For Carolyn and others...

Parents Forum
1

<p>I am looking for suggestions for schools for my son to apply to as a transfer student. He will be transfering in as a sophomore for fall '05, with about 30 credits from our local CC.
His high school career was unsuccessful, plagued by rebellion and lack of motivation, and he graduated with difficulty after changing schools 3 times with a C average. His SAT I combined was 1470. His did not take SAT II's.</p>

<p>He took a year off after high school and worked full-time. He started CC this summer and is finally starting to focus on his school work. His grades these last 2 semesters (summer+fall) have been A's and a couple of B's, in all academic classes.</p>

<p>He would like a LAC with a good music program. So far, he is looking at Lewis & Clark, St Olaf's and Bard. He is open to any region, but would prefer to not be in the South.</p>

<p>Any suggestions would be appriciated.</p>

2

<p>Check out Ithaca and Oberlin, too.</p>

3

<p>What type of music program is he looking for? I'd suggest he check into Lawrence University in Wisconsin - it has a terrific music conservatory that is open to non-majors and is a smaller school that has a rep of really taking care of its students. He might also want to take a look at the University of Redlands in California - has a very nice music program. LAmom's son is a music major there and is very happy. If he is looking at Oregon, he might want to also check out Willamette which also has a good music program. Some other possibilities to look at:
University of the Pacific (Calif), Southwestern College (Texas), Hartwick (NY), U of Denver (Co), the College of Wooster (Ohio), Lake Forest (IL), Kenyon (Ohio), Wittenberg (Ohio), Skidmore (NY) and Rhodes (TN). Also, as NSM suggested Oberlin and Ithaca. Some of these are matches, some safeties, some realistic reaches.</p>

4

<p>Here, here to all the above...Lawrence, Redlands, Wooster, Bard, UoP, Denver, Skidmore, Ithaca, Oberlin....but what type of music?</p>

5

<p>Yes, if he wants to do music business instead of music performance, I'd recommend some different schools.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for all the suggestions - I knew you guys would come through for us! </p>

<p>He would like to do a pretty broadbased music major - music history, theory, incorporating computers/recording, writing etc. He plays the piano (mainly classic), have played in bands and ensambles, and done some composing, but he is not interested in the "pressure" of conservatory style performance. He also wants a good general liberal arts education, so I think a good LAC with a strong music major (rather than conservatory) is preferable. Keep the suggestions coming!</p>

7

<p>Bard would be a really great choice.</p>

8

<p>He could attend Univ of Redlands as a BA major. Even the performance majors must do the liberal arts but BA would be less pressure. Son says they are starting a music business next year but I have no details. So far all of son's professors in music have PhDs and also perform in several different types of groups. They are also very kind people-invite the kids over for dinner, field trips etc. give extra time for those who desire. Son is working harder than ever before and we are amazed at the improvement. Grades were very good also. Son has had a great time and has had to go with the flow for some things-1st roomate banned from dorm, second left to go back to TX, other minor stuff he just dealt with and he didn't let bother him.</p>

9

<p>What many non-musicians fail to realize is that most music departments or schools are such supportive communities that they function in a similar way to a smaller school, regardless of the size of the whole institution. For this reason, it would not be necessary for your son to limit himself to an LAC. All music curriculums will give your son theory, music literature, applied music. The rest of the program will depend upon whether he is in a BA program, music education, church music, music therapy, music performance, music theory, music history, music industries, etc. That being said, which degree program your son could enter would depend upon his applied music level, i.e. his performance level, relative to the standards of the school. Some schools will accept a student as a performance major with a very low standard. Most schools only keep degree programs which actually graduate majors, so there is an internal need to accept and progress students through the programs. This is a disservice to students whose talent and skills are not representative of what the degree should represent. It does not sound like he is an advanced classical musician, but rather that he enjoys music and has some music background and performance experience. He might be admitted to a program in music industries or music education. If he makes wonderful progress in his applied music study, he might be encouraged to switch to or add the performance curriculum, maybe taking a double degree. </p>

<p>Oberlin is a conservatory, and unless he is a very advanced pianist, that is not likely to work out for him. I would suggest he check out music departments in your various state schools. It would be easier to get an idea of his level if he took an audition at one of those schools and talked to the professors in his applied area. Another option would be to have a conversation with his piano teacher, find out where they studied, etc. He/she would be in the best position to know his level of talent and what his musical strengths are. There are some music schools which are not classically oriented, and with his band experience, that might appeal to him. </p>

<p>Music is a good undergraduate degree to undertake. It requires discipline, talent, self confidence, theoretical thinking, cooperation, group assimilation, and much more. Many bachelor and master of music students I have known have gone on to careers in law, medicine, public affairs, industry, etc. It is a given that your son will be known to his professors, and they will be intimately involved in how he is progressing. His studio-mates will support him and cheer him. His fellow ensemble members will look out for him and protect him. You will know he is in a caring community. At the same time, if he gets off track, it will be known immediately by those around him, quite a nice safety net. </p>

<p>Good luck to your son, and to you, too.</p>

10

<p>Lorelei is so correct. Be warned, our son's music teachers had no idea of what music schools require these days. All we heard was how wonderful our child was. I was searching, searching and searching for someone to teach him how to be prepared for college auditions. The music people at the local CC might be able to help though since they are presently involved with music education. Son was fortunate to have a guest conductor once who encouraged him.</p>

11

<p>If he wants to get a BA in music and not a degree in music performance, he will not need to audition at most schools. At most schools, a student can apply to the school with an undeclared major and complete a BA in any area, music included. As long as he doesn't want a performance major, he should be fine. In that case many of the school listed above would be excellent for what he wants. He also might want to look at Luther College in Decorah, IA or Baldwin-Wallace in Ohio.</p>

12

<p>I think a BA in music, rather than music performance, is excactly what he wants. I could see him writing about music, working in the recording industry, maybe teaching, and being involved, on a non-professional level, with performance for fun. He may also want to double major in something completely non-music related.</p>

<p>Thanks again for all the great suggestions. We have learnt about several schools I had never even heard of before!</p>

13

<p>One more suggestion - he might want to take a glance at Belmont University in Nashville. They have a very interesting music business major that I believe can be combined with performance in their visual and performing arts program. Here's a link:<a href="http://www.belmont.edu/mb/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.belmont.edu/mb/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

14

<p>The BA can be an excellent option for the musician who wants a more well rounded education. The non-BA music programs have extensive music requirements, i.e. theory, music lit & history, ensemble, applied lessons, which leaves scant room for general education. However, many BA degrees are not given by the music departments/schools, and the BA students are not high priority for applied music lessons. Be sure that there will always be room on professor/teacher loads, not graduate students, for applied music lessons throughout the degree program. Music is an expensive curriculum for a school to offer, because of the one-on-one lessons. If the BA is offered through music, there may still be a pecking order as to who gets first dibs on teacher time. The real issue is whether the lessons are an important issue for your son. He will get some lesson time, enough to fulfill degree requirements, but perhaps no more than the minimum. Just know for sure what he will be getting.</p>