Ivy League Music Programs

<p>Thanks for helpful advice! How about orchestral experience? Of course, my boy belongs to school orchestra and chamber group at summer camp but not any precollege orchestra. There are some excellent orcheatra programs to apply but he must omit school many days. Do you think they need that experience in addition to outstanding solo experience?</p>

<p>@meekchun - My D has routinely missed school because of music activities. She is in one of the metro region’s youth orchestras and they sometimes perform for elementary schools as part of a music outreach program. For every regional and state festival she participates in she misses one or two days from school. When she went to the ASTA National High School Honors Orchestra last year she missed an entire week of school. She missed 10 days of school just this year alone due to travel for auditions. However she continued to maintain a straight-A average throughout her rigorous high school program (IB) and is ranked 6 out of 600 in her HS.</p>

<p>Today she found out she got into several Ivy’s, including the Columbia-Juilliard Exchange program. In my opinion, the ability to take on extra activities that you love, which may require skipping days of school, and then make that up and maintain a high level of academic performance, is what the top schools, including the Ivys, will be looking for.</p>

<p>Ait109, that is quite a feat … congrats to your D and also to you for supporting her. I hope there was some wonderful celebrations for all the hard work.</p>

<p>Congrat! ait109! I understand what you mean. My problem is that my S’s performance is solo top level in national but academic level is not top level even at school. Maybe avaerage is A-. I found some music kids who got in several Ivy with good academics just like your D. When I considering next year schedule, my S can not take more than two ap (AP Lan, AP Spanish). He is considering to take 3 SATII(us H, Math, Spanish) next year. I know some kids who switched to conservatory from university target at sophomore because of academic burden.</p>

<p>ait109, congrats to your daughter. We’d like to include her music acceptances here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1045522-master-list-music-school-acceptances-fall-2011-a.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1045522-master-list-music-school-acceptances-fall-2011-a.html&lt;/a&gt; if you wish to list them. Beyond the celebratory nature of showcasing the students talent, the list serves as information and a potential source of direct contact for those interested in auditioning/attending down the road.</p>

<p>If you look through the previous Masters (links to all are here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/892168-search-tips-other-insights.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/892168-search-tips-other-insights.html&lt;/a&gt;) you’ll find a number of students at several Ivy programs. Direct contact may make sorting through some of your daughter’s choices easier.</p>

<p>Wow, violadad, you are amazing! I really surprised with your devotion. I am sure it will help so many music students.</p>

<p>How about Jazz at Harvard for my recently accepted daughter!?</p>

<p>radannie, congrats. I don’t understand your question… are you asking that your d be included on the list for an acceptance at Harvard for BA music, or are you asking what are the opportunities to pursue jazz as a non-music degree candidate?</p>

<p>@SnowflakeVT - Thanks! No time for celebrating yesterday as it was another night of youth orchestra rehearsal. But she was so happy she cried this morning when she woke up.</p>

<p>@violadad - I’ve posted to the other thread. Thanks!</p>

<p>@meekchun - Agree 110%! I have been a lurker on this forum for several years and only recently gained the nerve to join and start contributing. The support for both students and parents alike is nothing short of amazing and it is folks like violadad, BassDad and others that help make this site a tremendous resource.</p>

<p>Wow. ait109, how much practicing is your daughter able to do daily with the academic rigor?</p>

<p>Viola Dad, I am asking the latter. She was also accepted to Barnard and is interested in the Columbia Jazz certificate program as well. Big decisions!</p>

<p>radannie, there’s some limited info here:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/746736-music-drum-interest.html?highlight=columbia+jazz[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/746736-music-drum-interest.html?highlight=columbia+jazz&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/684160-music-performance-yale-undergraduate.html?highlight=columbia+jazz[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/684160-music-performance-yale-undergraduate.html?highlight=columbia+jazz&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/351730-columbia-jazz-program-questions.html?highlight=columbia+jazz[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/351730-columbia-jazz-program-questions.html?highlight=columbia+jazz&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>And again, congrats to your daughter. If her degree pursuit is music at either, let us know and we’ll add her to our acceptance thread.</p>

<p>I need specific information on any jazz ensembles at Harvard, what the jazz scene is there, if any?! Thanks! Alto sax is the instrument.</p>

<p>There’s a celebration of “40 years of jazz” at Harvard this weekend. If by any chance you’re in the vicinity, you might check it out:</p>

<p>[Office</a> for the Arts at Harvard: 40 Years of Jazz](<a href=“http://ofa.fas.harvard.edu/music/40years.php]Office”>http://ofa.fas.harvard.edu/music/40years.php)</p>

<p>And here’s a newspaper story on it:</p>

<p>[Honoring</a> Harvard?s roots in jazz - Boston.com](<a href=“http://articles.boston.com/2011-04-03/ae/29377810_1_jazz-bands-jazz-program-african-american-music]Honoring”>http://articles.boston.com/2011-04-03/ae/29377810_1_jazz-bands-jazz-program-african-american-music)</p>

<p>From the article:</p>

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<p>She has made her decision- Harvard! She attended Visitas, and watched the 2 Jazz Ensembles (no women in either!), and the Wind Ensemble.</p>

<p>My son needs a school with rigorous academics (doesn’t necessarily have to be Ivy) as well as an outstanding and challenging music program. Brief background-he’s a sophomore taking all honors & accelerated classes as well as 3 AP, and a violist with the school chamber orchestra as well as an extremely competitive community orchestra. Not sure about a major yet. Any suggestions about where to start our search? Thanks!</p>

<p>Northwestern and Rice</p>

<p>U of Michigan has both an excellent music school and the academic side, Bard has a highly regarded music school and academically is a well regarded LAC.</p>

<p>if he wants a real challenge, there are the famous “joint programs” like Harvard/NEC and Juilliard/Columbia, that are challenging to be in and incredibly a challenge to get into. </p>

<p>USC has a great music program and also has top academics.</p>

<p>Does he want a performance degree or does he want to do academic music or other subject and do music on the side?</p>

<p>What part of the country? In the west check out UCLA.</p>