<p>It sounds a little bit like you are still young and finding out (which is good). There are a number of programs with good to excellent cello departments, so you do have choices. However, music performance is different than academic studies, students often go to a school because of its reputation, rather than the reputation of a specific department (that varies, of course, some students do look at individual departments, especially if looking for training in a relatively small fall, or want to go to grad school in that area). With music performance the single biggest key is the teacher, it is a one on one apprenticeship and it isn’t one size fits all. Take calculus, and the teacher doesn’t matter much, take data structures in CS, not going to be all that different, with music, it is very personal. Even at a ‘great’ music school, there may not be a cello teacher who works for you, even though others rave about him. Obviously, the school itself, the music program, have major influence, but the teacher is going to be key. </p>
<p>As Mezzo’s mom said, it is possible to dual major, Bard Conservatory requires it (and could be one school on your list), other will allow it if the music school is part of a college/university, some either strongly discourage dual majoring or outright don’t allow it…On the other hand, it also is very, very difficult, the perception that BM degrees are all playing the instrument and orchestra have never seen a typical day for BM students. Classes will conflict, and you would have a difficult time trying to do it, though students have and do.</p>
<p>Keep in mind, too, that to get into a top level college and study science, you probably will have to take a pretty intensive college track in HS, including math and science, often to the AP level…at a time when you would need to dedicate significant practice time to being at a level high enough to get admitted to a school of music of any kind of decent level. The cello is quite competitive (all instruments are, some more than others, cello is up there) and you will be competing against kids who have been going at it intensely for a number of years,playing at a very high level…and the audition is everything plus also having a teacher there willing to teach you, which in turn usually is because you are playing at a level they are willing to accept. </p>
<p>My advice is this…depending on where you are in terms of school (are you high school, middle school, early high school, late high school), you should try and get an idea of what it is like to audition for a music school, there might be cello specific websites that can talk about that; also, look at competitive or highly competitive music programs and see what the audition requirements are. If you are working with a private teacher (and if you aren’t, you should IMO), talk to them about what it takes, though be forewarned, not all teachers are aware of the reality of what is out there, how competitive admissions are…look at the audition repertoire, and judge where you are towards making that, if you are younger, do you see your skills improving to where you could do something like the elgar concerto or the dvorak in the time you have left till then…if younger, are you committed enough to start a rigorous practice schedule,where you will need to practice several hours every day. as much or more than you do homework?It takes a lot of dedication and passion to want to major in performance, and it in terms of admission to a program and studio can make getting into an Ivy look easy.</p>
<p>Also depends on what your goals are. If you see yourself as a scientist where you want to study music performance or want to continue playing in college to have music, your choices may be different than if you are thinking “I would love to make a go of it as a musician, and maybe become a scientist if music doesn’t work out”, that is another story. There is a threat about the reality of majoring in music (disclaimer, I started it:), that has some great thoughts, plus there are other threads on here that are worth searching, some of the pinned ones at the top of the forum, on lists of schools and such, that are worth reading through.</p>
<p>Mezzo is right, though, you need to share a bit more about yourself, not personal details, but rather, where are you in school? How long have you been playing? do you have a private teacher? What are you currently playing in terms of working on with your teacher? What are your goals, as I mentioned above…the more you share of that, the better people can give advice. if you say you like city settings versus rural ones, if you like a big program or a small one, all those can help people guide you.</p>