College with strong chamber music & academics

College Search & Selection
41

JHU has Peabody and U of Rochester has Eastman, and in those cases the conservatories are not well integrated into the university, and the conservatory students would have the best teachers and performance opportunities. I don’t want to belabor this point but again just raise the possibility that schools with “good music” by reputation often get that reputation for the BM program and the benefits do not always go to other students doing BA or BS.

Northwestern, MIchigan and NYU both have schools of music so not sure if the issue with attention to BM students is true at either, would need to be checked. Also larger schools tend to have grad students who get a lot of the attention.

Oberlin, Lawrence, Bard, and St.Olaf might be better choices for schools with BM programs and BA/BS degrees in other areas, if she really wants to be on a campus with a conservatory with a “low wall.”

@Violin87 your daughter seems to prefer larger universities (with some exceptions). Is she interested in liberal arts schools? I think a non-music major would most likely have the best experience at an LAC as long as the playing level is adequate, teachers are available through the school or in the community, and there are enough performance opportunities.

I don’t know if she prefers Northeast or the whole East coast either.

Generally, as you suggested, Ivies, little Ivies (Tufts, Williams, Amherst, Wesleyan come to mind), Vassar, Davidson, Elon, James Madison. I still think Barnard would be a great possibility: part of Columbia, and next door to Manhattan School of Music, a quick ride to Juilliard.

Colleges that Change Lives may be a resource. I really like the music program at Clark University in Worcester and they have an excellent reputation for psychology (the only school Freud visited). Clark and WPI have a consortium I believe.

Harvard and Tufts may mean teachers from NEC, BoCo or Berklee. Cornell may share teachers with Ithaca College’s conservatory. Etc. I have personal experience with Tufts’ wonderful music dept. and student participation is very high. Glad to see it on her list .

With her musical accomplishments, I honestly believe that a music supplement will make most “reaches” very reasonable places to apply to. Relating music and neuroscience is an interesting area with a lot going on, and that can be a goal for grad school or she can try to find a fit for undergrad , including foundational psychology and biosciences.

3 Likes
42

Thank you so much for your thorough reply.
I didn’t know about Cornell’s relationship with Ithaca College conservatory.
Thank you, everyone, for taking time to reply.
I will make sure to post where she ends up going after the decisions come in 2021-22.

3 Likes
43

Just want to clarify that I only meant that the Ithaca area includes both Cornell and Ithaca College/Conservatory so the local resources for teaching may be excellent despite the rural location. I don’t know of any “shared relationship” though maybe you can find one.

Cornell is not the only school without a BM program that includes performance in its curriculum. I have been learning more about performance in BA programs lately. That said, I would again check on lessons and performance for a non-music major. I am also posting a link to the section on minors. I could post similar info on all her schools so don’t mean to highlight one here, but the question of “shared relationship” led me to google the site!

The Music Major | Department of Music Cornell Arts & Sciences

The Music Minor | Department of Music Cornell Arts & Sciences

3 Likes
44

May I suggest a look at Rice? Their Chamber groups are open to non-music majors and have a range of both repertoire and schedules, from robust to a beginner one. Fun fact, their marching band is open to ALL instruments, ALL. Strong school academically…

1 Like
45

Thank you, @RussianMom. I have several musicians I know at Rice. It’s a fantastic school.
But Rice is too far, my D says.🥲

1 Like
46

@Violin87 looking forward to hearing where your daughter lands!

1 Like
47

D got deferred from SCEA.
I will post the results in spring!

48

She will have good options come spring!

1 Like
49

Harvard, Princeton, or Yale? Good luck and please keep us posted!

1 Like
50

Not all schools provide credit hours for chamber ensembles, is it important to your daughter that they do? Just something to keep in mind. Especially if she is looking at selective schools. All the best!

51

Thanks for the update! Applications are probably all completed, but if looking for another safety, I would throw Indiana University into the mix. The music program is excellent and there are a number of opportunities for non-majors. There are many strong departments across the university and the individualized major is there if she wants to start combining neuroscience and music in college. (The New York Times’ crossword puzzle editor, Will Shortz, did an individualized major in enigmatology, or something like that at IU.) It’s an hour south of Indianapolis, but Bloomington is a like a small major city. There is great theater, opera, etc, and the Broadway Across America tours usually stop in Bloomington as well. Tons of international restaurants (including Tibetan), and it’s an awesome town. And it has a wonderful Honors College as well.

1 Like
52

She will not care about the credit.
She just wants to play chamber.:heart:

53

Thank you for your advice about Indiana, which is a great school. I know some musicians there, too.
As you mentioned, D has lined up close to twenty schools to apply RD and she is ready to submit the apps within a week. Unfortunately, she won’t be able to add IU. But your suggestion here will be helpful for other students who would be reading this thread in the future.

2 Likes
54

Gettysburg/Sunderman Conservatory should be mentioned in this thread. There’s no wall between the two, and students can choose whether they want a BA or BM after they’ve been there a while. Minors also available.

2 Likes