<p>I’m not majoring in music, but would love to play in a symphonic orchestra in college. Can I do this at Brown? How is their symphonic or chamber orchestra(s), and are they lacking violas so much that I might get a scholarship just for playing?</p>
<p>Well, Brown doesn't give merit scholarships. In fact, all of the Ivy League schools and most top liberal arts colleges do not give merit scholarships. Money is based solely on need. However, it WOULD help you get in.</p>
<p>Brown has a symphony orchestra that is pretty good, I'm told. It travels fairly regularly.</p>
<p>Under the direction of professor Paul Phillips, Brown's orchestra is wonderful and talented and extremely respected and well-celebrated both on campus and in the surrounding area and yes, they do travel a fair bit (more in some years than others).</p>
<p>There is also a large chamber music program, which you can participate in for credit or not. Each chamber ensemble has an instructor who comes to some but not all rehearsals, and there is a chamber recital at the end of each semester as well.</p>
<p>Other opportunities include the Original Music Group (the student composers in that group often recruit student and professional musicians to play their pieces in their concerts) and Brown New Music, which programs and performs a wide range of repertoire.</p>
<p>And yes, violists are always welcome and are fewer and further between than most other instruments. Your being a violist interested in joining an ensemble would certainly be an asset to your application. I would recommend sending a CD with a sample of your playing; those go directly to the music department and it cannot hurt your application; it can only help if it is very good because they report back to admissions on the students that show promise.</p>
<p>what about flutists/pianists? unfortunately my instruments are very common, but i would love to be in an orchestra, symphonic band, smaller ensemble, or maybe marching band. also, i was wondering how easy it is to take lessons for a non-music major.</p>
<p>Tons of non-music majors get private lessons. You even get credit for it.</p>
<p>you might be interested in this article about student musicians at brown
they profiled several students that are involved in music at a high level, but aren't music concentrators</p>