Liberal Arts Colleges with Strong Piano Programs

<p>Hello everyone, </p>

<p>I am a junior in high school. I am a Juilliard-caliber pianist with strong grades looking for names of various liberal arts colleges with a strong piano programs. I have heard great things about the music program at Bard and Oberlin but am curious to what other liberal arts colleges are out there. I have also looked into things like the Juilliard/Columbia exchange but I don't really want to go to an Ivy, and I would prefer going to one liberal arts college as opposed to exchanging between two schools. Oh and aside from piano, I plan on majoring in Philosophy and Religious Studies.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance,
Prestofaust </p>

<p>PS. I also posted this thread in the College Search Section (<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1393498-liberal-arts-colleges-very-strong-piano-programs.html#post14859343%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1393498-liberal-arts-colleges-very-strong-piano-programs.html#post14859343&lt;/a&gt;) but was recommended to re-post this thread over here.</p>

<p>The Oberlin and Bard programs you may have heard about, for piano, may be the conservatories at those colleges, though you can study music at both colleges as well. </p>

<p>If you want to study piano performance intensively, that is often, but not always, a BM program (Bachelor of Music).</p>

<p>Both Oberlin and Bard have double degree programs (different from a double major), meaning a BM in the conservatory and a BA in the college, which take 5 years. At Bard, all conservatory students are required to do a double degree, so you could do both the BM in piano and a BA in philosophy/religious studies. At Oberlin, it is an option.</p>

<p>There are other school where you can do double degrees. You might also be able to do a double major BA in music and philosophy, or in philosophy and religious studies plus private lessons on the side, and extracurricular performance.</p>

<p>A general music major in a BA program studies theory, music history, composition, ethnomusicology, technology and music and so no. There are aspects of performance in some of these programs but there are most often not performance degrees, but academic.</p>

<p>Here is something that we often post on here for students just beginning to think about this, which explains the different degrees: [Peabody</a> Institute - Conservatory Admissions: The Double Degree Dilemma](<a href=“http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/doubledegree]Peabody”>http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/doubledegree)</p>

<p>I just posted a detailed response on your other thread. My son was also looking for a LAC with strong piano and philosophy programs. He ended up having a great experience at Wesleyan and is now in graduate school in piano performance.</p>

<p>So you do not want conservatory training? Just trying to clarify.</p>

<p>Here is another resource: a book called “Creative Colleges”, which is available online, and lists all the schools, of all kinds, with good music programs.</p>

<p>If you want an LAC, there are countless possibilities.</p>

<p>If you want an LAC combined with a conservatory, then there are schools like Bard, Oberlin, Lawrence and others (let us know what part of the country you prefer).</p>

<p>Another LAC type school with a fabulous conservatory is Rice.</p>

<p>Vassar is known for its piano faculty (and Steinway collection)</p>

<p>Hi! </p>

<p>Thanks everyone for your great replies. </p>

<p>I would prefer an LAC combined with a conservatory, but for me it all boils down to the piano teacher. If I found a great teacher in an LAC that didn’t have a conservatory, that would be good too. </p>

<p>I read the case stories outlined in the link posted from the Peabody Institute and I think I’m the kind of person like Alexander. Piano is something I never ever want to quit and I want to work as hard as I can to reach my full musical potential, but at the same time, I want to be a well-rounded person. Philosophy and religion are two other HUGE interests of mine, and I wouldn’t mind being a preacher/teacher/writer alongside to piano. </p>

<p>Oh and I would prefer living in the northeast, but it really doesn’t matter that much to me. The programs offered, quality of the teachers, and the intensity of the studies matter most to me and I will go wherever the best programs are. </p>

<p>I would, however, like somewhere urban, though, where I can rely on public transport so that I don’t have to have a car. </p>

<p>Thanks again everyone!
~Prestofaust </p>

<p>PS. I’m a female as well and wouldn’t mind an all-female LAC as well.</p>

<p>It’s a bit difficult to make recommendations without knowing how strong a candidate you might be academically. Probably you are aware of all of the options in double degrees so I will keep the focus on LACs with strong music programs. As you mentioned all-women’s LACs, you might find Mt. Holyoke of interest. Princeton and Yale have strong faculty in music performance and world class piano faculty. Swarthmore has
excellent teachers in the music department and will also subsidize musicians who wish to study privately with a teacher in the Philadelphia area, where you would have great options.</p>

<p>For my credentials: </p>

<p>Academics:
My unweighted GPA is currently 3.9 and my weighted GPA is 4.3. I have participated and won awards in Speech and Debate, Model UN, National French Exam, Rotary Club, French Club, our school’s local literary magazine, and WorldQuest. Teachers have nominated me and I’ve won several academic awards and scholarships; I also skipped a grade. I have yet to take the PSAT, ACT, and SAT, but when I took the SAT in 7th grade at age 11, I received 2000. </p>

<p>Community Involvement:
Volunteer wise, I have been in benefit concerts, worked at nurseries, and work as a general helper in a local non-profit. I am also in the middle of kick starting my own community project.</p>

<p>Piano wise:
I have performed in both Europe and North America and have won numerous state-wide and national competitions. I will be entering my first international competition in January. I have received several musical awards/scholarships and have had masterclasses with several acclaimed artists. </p>

<p>Thanks again for all your help
Prestofaust</p>

<p>Bard and Oberlin both sound like great fits for you. The piano faculty at Bard is pretty amazing, imho.</p>

<p>I strongly support your idea of an LAC to study music. I also, second stringkeymom’s suggestion of Vassar - a gorgeous music building with wonderful pianos in the practice rooms, and wonderful faculty - there are even Steinways in the common rooms of the dorms!</p>

<p>At any school, try to meet the piano faculty during a visit. (not connected with your audition) You are correct, the teacher is so important. In college, I actually took lessons from 2 different teachers (one at another conservatory) because I needed more than one perspective - but that’s me…</p>

<p>You need a bit more self discipline at an LAC than a straight conservatory because you are thinking of (and involved in) more than ‘piano performance’ and practicing. If that works for you, an LAC will be perfect - many people, such as Skie’s son, that attended LACs go on to music performance graduate schools.</p>

<p>Harvard and Tufts have 5 year double degree programs with NEC: Harvard’s is a BA/MM and Tufts’ program is a BA/BM. We know gifted musicians in both programs, who also pursue other interests academically.</p>

<p>Your academics are quite strong, congratulations. Before you rule out Ivies altogether, you might want to give Yale another look, as you would be able to study piano with School of Music faculty (assuming a successful audition which sounds likely in your case) and would have a strong musical context, including credit bearing chamber music courses and ensembles. You would also have the option to do the five year degree combining the B.A. and M. Mus. and would continue being able to connect at your musical level (without having to major in music or do a double degree program) while pursuing the things you are interested in studying in liberal arts and sciences.</p>

<p>There are some schools in the midwest noted for strong music: Northwestern in particular, U of Michigan, Vanderbilt and Duke.</p>