<p>Bard has been on my mind the past few days and something about it interests me. I’ve been doing research on the internet trying to find out all that I can about Bard and to see if it could be a college for me.</p>
<p>If I were to apply there I would apply to the Conservatory of Music for Viola Performance, and then of course double major. My GPA is 3.67 UW and 4.1W, and I scored a 30 on the ACT. In school I would consider myself a “math and science” kind of guy, because those are the subjects that I do the best in. </p>
<p>Is Bard heavily focused on reading and writing? In general, how smart (or what kind of student) would be a good fit for Bard?</p>
<p>The requirement of the manditory double major is what attracted me to Bard. I like the feeling of being around people who juggle music and academics in their lives, just like I am doing in high school now.</p>
<p>Bard is a place that stresses a strong liberal arts background, that is reading, writing, math and science. It teaches students to read and think, and formulate their own opinions based on fact. It encourages discussion in small classes.</p>
<p>It all starts off with freshman orientation, Bard’s three-week Language & Thinking program. L & T’s readings in the past have been everything from Darwin to Galileo to Kafka.</p>
<p>It is also a school that places very high esteem on music and the arts.</p>
<p>A good fit might be an intelligent, inquisitive skeptic who has excelled in high school. Somebody who doesn’t merely like to regurgitate whe s/he has learned.</p>
<p>Bard has been around since the mid-1800s, and was originally part of Columbia University. Bard broke ties with Columbia in the 1920s, I believe, when Columbia wanted to remain single-sex, but Bard wanted to admit women.</p>
<p>You should absolutely go through their website. There’s a ton of information in there, and you will get a good sense of what Bard is like.</p>
<p>from what i’ve read it seems like Bard’s atmosphere is very relaxed and welcoming. but it also seems like going through the double degree program is a lot of work! but i’m finding the website to be very helpful.
Is anyone else applying to the conservatory? For viola performance, how are the teachers?</p>
<p>My son will be starting at the Conservatory in August - so I don’t have any real answers to your questions. I do know that the director of music admissions, who is on this forum, is really helpful and will be more than happy to answer any of your questions. I also know that many, if not a majority, of the conservatory students are getting their second degree in either math or science. As for the amount of work - yes, it’s alot - but no more than any other double degree program. With the added benefit that the school itself and all of the instructors have signed on to the philosophy of the double degree and will be there to support the students in their efforts. This is not always the case at every school which offers the double degree. Check out the Hopson Cottage Admissions blog linked on the main page of the conservatory website- there are a number of interesting conservatory posts. Also, if you haven’t already read it, go to Peabody’s admissions site and read their entry about double degrees. It really helps clarify if it’s the right path for you.</p>
<p>It just dawned on me that because ALL of the conservatory students are obligated to a double-degree, it’s likely that the environment is more supportive than it might be for those at other schools where a minority of conservatory students attempt such an undertaking. They’d ALL be in the same boat, and, therefore, presumably more supportive of each other. And, presumably, would feel supported by Bard, as well, since it’s their requirement.</p>
<p>My wife and I are doing a preliminary visit in a few weeks while my son is at the Litchfield Jazz Camp. If I had to guess today, I’d say his other Bard major would be Classical Studies.</p>
<p>I’m a bit intimidated by the price tag – especially over five years – and the caliber of the student body. But, philosophically, I like the double-degree requirement idea, and the NY location.</p>
<p>We know a couple of students there, so I think I’ll try to connect with them before we visit.</p>
<p>Bard is just amazing. The staff really make sure we have the best performance teachers, provide us with all the support they need to complete their dual degrees (including ESL classes), make sure that the progress of the student is adequate (and provide extra help when that’s not the case), and listen to the students’ concerns and suggestions. The facilities are terrific (the conservatory’s orchestra rehearses at an amazing building by Gehry, and a new conservatory building was open not long ago), The conservatory’s orchestras performs twice every semester, there are side-by-side sessions and concerts with the ASO, and after the spring semester the conservatory goes on a tour (last year to Asia, and this year to Russia, Hungary, Germany, Austria…). The academic classes are taught by PhDs who are well-known in their area of expertise. The vocal arts students (MM students) sing in a fully-stage opera from time to time, and have regular classes with Upshaw. There is a choral conducting program with the amazing James Bagwell and orchestral conducting with (the not-so-amazing) Harold Farberman. Bard is far from NYC, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have access to good concerts/will get bored: the city is just 2 hours away on Amtrak, there are lots of events on campus (including Conservatory Orchestra concerts, ASO concerts, conservatory students concerts…), and you won’t have much time to get bored anyway. After graduation, many of the graduate students go on to study at graduate level at Juilliard, NEC, Peabody, and in Europe.</p>
<p>On the negative side, the conservatory needs more music practice space and the music provision in the library is below acceptable. Luckily Bard Library is part of Connect NY and students can get items from better libraries. </p>
<p>I know students who have been accepted to Juilliard, and have preferred to go to Bard because of the double degree and the teachers.</p>
<p>This is a very old thread which was resurrected. My son just graduated from Bard - BM Composition and BA in Classics. If anyone has questions, please feel free to message me.</p>
<p>I hope to see this thread continue! As the parent of a student considering dual degree programs in Music Performance and a liberal arts degree (unspecified to maintain at least some privacy), I am interested in hearing from more folks about the dual degree program at Bard.</p>