I'm not a music major...

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>Hello all!</p>

<p>I'm not intending to be a music major when I go to uni next fall, or in fall of 2011.</p>

<p>But I have a passion for music. I play the piano (with a Dip ABRSM) and I want to try other instruments too, especially the cello. </p>

<p>As a non-music major, how hard would it be for me to borrow the campus facilities? And would I be able to get help from the music teachers?</p>

<p>FWIW, I'm intending to apply to UC Berkeley, UT Austin, CMU anad UI Urbana-Champaign.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Those are questions you will need to ask at the individual colleges. Each program has it's own rules. Mostly, you need to ask:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Are practice rooms reserved for majors/minors only? How do non majors go about gaining access. (Are they are just unlocked and waiting? Do you need to sign up for times? Can a music major kick you out?) Obviously, if you are taking lessons at the school, even as a non-major, you will get access.</p></li>
<li><p>Each school also has its own policy for teachers. At some schools, anyone can take lessons for a fee - the fee varies widely. (At some schools, even majors must pay for lessons.)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>At some schools, certain faculty are only available to music majors; lessons for non-majors come from TAs or adjunct. And sometimes it is cheaper to find a teacher on your own, unaffiliated with the school. I have no experience with any of the schools on your list, but, for example, CMU is in Pittsburgh - a city large enough to have many teacher options.</p>

<ol>
<li> Look in the online course catalogs for clues about music courses. They are usually marked a certain way if they are available only to music students. That will give you an idea of what your options will be.</li>
</ol>

3

<p>UC Berkeley is an academic music program, and though performance is an aspect of the major, the faculty does not include performance teachers (except for keyboard requirements); you would have to get a private teacher. There are practice rooms.</p>

4

<p>I'll defer to mamenyu on UC Berkeley, but a couple of lesson options at UT-Austin and UI Urbana are both strong music ed schools (not sure about CMU for music ed) both at UT & UI you could find an upperclassman or grad student music ed cellist that should be willing to give you instruction. At all three, you could also find a performance major willing to do the same.</p>

<p>For a beginner, you would be well served, as many of these students have already been teaching or coaching prvately for years. The level of instruction can be very high based on the background and skill level, and the cost will probably be less than a TA or GA. </p>

<p>Lesson costs, policies are institution specific, so as stated, check.</p>

<p>Another option is a local music teacher, or community music program if available.</p>