<p>The Oberlin BA has four basic options for emphasis: History/Theory, Performance, Composition and Technology In Music And Related Arts (TIMARA). The Performance. Once in the program, you need to audition into a Conservatory teacher's studio for Performance, Composition or TIMARA. For the History/Theory emphasis, you only need to audition for secondary lessons, which is much easier. You can find more information at <a href="http://catalog.oberlin.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=10&poid=980%5B/url%5D">http://catalog.oberlin.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=10&poid=980</a></p>
<p>Lawrence University, much?</p>
<p>I feel very comfortable tossing a school that has "University" in its title into a bag with other LACs for a few reasons, the most clear of which to me is that UChicago has major overlap with schools like BMC, Swat and Oberlin.</p>
<p>The other qualifications fall into shades of grey-- UChicago has a commitment to a liberal arts education, quality teaching (sometimes by all-but-dissertation grad students), and an unbelievable emphasis on small, discussion-style classes. With 4400 students, it is bigger than most of the schools mentioned, in a league sizewise with Tufts and Dartmouth, which are also often cross-listed with LAC's. It's also smaller than most Ivies undergrad.</p>
<p>Lots of great schools mentioned so far that fit your requirements but most are very competitive (Chicago, Vassar, Oberlin, Swartmore, Brandeis, etc.). </p>
<p>As noted above, Oberlin has a Conservatory that is a great resource for either a very serious musician or for a "regular" student who wants to have the opportunity to take lessons with top notch teachers. You might search for all schools with Conservatories and see if any of those, most will be larger I think though, are of interest to you. While smaller schools, my preference, can have great English departments it is less often that they have very strong music programs.</p>
<p>Many LAC's will be in communities with local orchestras you might be able to play in and any school in a major city will have more professional flute players teaching than you can imagine. My daughter took up the Oboe, in addition to the flute though she is not a very serious musician at all, to help out her school band and that might be the way she can perform in college. You might consider that as well.</p>
<p>I would strongly encourage you to try for those mentioned but also explore some that are easier to get into so you have some good safety schools that you really like. </p>
<p>You might consider Connecticut College, which offers free music lessons but may not have many performing opportunities. Other fine schools that are easier to get into might be Muhlenburg, Franklin and Marshall, Dickenson, Emerson (very strong in the performing arts), and the women's collleges (Mt Holyoke, BrynMawr, Smith, etc...which I saw mentioned above).</p>
<p>Good luck. Keep up the good work. It may be that being from California and a first generation college students will make you very attractive to East Coast schools.</p>
<p>A "regular" student needs to be a little careful about assuming that they will be able to get lessons from the top teachers at a school that has ties to a Conservatory. Often, the best teachers do not have time in their schedule to teach non-performance majors. The others may get a less popular faculty member, or may study with an advanced student. This varies quite a bit from school to school and from instrument to instrument, so it pays to do some research if this is an important consideration for you.</p>
<p>In terms of size, Oberlin at about 600 is larger than most conservatories. The entire school, at 2800 or so, is a bit larger than many LAC's but of course much smaller than a state University.</p>
<p>BassDad makes a very good point about the top teachers having limited time. Lots of other options at Oberlin though and clearly it is not particularly big. Vassar and Wesleyan are roughly the same size.</p>
<p>Skidmore might be another school to look at which is also supposed to be a very nice campus. I have toured all but one or two of the other schools mentioned and they are all impressive.</p>
<p>"You might consider Connecticut College, which offers free music lessons but
may not have many performing opportunities"</p>
<p>Conn has a concert band, a jazz band, and an orchestra that each perform several concerts throughout the year. Students who take advantage of the free music lessons have to perform at a recital each semester. I know a couple of years ago they actually had a flute ensemble, but I'm not sure if that still exists. Great flute teacher though.</p>
<p>You might take a look at Dartmouth. I believe they have excellent departments in English and music and would be small enough to welcome musicians who might not be majors.</p>
<p>Being a first generation student might help here, also.</p>
<p>Take a look at Southwestern in Georgetown, Tx (30 minutes north of Austin).
<a href="http://www.southwestern.edu/academic/sfa-site/mus-site/4musicfacil.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.southwestern.edu/academic/sfa-site/mus-site/4musicfacil.htm</a></p>