Liberal Arts and Music (particularly strings)

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Which NESCAC or Seven Sisters schools have the best playing opportunities for strings players who aren't music majors? My daughters are serious strings players (violin and viola) who want to keep playing in college, but aren't interested in conservatory or majoring in music performance. Thanks in advance for your input.</p>

2

<p>Smith College is a great choice for those not looking to major in music, but still looking to play. I was thoroughly impressed with their dedication to the arts. Wellesley is also great (they have a program with Brandeis where each Wendy is paired with an older “sister” who guides them through the orchestral process!)
As for NESCAC schools, I do not believe my school, Middlebury, is very strong in music.
Also, very recently, the Bates-Bowdoin orchestra decided to split. As of now, I’ve heard Bowdoin’s is still working on forming a more cohesive group; there’s just not much of a bond between the students. I do think Bates’s orchestra program is still going strong, though.</p>

<p>I’m not aware of the other schools’ programs as I didn’t bother applying, but I was very interested as a string player myself. </p>

3

<p>Don’t overlook Oberlin
<a href=“http://new.oberlin.edu/conservatory/departments/strings/”>http://new.oberlin.edu/conservatory/departments/strings/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>Williams has a strong music presence – probably the strongest among LACs of similar calibre – both in its department and in performance opportunities on campus even for non-majors. </p>

<p><a href=“Ensembles – Music”>http://music.williams.edu/category/ensembles/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Wesleyan also rates highly. I would second Smith as well.</p>

5

<p>This question comes up often on the Music Major Forum. Here are some threads I found doing a brief search (via google, rather than CC, which is easier.) I’ve heard good things about Vassar and Williams’ orchestras. Bard’s orchestra is strong. I’m sure the suggestions of Smith and Wellesley are good ones. Tufts has a strong music program, as does Brandeis (neither of which, of course, are LACs.) I’ve heard Hamilton and Holy Cross also have good orchestras.
Even though your daughters don’t want to major in music there is a wealth of information, and helpful posters, on the Music Major subforum.
<a href=“strong orchestras at liberal arts schools? - Music Major - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/444579-strong-orchestras-at-liberal-arts-schools.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1411838-lac-s-for-would-be-conservatory-students.html”>http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1411838-lac-s-for-would-be-conservatory-students.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“best university orchestras - Music Major - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1642892-best-university-orchestras.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“What colleges have the best orchestras? - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1354916-what-colleges-have-the-best-orchestras.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“Youth Orchestras and Community Orchestras that include college players - Music Major - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/446104-youth-orchestras-and-community-orchestras-that-include-college-players.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>Wesleyan is apparently da bomb for what you want.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the replies and links - very helpful! I do know about Oberlin - lots of friends and relatives who have attended that school. I wasn’t sure about Smith or Mount Holyoke which are both high on their list right now. We’ll keep investigating and if I learn anything more, I’ll post it here. My girls also play traditional fiddle music and its even harder to find out where they might find a campus group specializing in that genre.</p>

8

<p>Iddy09 are you playing your instrument at Middlebury?</p>

9

<p>The Berkshire Symphony that is available to Williams students seems to be a perfect fit for one of my daughters. Of course Williams is nearly impossible to get into, but a person can dream. And if she got in to Williams but then didn’t make the cut for the Berkshire group, that would be seriously disappointing!</p>

10

<p>I would second @jkeil911 re Wesleyan, especially if DD is willing to look outside the traditional classical canon. Stringed instruments are in deffinite demand:
<a href=“Wesleyan Experimental Music Festival | Wesleying”>http://wesleying.org/2013/11/22/wesleyan-experimental-music-festival/&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“Crooked Bow / Ocean Floor | Robert Don”>http://robertdon.bandcamp.com/track/crooked-bow-ocean-floor&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;
<a href=“http://www.wesleyan.edu/creativecampus/crossingdisciplines/commissions/samlong.html”>http://www.wesleyan.edu/creativecampus/crossingdisciplines/commissions/samlong.html&lt;/a&gt;
And, let’s not forget Klezmer:
<a href=“Day of the Living Veeblefetzer | Wesleying”>http://wesleying.org/2013/11/23/day-of-the-living-veeblefetzer/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

11

<p>It is not a Seven Sister or NESCAC school but I think Franklin and Marshall (in PA) has a strong music program for non-majors. I don’t know your D’s stats but given where you are looking it may be a good safety.</p>

12

<p>Williams is super-selective, but a commitment to music is a big plus in admissions. If your daughter’s in the position to apply ED, that is also a major boost.</p>

<p>See this comment from @FoxboroPiper in response to another question about the Berkshire Symphony (also from a violinist).</p>

<p>

</p>

13

<p>The Vassar orchestra is excellent and composed totally of students. It is open to everyone by audition. When S1 visited Vassar (after being accepted at a conservatory early action) , he knew that Vassar was for him after only 5 minutes of listening in on one of the orchestra’s rehearsals. Eduardo Navega their conductor is the best. Every concert contains a ‘wondrous’ moment. Both of my sons are double majors and love playing in the orchestra. Please visit during a rehearsal so you can ‘hear’ for yourself. I have said this before : one if the best things about the orchestra concerts is that the concert hall is filled with students, friends, faculty, parents, relatives, staff, community people and even the college president. It is a great supportive atmosphere with high level music making.</p>

<p>I have also heard the Wesleyan orchestra and the Hamilton College orchestra (a few years ago) and both were excellent. I also have heard the Bard orchestra and they were great also.</p>

14

<p>Holy Cross has decent music program and offers limited merit aid for music majors.</p>

15

<p>@Earthmama68 I had an unexpected surgery as a result of which I was not able to play violin for a year. I do, however, have a few friends who were top-ranked musicians at their fancy performing arts schools who are more than happy with what is available at Midd. Although, I think they enjoy performing independently a little bit more. </p>

16

<p>Connecticut College has a number of ensembles and offers free private music lessons.
<a href=“http://www.conncoll.edu/academics/majors-departments-programs/departments/music/”>http://www.conncoll.edu/academics/majors-departments-programs/departments/music/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

17

<p>Thanks everyone for your helpful replies. We’re going to look at some of the schools you’ve suggested and also add St. Olaf to the list and Scripps College in CA. I definitely thing Franklin and Marshall is worth a look, I have a friend who is a professor there. Good to hear their orchestra is good. :smile: </p>

18

<p>Tufts has an amazing new performance hall and Boston is a great city for classical music</p>

<p><a href=“http://as.tufts.edu/music/musiccenter/about/overview.htm”>http://as.tufts.edu/music/musiccenter/about/overview.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“Homepage | Department of Music”>http://as.tufts.edu/music/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“Music Engineering at Tufts”>http://www.tuftl.tufts.edu/musicengineering/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“Concert & Event Calendar - The Boston Musical Intelligencer”>http://www.classical-scene.com/calendar/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://calendar.boston.com/boston_ma/events/boston+classical+music+concerts”>http://calendar.boston.com/boston_ma/events/boston+classical+music+concerts&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;