I was wondering if anyone could point me towards liberal arts colleges with strong music programs. I’ve been playing cello for 12 years (Russian teacher and all) and very much love playing cello–I can’t imagine giving it up just yet. I would like to at least minor in music, but have the skills to audition for conservatories. While I am looking at some double degree programs (i.e. Bard, Oberlin), I’m not sure I’m in for the conservatory commitment. Ideally I would end up at a liberal arts program where I could either play with conservatory students or at least (I don’t mean to be cocky) not be the best cellist there–I want to continue to be challenged as and surrounded by people better than me as I study. Other colleges I’ve been looking at are Amherst, Swarthmore, Brown, Vassar, and Wesleyan, so if there are any thoughts on those programs it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for all the help!
Go to the Music Major Forum - there are a number of threads about this. Check out some of the pinned threads at the top. Note that Sophie Shao is a cello professor at both Bard Conservatory and Vassar. https://music.vassar.edu/bios/soshao.html
Of your list, for non conservatory programs, Swarthmore, Vassar and Wesleyan have the strongest classical music programs and student musicians. You should add Williams to your list - drop Amherst. And if you want Ivies with strong music students and ensembles look to Princeton and Yale.
I’m in a somewhat similar situation (I’m a pianist), though I don’t think I’m conservatory material, so I’ve been doing a lot of research into this!
Vassar and Wesleyan both have really strong departments. I don’t know as much about Swarthmore’s department, but I’ve heard it’s good. Amherst has a rather small department, but Smith, which is part of the same consortium, is very strong in music.
Bard’s music department in the college (distinct from the conservatory) is also very strong. It has plenty of its own teachers and resources, but you can still study with conservatory teachers and be in conservatory ensembles. At Oberlin I’ve heard things are a little more separate.
Lawrence University and St. Olaf College are frequently mentioned for students looking for liberal arts and music performance. They are lesser known than the other schools on your list, but they probably have the best music departments of any LACs. Lawrence has a conservatory, but it is very integrated with the college. Definitely check both of them out.
Some others with strong departments to look into are Williams, Pomona, Scripps if you are female, Sarah Lawrence, and Skidmore (which also has a music merit scholarship!)
@lalalemma - it’s not that easy at Bard College to get to study with the Conservatory professors, or be accepted into the conservatory orchestra. The student would need to be strong enough to have been accepted directly into the conservatory in the first place. In which case, I would recommend seriously considering applying to the Conservatory for the double degree - because then you’re eligible for significant merit aid.
As for Pomona - the Music degree is a joint degree with all the Claremont Colleges - it wouldn’t matter which of the 5C’s you were attending to take advantage of the music program - even though it’s based at Pomona. So you could be a Pitzer student and still get the same classes, teachers, and resources.
@cellololol - that is a good list from @lalalemma. If you’re willing to look at the West Coast I would also add University of Puget Sound. And I assume you also know about Lawrence in the midwest, yes?
If you are considering larger schools as well, you can follow the basic liberal arts program at the University of Rochester, including majoring or minoring in music, and still take any classes at their conservatory for which you have met the prerequisites.
If you are good enough you can play with the Con orchestra without being in the double degree program at Oberlin, just in the college. I know a cellist who did that.
Thanks to everyone for the great advice!! My school also happens to have a limit on applications to private colleges, so if you guys could name some public schools with good music and academics that would be great too!
Also I know Yale does not have minors, only concentrations, which concerned me–again I’m not sure if I’d be able to handle being a music major (mostly due to the performance aspect). I was worried about not being able to study music in a tangible way that would be recognized–if I wanted my degree to show that I’d studied music I’d have to major. Regardless, could anyone speak to the musical opportunities for non-music majors there? Is it possible to play with other music majors in chamber music or an orchestra? Thanks again!
Yale has many opportunities for you to participate in ensembles (either that you “create” informally or that are established) and you can take some gen ed classes in music, while majoring in whatever you want.
Yale does not have a performance major, minor or concentration. Princeton has a performance concentration. Yale’s study of music is academic, but you can take lessons with grad students, and occasionally, if you’re at a very high level, with a professor from The School of Music. However, Yale does have a ton of music ensembles and lots of very good musicians as undergrads.
As for public university programs - if finances are an issue you’ll want to apply in your home state, or ones which have reasonable out of state fees. And then you’ll need to check if non music majors can participate in the top orchestras or if they’re reserved for those in the School of Music. (Such as at Michigan, UCLA or Indiana - all of which have very good music programs and are public.) Again, you really should be asking these questions on the Music Major forum, even if you don’t plan to major in music.
My younger daughter is in a similar situation to you but for violin, not cello. She’s looking at St. Olaf because their orchestra is fantastic and they tour annually. I visited there with my older daughter who plays viola and the orchestra absolutely blew our socks off. The conductor could not have been nicer or more fun guy to work with. We’ve also heard fabulous things about Vassar and are planning to visit there this month. A nice thing for my daughter is that she made All-State symphony orchestra this year and the Vassar guy, Eduardo Navega is going to be the guest conductor, so she’ll have a chance to see what it’s like to work with him. She wants to double major or minor in music, she likes to compose and arrange as well. She loves playing in orchestra and chamber music and plays traditional fiddle music as well. But she doesn’t love solo performance. We’re also going to check out Wesleyan because we’ve heard good things about the music opportunities there.
If you are looking at Swarthmore, also check out Haverford–strong academics and a music major. Also Haverford music students can take private lessons at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. Many performance opportunities through the tri-co (consortium of Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore).
Why does it matter whether or not it’s recognized?
Nobody sees your diploma - it’s not like you show it to employers or others to get jobs or positions. At best, you’ll hang it on your wall. But if your major concern is keeping up with your music, taking classes/lessons, playing at a high level, having high-level teachers and peers and a good ensemble - whether or not you can formally declare it as a concentration doesn’t really matter as long as the other elements are there.
