<p>My daughter wants to attend a liberal arts college/university and continue her percussion studies, particularly on the marimba. Not sure that she could make it into the highly competitive conservatories or music schools. Are there any schools that offer a music major and have strong percussion faculty?</p>
<p>I’m not sure what state you’re in, but CSU Northridge has a very strong music program and offers a Bachelor of Music in Percussion.</p>
<p>Mark Ford is at University of North Texas-chances are your D is already playing his marimba compositions</p>
<p>Percussion is a wonderful area of music for a student who wants also to pursue a liberal arts education. Being a percussion student will go far beyond playing the marimba. There is so much about it that explores the cultures of the world, geographical resources, etc. Very few LAC’s would have a full time percussion teacher, but those in proximity to good professional orchestras may use their percussionist as adjunct faculty. Read the bios carefully in the music department, or call the schools and ask who teaches percussion students. Good luck to your daughter.</p>
<p>Look at Bard, Lawrence, Oberlin, the usual LACs with strong music programs.</p>
<p>Bard’s percussion program is pretty exceptional among those 3. They just completely redesigned their program, and a prominent percussion ensemble (So Percussion) is teaching there, as are one person each from the NYPhil and the Met. See [Bard</a> College Conservatory of Music | Faculty](<a href=“Bard Conservatory Faculty”>http://www.bard.edu/conservatory/faculty/?action=details&id=2888)</p>
<p>Lawrence and Oberlin are probably pretty solid, but are not as unique for serious percussion. All of these programs are still conservatory-type programs within a liberal arts college; I recommend reading [Double</a> Degrees | Peabody Conservatory](<a href=“http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html]Double”>http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html) to get an understanding of that.</p>
<p>Also, Ithaca College has Gordon Stout, who is a big-name marimbist. That may or may not put it above Oberlin/Lawrence, but it’s probably worth considering.</p>
<p>Thanks! It just seems that the conservatory schools take only a couple/few applicants each year and we’re not sure she’s of that caliber. She is very talented, with great determination and potential, I think, but not a prodigy. . . I did notice Ithaca, and appreciated the UNorth Texas thought–looks like they have a great summer program that wasn’t on our radar. Also, do students ever make it into some of the better programs if they are stronger on marimba, snare, and set, but not as advanced on tympani? Thanks for everyones input. It helps!</p>
<p>Here are some past threads which may be of help (I searched for percussion in the titles)</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/975661-best-percussion-colleges.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/975661-best-percussion-colleges.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1385462-non-top-tier-percussion-programs.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1385462-non-top-tier-percussion-programs.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/640567-good-schools-percussion.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/640567-good-schools-percussion.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/835945-percussion-major-school-suggestions-appreciated.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/835945-percussion-major-school-suggestions-appreciated.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/223773-good-percussion-teachers.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/223773-good-percussion-teachers.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/862404-percussion-midwest.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/862404-percussion-midwest.html</a></p>
<p>I am biased toward Oberlin, but a good friend’s son attended St. Olaf and is a wonderful classical percussion/marimba player (and now teacher). great liberal arts school with really good merit aid.</p>
<p>Just heard the Vassar orchestra play the Sibelius 2nd Symphony (the whole thing!) Friday evening. It was a wonderful performance! Music is very strong at Vassar so take a look and take ‘a listen’ to the concerts. If you google ‘vassar music’, you will find the webcasts on the right side of the music department page. I can not comment on percussion specifically at Vassar but if you are interested in double majoring, it is a good choice since there are very few gen ed requirements.
Be sure to visit and meet the instructors at the schools you are interested in. Schedule your visit when you can hear a rehearsal.<br>
You may find that a schools like Vassar, Wesleyan, Williams and Hamilton which also have strong music departments may be a great fit.</p>
<p>I just went to the Percussion and New Music concert at Connecticut College, where the incredible Peter Jarvis teaches percussion and directs the ensemble. I really can’t think of a better, more inspirational teacher for an eager young percussionist than him. And the academics are great at the college.</p>
<p>My daughter is still looking for a great percussion teacher at a liberal arts school. We’ve visited Lawrence and Oberlin, but the programs were a little intimidating. Any recent thoughts?</p>
<p>How about Wesleyan? Their world music department is world renowned - so they’re bound to have some marvelous percussion teachers, and there is no conservatory attached (although there will be grad students in world music.)</p>
<p>My son is a senior, majoring in percussion performance at Baylor, and Todd Meehan has been a fantastic teacher for him…if you haven’t given Baylor a look already:) Best wishes in your search!</p>
<p>If your daughter wants to study performance, it would seem that a conservatory or music school (part of a college/university or not) would be the first thought, but you said from the beginning that you didn’t think your daughter would be a good fit for those.</p>
<p>When you went to Oberlin and Lawrence, did your daughter look at the conservatory or the college? If the college, did she look into whether the conservatory’s presence was a plus or a minus?</p>
<p>There are many liberal arts colleges where your daughter could study music, take lessons in percussion on the side, and perform in extracurriculars.</p>
<p>There are some BA programs with performance, but others would have to fill you in.</p>
<p>Here’s a school with a music program I like: [Music</a> | Visual and Performing Arts | Departments | Clark University](<a href=“http://www.clarku.edu/departments/clarkarts/music/]Music”>http://www.clarku.edu/departments/clarkarts/music/) Tufts is good too.</p>
<p>Alternatively, schools like Bennington and Sarah Lawrence might be good: they offer a lot of freedom and independence, and are very interdisciplinary: [Bennington:</a> Music](<a href=“http://www.bennington.edu/academics/areasstudy/Music.aspx]Bennington:”>http://www.bennington.edu/academics/areasstudy/Music.aspx)</p>
<p>In some ways, you might want to avoid schools with conservatories/music schools on the same campus because the conservatory students may get the best teachers and opportunities in general. </p>
<p>Spirit Manager can tell you more about Bard.</p>
<p>Honestly, I would pick some college websites to look at that appeal for a variety of reasons, location, academics, size, vibe- and check out both music classes and extracurriculars. And if your daughter wants to continue lessons, the proximity and availability of private teachers might be an important consideration.</p>
<p>You don’t say much about other interests or academic level. Maybe conservatory IS the way to go but you should look at some that are less intimidating.</p>