide range of genres, and attend some good shows.</p>
<p>But I do agree with JHS, most LACs are not going to have conservatory level training, even if they have good music programs. And while their art facilities and teachers might be professional grade, it won’t be the same intensity as a big professional art program like VCU.</p>
<p>Bennington College in Vermont. She can do all 3 there, and won’t have to choose. In fact, she can do something interdisciplinary that links all her interests if she likes. Rigorous place but lots of freedom/independence to choose courses and curriculum.</p>
<p>I second Bennington.</p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon has excellent art and music, the question is to what extent you can pursue both at the same time. Worth investigating. Bard is an excellent suggestion, it’s about 2 hours north of NYC, basically directly across the river from West Point. Vassar is probably also worth a look. Plenty of performance groups, you can study your instrument and a decent looking music major as well as a studio art major.</p>
<p>Bard is a great suggestion. She could either try to pursue two separate degrees - BM in violin performance in the conservatory, if her playing is at conservatory level, and a BA in studio art in the college - or she could pursue a double major in the college alone for both music, with a performance emphasis, and studio art. The music department in the college is fantastic, in addition to the music in the conservatory. The conservatory is audition based, the music program in the college is not, although there is a rigorous moderation process at the end of the 2nd year to be accepted into all majors, including studio art, as well.</p>
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<p>This is a good point. In most LACs, I guess with the exception of Bennington, you can’t have three majors. You could double major, but I know at Smith you can’t double major and minor, not sure how widespread of a policy it is though.</p>
<p>If it weren’t for the small LAC point I would recommend U of Cincinnati. However the art program requires a portfolio and the music program is auditioned. Both are among the best in the country.</p>
<p>Williams is unusually strong in both art and music. There are three museums within stomping grounds, two walking distance. And for a violinist, there are two orchestras, a student run orchestra and a semi-professional orchestra that has a concerto competition each year. Art history is one of the strongest departments and one of the strongest in the country, and the music department is quite well-known too.</p>
<p>My S went in a s music major, morphed into a Classics major, and is now looking to pursue a career in fine arts in museums.</p>
<p>Another vote for Williams for excellence in both music and art. My son graduated in 07 with a degree in studio art and art history. The art department is well funded, with superb facilities and a faculty of practicing artists. The art history program is one of the best in the country with hands on access to some wonderful museums.</p>
<p>Many of my son’s classmates were serious musicians, both classical and contemporary. Double, and even triple, majors are fairly common and there are plenty of performance opportunities even for non-majors.</p>
<p>I’d also recommend Wesleyan.</p>
<p>Vassar is one of the few LACs with a vocal performance option. Its music department is very strong, provided you want to study classical music. I believe its art program is also good. And there are no gen ed requirements (just a foreign language requirement), so it is quite possible to double major.</p>
<p>As a rule, most of the women’s colleges and former women’s colleges are reputed to be strong in the arts.</p>
<p>Maybe Hampshire is she likes to work independently.</p>