<p>Hi, I am a senior Trumpet player who just applied to Brown about a week ago.
Along with submitting my Trumpet recording online, I also applied to the PLME program.
Music and medicine are just my two things I really want to study in general and I thought there could not be any more perfect program than PLME to do this. </p>
<p>Now, I’ve realized we do have someone in this forum who have experienced both at Brown.
This question is mostly directed to you Bruno, but anyone who also have music/PLME experiences, or music in general at Brown, please do enrich me with your knowledge!</p>
<p>Personally, How strong is the Music program there? I’ve played with the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, and though obviously not at the professional level, it sounds pretty darn good for a youth orchestra. Is Brown’s symphony orchestra or wind ensembles at a pre-professional level?</p>
<p>Also, do you feel that you focus more on Music or Pre-med courses as undergraduates through the PLME program? and how do you manage your time? (it seems overwhelming to do pre-med, Music, and be involved in clubs and musical ensembles)</p>
<p>Brown’s music program: it’s obviously not a conservatory program, but Brown’s music department is still quite strong. There’s more of a focus on theory/history/ethno than performance, but the opportunities for performance are more than adequate, in my opinion. The orchestra is a great group of people who mostly played in orchestras like yours in high school - top-level regional youth symphonies. The conductor, Paul Phillips, understands that and programs an interesting mix of traditional orchestral works and new music.</p>
<p>In terms of my life as a PLME and music concentrator, I definitely spend more time on music. The PLME required courses are such that I can take 1-2 per semester and keep up easily; music takes a little more time, as any concentration should. I manage to keep up with both PLME and my concentration, as well as other extra-curriculars besides orchestra, pretty easily.</p>
<p>and also, I don’t know if you heard, but how are the Trumpets at Brown?
I’ve listened to several college orchestras, and the Trumpet players at Yale undergrad are just monstrous (they may have grad students mixed in). But the Trumpets sounded sooo good when they played Mahler 5. If i just heard the trumpets, I would have believed it if someone told me they play for a professional orchestra.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s the same for a lot of colleges, though. What do you think?</p>
<p>I’m a string player. I know that we’ve had issues this year with our trumpet section as a few of our top players graduated in 2012. The few that we do have, however, are amazing.</p>
<p>Thank You so much for your responses Bruno!</p>
<p>Brown and PLME are so attractive to me. I would love to do both music and medicine over there. It’s great to hear that the Trumpets are great! I feel like I learn much more when I sit next to more experienced players. When I was in Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra as a sophomore, the other 3 trumpeters were all seniors. It was a bit odd playing next to older, experienced players, but we taught each other so much, in playing and music in general. </p>
<p>If I get lucky, I would love to play with the Brown Orchestra!</p>
<p>I have also applied to the PLME at Brown because I feel like it is the perfect program for me. (I have been playing piano since I was 5 and would love to continue this while at the same time becoming a doctor.) I was just wondering what you think of the program, how hard it was to get in, and even though I have submitted my application is there anything else I could do to better my chances? I really love Brown and I really want to go there. Thank you so much!</p>
<p>Hznrk: you should be able to find the answer to your first question in many of my previous posts. In short: I love PLME, and it’s been the best thing ever for me.</p>
<p>Admissions data is posted - I believe that the admit rate is about 5%. There’s not really anything you can do now that your application is in, so focus on enjoying your final semester of high school instead of stressing about applications (to the extent possible).</p>
<p>1) The orchestra is definitely competitive - you need to play at a relatively high level to get in. However, there are plenty of musical opportunities available for people who don’t make it into orchestra. You can do chamber music for a half credit and get coached by members of the music faculty, and private lessons are also available through the AMP program.</p>
<p>2) Yes. Brown Wind Symphony.</p>
<p>3) I’m a music concentrator, though not a double concentrator. Many people do choose that path, though, as the music concentration isn’t a particularly difficult one to fulfill (12-15 required courses). Minors aren’t available at Brown.</p>