I’m just starting to dig in to the college search with my son, who’s a junior. He’s a very good French horn player, and would like to go to a liberal arts college with a strong music program. He’s not, however, convinced he wants a conservatory-level commitment, and would prefer to major in something else (computer science is the strong early front-runner), or possibly double major (I don’t think he wants to go the dual degree route, however). He’s a solid student, but, to be frank, he’s not likely to get in to the Williamses and Amhersts of the world. He’d probably also not be particularly comfortable in a very conservative or frat-dominated environment–he’s more or a nerdy, quirky, artsy type.
Schools I’ve identified so far as strong contenders are St. Olaf, Lawrence, and U. of Puget Sound. I’ve talked to the terrific horn Prof at Oberlin and he flatly stated he doesn’t teach kids who aren’t in the conservatory or allow them into his horn choir, so that was a bummer. Bard is another place where I’m still trying to figure out how potentially porous the boundary between conservatory and the regular school is–the non-conservatory department doesn’t even appear to offer private instruction in horn. Skidmore and College of Wooster are a couple of other names I’ve seen mentioned elsewhere on these forums, and if anyone’s got any info on their programs, I’d be very interested.
What about an LAC in a city that offers excellent private teachers and opportunities? Occidental has a quirky artsy vibe, enjoys dual enrollment with Cal Tech. Instruction to applied music is open to all students. They also share performance opportunities with Cal Tech:
" I’ve talked to the terrific horn Prof at Oberlin and he flatly stated he doesn’t teach kids who aren’t in the conservatory or allow them into his horn choir, so that was a bummer"
When D1 was a student there in the college, she auditioned when she signed up for private lessons but didn’t “make the cut” to get lessons from a Con Prof . D1 was an advanced flute player, but not good enough or serious enough for the Con. But she could, and did, still get great private instruction on her instrument. Instead of a prof she was assigned a con student as instructor. Remember these Con students are no slouches. D1 said that student was the best instructor she ever had; a great player, with prior teaching experience from 'back home" who ferreted out just the level of seriousness D1 was after and gave her appropriate work and feedback. Probably better for D1 than a Prof, who may not have been satisfied with D1’s level of commitment,
Another thing, ok evidently that horn choir may be out, but they have other orchestras and performance groups too. , Some just for con, others specifically for non-con students, some mixed.
Whoops - looks like I repeated a few of those old threads. Must be the consequences of using google to search - as the titles change…
Good suggestion about Oberlin. And, indeed schools like Yale College regularly offer grad students from the School of Music as teachers - it’s the norm. Yet Yale College is still a good place for serious undergrad musicians, who don’t want a BM in performance.
Sometimes, not always, the presence of a conservatory on a college campus means fewer opportunities for those not in the conservatory. Just to restate your own observations.
I think you mentioned some great schools in your post. Vassar and Sarah Lawrence are suggested sometimes, and I often mention Clark University in Worcester MA. MacAlaster and Carleton-?
You can try to find a liberal arts college or university that offers private lessons and extracurricular performance, or a school he likes with extracurricular performance plus private lessons off campus (in a city usually).
Thanks for the great suggestions, everyone. I’ll keep an open mind about Oberlin, since it’s obviously got tons of music going on, and seems to have a terrific CS department, which is actually more important to my son than the musical opportunities.
Compmom, I’ve got Macalester, Vassar and Carleton all on his list (though the latter two are big reaches, and he’s no shoo-in for Mac, either). I’ve really got to look more into Clark–you’re the second person who’s mentioned it.
Anyway, I should probably just chill at this point–I think I’ve gathered up a pretty solid list with a broad range of selectivity levels. Thanks for your help, everyone!
Clark is in the Loren Pope book “Colleges that Change Lives”. In fact that book, website by the same name, and CTCL fairs around the country would also be a good resource. Wooster is in there too, maybe others on your list.
It isn’t exactly a LAC, but U. of Rochester/Eastman School of Music is a very strong academic and music school. I know a student who is double majoring there in math and piano performance. He also considered Oberlin and Peabody/Johns Hopkins. Ithaca College might also be one to consider, though I know nothing about its computer science program. Carnegie-Mellon also has a surprisingly strong music program and of course is one of the top CS schools in the country.
Yep, already well acquainted with the CTCL stuff, which is where I’ve found a lot of the neat little schools we’re looking at.
We’ve also got U. of Rochester on the list, but we still need to do some legwork on how things work for a non-conservatory kid, music-wise. Their horn situation looks a lot like Oberlin: one main guy with a very busy studio (filled with very accomplished-sounding young players!), so I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that is likewise something my son could not be a part of without being in Eastman. Not sure yet, though.
As for Carnegie Mellon, my understanding is that their CS program is super-selective, so that’s probably not going to be an option. Great program, though!
Our friend, the hornist who could have majored in music had she wanted to, found that Brandeis gave her the balance of strong music and academics that she (now a medical student) wanted.
To echo @stradmom’s recommendation, I have a friend whose daughter, a violinist who could have gone to a conservatory, went to Brandeis. She studied and played a lot of chamber music and found the experience musically fulfilling (as well as academically fulfilling.) She is now heading to law school but was very happy with her college choice.
I’d look into depauw. They extend their scholarships to 5 years for double majors. They have frats but low pressure to do them. And definitely a geeky vibe. He would fit in well there. Pan me for questions. My son just did an audition there.
I agree with @cellomom6. DePauw has a strong computer science program and a strong music program and it is a good school for A-/B+ students. They have had several double majors in music and computer science and I imagine if you talk to either the cs department or the music school they can elaborate on how it works. There is a huge Greek presence but because it is so large there are non-stereotypical frats. (for example a geeky frat). The music students seem to be a big supportive family regardless of Greek affiliations. So if he is a little flexible on the Greek aspect, DePauw is a great match for him.
And the atmosphere is so nice. I think they really teach you how to network here. They fund their music students well. And all their general ed requirements are electives so you can easily acquire a minor or make it easier for that double degree.
They also are starting the 21 century music initiative that I wasn’t completely sold on. But my husband reminded me that in his field of medicine, doctors who are very bright still struggle with the business side of medicine and that people just won’t branch out on their own unless shown how or have good mentors. So what they’re doing may prove to work quite well.
University of Puget Sound has a strong music school and also appears to have broader computer science offerings than many LACs. It’s located in Tacoma, not far from Seattle and numerous high tech companies.
Thanks, AmazingBlue. That was actually one of the ones I highlighted in the OP, so it’s very much on our radar. Also, I’m guessing from your name you have an Ann Arbor connection. I’m a native Ann Arborite, and got my Ph.D there
