<p>My son is looking for a small liberal arts college with a strong music program. He's very impressed with Oberlin and Lawrence but would prefer something on the West Coast. He's a piano/percussion player with an interest in conducting and music technology. Any feedback on Willamette or other schools worth considering. How is Pomona for music?</p>
<p>Look at Chapman.</p>
<p>This thread might be of interest <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/299476-good-music-schools-california.html?highlight=pomona%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/299476-good-music-schools-california.html?highlight=pomona</a></p>
<p>Two other small California schools where I've heard that students have had good experiences studying music performance are Redlands and University of the Pacific.</p>
<p>apparently colgate has music, williams has a small music program.
west coast wise--i am not sure. look into pomona?</p>
<p>The Pomona music program is open to all students at the five colleges. My older S went to CMC and got a free instrument from Pomona. His friend at Pitzer minored in music through Pomona. There are Pomona ensembles open to students from the other colleges, and then there are 5-C ensembles. I believe Scripps has music classes, as well, but I'm not positive. All of the 5-C's make their classes available to all students. Harvey Mudd offers some very interesting electronic music classes.</p>
<p>As for the quality of the program, that is another question entirely. Redlands, just east of Claremont, is more noted for its music program. They offer a BM in music as opposed to the BA from Pomona.</p>
<p>We know an excellent flutist and oboe/English hornist who both attend Pomona. They are both fabulous musicians who could have gone the conservatory route. Both have been very happy with their private teachers and the orchestra at Pomona.</p>
<p>Thank you, everyone, for your responses! It is a daunting task to find the 'right' college which suits my son's personality and interests. Thankfully, we have some guidelines to work on as he is passionate about classical music; he plays the piano. This summer he is doing a composition camp at the SF Music Conservatory and loves it. This is good as it confirms the direction we need to focus on. However, he doesn't want to study piano but is interested in conducting and composing music. Operas, symphonies....</p>
<p>Any other college suggestions based on his interests, greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>University of Southern California: but it's of course not an LAC.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The Pomona music program is open to all students at the five colleges. ... There are Pomona ensembles open to students from the other colleges, and then there are 5-C ensembles. I believe Scripps has music classes, as well, but I'm not positive. All of the 5-C's make their classes available to all students. Harvey Mudd offers some very interesting electronic music classes.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I believe that Claremont is split into the Pomona music program + the "4C" Joint Music Program (Scripps, Mudd, Pitzer, CMC...run mostly through Scripps' music dept.). There is indeed flexibility, overlap, and cross-over as needed.</p>
<p>Colorado College might be worth a look. I had two music major friends graduate in recent years, and both loved it (and seem to have been fairly successful in post-grad plans). I heard that CC's block scheduling made composition courses a bit challenging, but both students came through unscathed. Their "bowed piano" ensemble might appeal to your son, as well :)</p>
<p>Another program to check out is the College of Creative Studies which is a very small selective school within UC Santa Barbara. They only offer 8 or so majors and music composition is one. UC Santa Barbara has a music school, as well, so your son could take percussion and other classes as desired. Sort of a liberal arts college within the University.</p>
<p>would he consider the Southwest off the coast? Is he academically high acheiving enough to consider combining an Honors College setting at a larger University with a Music School? D took this route, combining the Honors College at Arizona State with an Undergratuate Music Degree.Got a full scholarship (merit based, not music based) as well.Loved her time there. East Coast girl who fell in love with the desert setting, and the superior music facilities and opportunities available there.She looked far and wide and once she saw that place she was in love.
Sounds like your S needs a larger setting immeresed in music than an LAC,though an Oberlin type program would meet his needs.</p>