What are some liberal arts colleges (not conservatories) that have strong academic music programs overall, and also have good resources for pianists (good teachers, good practice facilities, free or subsidized lessons, etc.)? The main one I’ve heard about so far is Vassar.
Pinned to the top of this forum is this thread: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/6280-suggestions-of-colleges-with-music-majors-p1.html You’ll find many many good suggestions in there.
From a google search:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1120351-best-liberal-arts-university-with-best-music-program.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1685538-strong-liberal-arts-and-music-performance.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1583472-strong-music-schools-for-classical-piano-with-good-academics.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1501470-liberal-arts-schools-with-percussion-music-major.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/444579-strong-orchestras-at-liberal-arts-schools-p1.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1679807-liberal-arts-and-music-particularly-strings-p1.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/353684-liberal-arts-music-major.html
Oberlin
@SteinwayandDs really? I’ve heard Oberlin gives very few of their music resources and opportunities to non-conservatory students.
@lalalemma Double degree is a choice. I am not sure whether you can choose piano as your minor.(You may find it on their website or sent email to the admissions office) However, you can have lessons with the piano faculty there privately if there is not a such program,since the conservatory is just located in the college. Undoubtedly, the piano professors there are perfect.
@SteinwayandDs the thing is I’m not a super incredibly talented pianist, and I doubt I could get into the conservatory at Oberlin (or most top conservatories that have double degree programs), so that’s not really an option for me.
In terms of Oberlin, the main thing I’ve heard is that if you’re at the college and you want to take lessons, you’ll be taught by a conservatory student. The instrumental faculty are reserved for the conservatory students only.
I’m not looking for a piano performance degree, but rather a BA in music. What I want is a liberal arts college that’s strong academically where I can also continue piano and be sure to have good teachers, practice spaces, ensembles and performance opportunities.
Check out Bard College. The piano faculty in the college (separate from the conservatory) have historically been terrific.And the music department in the college is wonderful and deep. But there are also many other possibilities - which are discussed in those threads I posted earlier.
Come to my school! It’s small and lesser known LAC than something like Oberlin as some mentioned, but I think it’s what you’re describing- Illinois Wesleyan University, in Bloomington, IL. The whole university is like 2,000 students, and the School of Music is maybe 150-175 music majors, plus a lot more that are non-majors playing in ensembles etc. and taking lessons. If you did a BA, you could easily combine piano with an academic major in the university (almost everyone here that’s a BA in music has another non-music major- I’m a BM major though so I don’t). BA pianists get access to all the same practice spaces here as BM performance majors, so that means you’d still get the keys to get into the piano major practice rooms, which have Steinway B’s (the 7 foot grands, that’s what I practice on everyday), and both professors’ studios have 2 Steinway B’s, and we have 2 Steinway D’s in the concert hall (and we’re soon buying a 3rd one!). Ensembles- as a pianist, you can sing in a choir, play another instrument in orchestra or band, or play piano in wind ensemble or orchestra, or accompany, and can also do chamber music (which I do). It’s a small school, but we do have 2 great piano teachers (I think my teacher is better than the other, but…). yeah. For a BA in music, you’d still be taught by a professor–not a piano conservatory student–and lessons are included in the BA program tuition.