Hi, everyone! My junior DS is looking seriously at Richmond and we will be attending (as soon as registration is open!) the Open House on March 30. We are only a few hours away in NC, but want to make the most of our visit.
He is interested in Neuroscience and Music, possibly a double major or major/minor.
We can find who to try to set up an appointment to talk to about neuroscience, but it is harder to find who to talk to about music, specifically percussion. There is an instructor for percussion, but which of the professors should we contact? Or should we contact the instructor? I know there are several students on here that are involved in music, so can anyone point us in the right direction?
And, in the meantime, if you wouldn’t mind sharing about the types of ensembles available or any other observations, about either program, we would be very appreciative!
Hi! I can’t speak about music, but I am familiar with the neuroscience program. The neuroscience program is offered as a concentration, not as a minor or major. So you pick a major such as biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, or psychology. I like this since you can tailor your interest in neuroscience, while also selecting a major that suits you. Each program has a different track, and you can pick the classes you take for the concentration. There are also tons of excellent neuroscience research labs on campus, and many students here start to join a research lab their freshman year! I also encourage your son to look into IQS and SMART programs which offer classes freshman year that is required for two of the neuroscience tracks. I’m not sure if you are familiar with the Richmond Guarantee, but it promises each UR undergraduate student up to $4,000 to research any area of their choosing. I’ve had various friends conduct neuroscience research with this grant! If you have any other science related questions, feel free to PM me! I am a biochemistry and molecular biology major here, but I have considered adding the neuroscience concentration, and I have several friends pursuing it so I could answer any more specific questions you have. I hope you all love Richmond!
Hello! I’m a senior music minor at UR (I’m on scholarship for music; I’m actually a math/CS double major also minoring in dance).
I would recommend contacting Ms. Smalley (the administrative coordinator for music, basically the central contact for music) and/or Dr. Riehl, who is the music department chair. I believe both of their contact info is on the website.
I’m really involved in ensembles, so I’d be happy to answer any questions on that front! There’s a lot of options for percussionists. We have a band and an orchestra (I’m in both), multiple jazz group (we have a jazz ensemble, plus 3 jazz combos. I’m in one of the combos), chamber ensembles (the ensembles depend on who signs up), and many world music groups (there’s a Brazilian combo, taiko, african drumming, etc). I’m also in Schola Cantorum, the mixed choir, but that usually doesn’t use percussion.
There are a lot of opportunities in the department and I’ve really enjoyed my time here! It’s a small department, so majors and minors get a lot of individualized attention and also really get to know each other. Most of my friends have been made in the music department.
The main music building, Booker Hall, is actually currently under renovation (they’re supposed to be done by the fall semester). Right now the department is temporarily located in Sarah Brunet Hall.
Thank you both, @rvalover7 and @guineagirl96! If we have questions, especially after we visit, I will not hesitate to ask!
Glad to understand a bit more about the neuroscience concentration. It’s so different everywhere we look, but it’s very much what he wants to do. We did know about the Richmond Guarantee, and he is very excited about that and the research opportunities. He would probably be be a biochemistry major, too, so I’m sure at some point we’ll have questions!
For music, he doesn’t play a drum set, probably could if he practiced - but jazz bands are probably out. He is a mallet specialist, and can play all concert percussion. Happy to know there are a lot of opportunities to play. He will most likely minor in music, too. Thank you for the contact info - we will probably get in touch with Ms. Smalley first and go from there!
I really appreciate your feedback! Thank you for your quick responses!!