<p>D is a Wellesley admit who wants to pursue an undergraduate liberal arts education before graduate school in opera. She plans to take Music Theory, participate in choral groups and audition for any opera or musical theater productions that occur while she is a student. </p>
<p>What is the best way for an undergraduate non-music major to take voice lessons as a Wellesley student? Any information and advice would be gratefully appreciated! I am also curious about travel time and transportation issues if she has to take lessons elsewhere.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Non-majoring students are absolutely eligible to take voice lessons on campus. One of my best friends, who had nothing to do with the music department apart from being in the choir, registered for voice lessons. It's fairly common, at least as far as my own experiences went.</p>
<p>The faculty instructors are excellent. I'm familiar with two of them, and they're extraordinary teachers in addition to being wonderful singers. Auditions (for placement) are held at the beginning of each year.</p>
<p>To echo ringer05, it is very easy for non-music majors to take any kind of music lessons. There will be auditions for placement, and she will be assigned a teacher. The department does require all those who take lessons to take at least one music course each year (this can be theory or music history).</p>
<p>If your daughter believes that none of the voice teachers at Wellesley is a good fit for her, it is also possible to take lessons off campus, although this would require more time, energy, and money. There are a handful of students who take lessons off campus, mainly because there are no teachers on their instruments and/or they didn't like any of the instructors. However, if you are eligible for financial aid, then lessons at Wellesley are free.</p>
<p>Also, just as a warning, if your daughter is hoping to enter a conservatory for graduate school, preparing for that at Wellesley wouldn't be most optimal. The music department isn't the strongest one (but it sounds like your daughter won't be majoring in it anyways), and performance opportunities are few. The competition is extremely tough, especially for voice. I don't mean to be such a party pooper! Wellesley is not the best place for aspiring professional musicians (or the arts in general). It is quite sad :( </p>
<p>I just wanted to warn you because I myself auditioned at graduate schools this year to get my Masters of Music, and it really was completely stressful. A lot of the music faculty are really poor advisors in that area because the music major at Wellesley is liberal arts based rather than performance-based, therefore students who wish to go into performance are at a severe disadvantage. My own (piano) teacher was completely clueless about the whole graduate school process and it was really frustrating for me. Also, not many students go the conservatory route, if at all. Very, very, VERY few do, and I mean maybe 1 student per 2-3 years. That's why Wellesley is not the best place for that, because they really don't have the experience. </p>
<p>I didn't mean to ramble on this long, if you have more questions about the music department, feel free to e-mail me, I have lots to say!</p>
<p>A lot depends on the teacher but Wellesley has a really really outstanding music faculty. There's an opera group at MIT that several students I know who are seriously considering Conservatory after Wellesley participate in that is very fulfilling. The voice teachers are all very active and most are superb at their job.</p>
<p>If you have any questions feel free to email me too! I'm just a first year, so I won't have as much to say as the_wallflower, but I'd be happy to offer another perspective, and I am currently taking classical voice here, though I am not aiming for conservatory.</p>