<p>What schools or types of school are good for students with background and interest in music but who are not music majors? Does the answer depend, perhaps inversely, on the strength of the music program?</p>
<p>For example, are all the good wind slots in symphonies, chamber orchestras, even concert bands and wind ensembles taken by the majors? Is there often a second-string outfit for mere mortals? Same with serious vocal groups?</p>
<p>I imagine that many schools have a number of a capella groups and maybe even various glee clubs. I know some have all-comers marching bands while some joke that their tryouts are harder than for the football team.</p>
<p>It depends on the college. DD is planning to continue playing her instument as a non-major. When we visited schools, she always asked about the availability of ensemble spots for non-majors. Some schools do not have any place for students who are not music majors. Some schools have school wide ensembles that are for non-majors. Some schools allow anyone to audition for ensembles regardless of major. And some schools do not really have music majors but have ensembles because they believe they are an important part of a liberal arts education. DD has been accepted to two LAC's with orchestras who welcome anyone to participate. Their music programs are not huge or particularly strong, but the ensembles are available. Another school is a large university where she can audition in the fall for placement in any ensemble (and the school has a bunch of ensembles). She found that the best thing to do was to send an email to the head of the music department to ask about playing ops for non-majors.</p>
<p>You really need to investigate this college by college. A place known for its music, for example, might fill up its ensembles not just with music majors but with grad students. Though there may officially be slots in classes for non-majors, in reality the majors might fill those before anyone else has a chance. Contact people in the music programs, both students and profs, and ask. If it is a school with one wind ensemble or chamber orchestra, ask what students who don't make it into those groups do, what other opportunities there are for them. Go listen to those groups if you can, and try to judge what it takes to get in. My kid plays jazz and chose a university where everyone gets put into an ensemble who auditions and is at least an intermediate player over schools where there might be one great jazz orchestra which he might or might not ever got a chance to join. Other people choose schools where there are a lot of informal student groups, and so many musicians that people are always looking for other players. We wandered around a lot of music departments button-holing people. It really is individual.</p>
<p>lol - Thumper, looks like we cross-posted with the same advice.</p>
<p>Would it be helpful to be in touch with the music department before arriving on campus as a freshman or even send in a audition tape? If a tape went in as part of the non-music major application to the school, would anybody in the music department know or care?</p>
<p>I would look closely at each school's music department page. We discovered there are a surprising number who had talent awards for non-majors with the option of in-person auditions or sending in a CD. I would also recommend your D/S (sorry, can't remember!) e-mail the department chairs for their recommendations re: sending a CD. Some departments preferred to receive the CD and if they liked what they heard, would let admissions know themselves; others showed no particular interest. If the departments didn't show any eagerness, my D then checked on the admissions policy re: supplemental materials. Out of the six schools to which my daughter applied, she ended up sending CDs to two (and opted to skip on sending it to two schools which would have accepted them).</p>
<p>I agree with the previous advice. You really need to investigate each school to see if the music opportunities match your skill and interests. I strongly recommend visiting the music departments and sitting in on a rehearsal or performance for at least one orchestra or group. </p>
<p>Music majors are going to want to play and interact with other students who have similar interests, commitment and ability. If they form ensembles for fun or paying gigs, it is not likely they would include someone who plays poorly and has minimal interest.</p>
<p>There really is no one answer to this question. Each school is very different. And it really depends on the type of experience the student wants. And things will vary by type of instrument. At schools with conservatory programs, non-music majors are not likely to be able to play in the music school orchestra or wind ensemble. However, these schools sometimes have groups for non-majors. The level of these groups will vary. Other schools have fine music programs but don't have enough majors to fill up their performing groups so all students are able to audition. And still other schools may not be well known for their music schools but have some pretty decent instrumental and vocal ensembles. </p>
<p>At each school you research, you want to find out the following:
- What ensembles are available for non-majors? What percentage of members of these ensembles are non-majors?
- What is the availability of private lessons for non-majors?
- How many undergrad music majors are there at this school in the particular instrument student plays?
- Are practice rooms readily available for non-majors?</p>
<p>As you get answers to these questions, you will begin to discover what the priorities are at each school. Also, if you cannot attend a live performance, ask the school if they have a current CD of the performing groups that would be of interest.</p>
<p>DD did as Shennie suggested. When she goes to accepted student overnights in April, she will be taking an oboe lesson at one school, and sitting in on an orchestra master class at another. She has corresponded with the music department chairs, oboe teachers and/or orchestra directors in both cases.</p>
<p>Thanks for all replies so far. Further questions: Is it usually too late to show up in the fall and ask whether there is anything you can audition for? Would having a CD in hand or mailing it in advance help any?</p>
<p>It is not too late to show up in the Fall and audition for any openings. For many schools the "audition" may just be for placement and you may be eligible to participate based solely on interest. I doubt a CD would be of any value. Are you interested in participating when many other members may have little or no skill, experience or commitment? If not, you may want to do some investigation in advance.</p>
<p>Without getting into unnecessary detail, first choice would be a top a cappella group or some other serious singing group. Possibly add an opportunity to play trumpet, but not really that good (private lessons for years and lots of band, jazz band, pep bad, marching band, and some competition at distict level but never gone to State). Best instrument is classical piano, but that probably doesn't do much good.</p>
<p>Lots of good information here. Also, keep in mind that there may be scholarship money out there. My DD was awarded a very nice vocal scholarship even though she was not majoring or even minoring in Music. Check with the school's music department to see when the auditions for scholarships are being held.</p>
<p>Here is one thing to consider...DS (the performance major, so his music courses count towards his degree) is in ensembles. The orchestra meets three times a week for 1 1/2 hours each day. The wind ensemble meets for two days for 1 1/2 hours each day. The choral ensembles rehearse similarly. He was in an all campus orchestra that met three hours a week. These courses give 1 credit. If your student wants to be in multiple ensembles (choral and instrumental as you have noted) it may not be possible to do. Schools like the Ivies (most notably Yale) have some wonderful TOP quality acapella groups open to all students who audition. However, many other colleges' top ensembles are for music majors only. I would NOT wait until the fall and just "show up" for an audition. There might not be anything to audition FOR. This is something that needs to be explored and researched BEFORE applications are sent if it is to be a consideration for the student. My daughter went to one LAC and politely asked..."Are there opportunities for me to continue playing my oboe at your college as a non-major in music?" The simple answer given to her was "NO". That school came right off her list of potential schools...period. She did quip "What was THAT all about...this isn't exactly Juilliard?". AND she was right. But the school was not huge and reserved all spots for major. The same thing happened at a top choice OOS school. They only have one instrumental ensemble (an orchestra). She asked, and was told that non-majors absolutely could audition for any OPEN spots. It didn't take a genius to figure out that orchestras only have two oboes...and there wouldn't BE an open spot for a non-major. Off the list!! Research this before the applications are sent. We found that the music folks were more than happy to talk to DD about this. AND they were very candid about her options.</p>
<p>Well, it's to late to change the application list now, so we'll see in April</p>
<p>Credit, as such, is not a big concern, but obviously time comittment is, at some point. Maybe just one ensemble is plenty.</p>
<p>"playing classical piano? Doesn't do much good??"
The thought was, it's not a very social activity at college, and also not good enough to compete with the piano performance majors for scarce resources. Some practice time and a few lessons would be about it.</p>
<p>Credit is NOT the issue, but time is. It's not too late to send emails to the music departments at the schools saying he's an applicant who looks forward to continuing musical pursuits in college. He could ask what opportunities are available. I would guess that the music folks will respond to those queries, and at least your kiddo will know his options. Also...check the websites too. Many of them give good information.</p>
<p>Not my specific problem, but just wondering: Do most schools in effect have a seperate admissions process for music majors? Like UC Berkeley requires seperate application to major in engineering? If so, is someone admitted specifically as a performance major in a particular area? What if you do both instrumental and vocal and composition, say. Who does music education at such schools?</p>
<p>Pardon my ignorance, but a relative would like to know, as would I.</p>
<p>Again, there is not a set answer for your question. In our state, students who want to major in music performance must first apply and be admitted to the University. At the same time, they have to apply to and audition for the school of music. It is possible to be admitted to the U and not the music school, but it is not possible to be admitted to the music school and not the U. So sometimes students who are admitted to the U but denied the music school decide to attend anyway and audition later. Most schools will also allow you to pursue a BA in music without an audition. Music education usually requires an audition, but the standards are different than they are for the performance major. (Some schools require you to be first accepted to the music school before you are admitted to the university - Rice and Northwestern are 2 examples of this.)</p>
<p>Students who want to pursue both instrumental and compostion, for example, must audition in instrumental and submit compositions. They may get accepted for one and not the other. Basically assume that if you are going to be a performance major you are going to have audition to get in. If there is no audition, then I would strongly question the quality of the program.</p>
<p>On the contrary, a good pianist would be very much in demand with lots of performance opportunities as a collaborative pianist. He/she would be welcome in most ensembles and lots of solo performers wisely make close friends of pianists.</p>