<p>I'm a violinist who is planning on applying to Stanford SCEA and auditioning on October 18th (?). Can anyone tell me what the music department is like? I'm especially interested in violin professors, orchestra, and chamber music. I've heard from my cellist friend that the music department is kind of weak.</p>
<p>oo my question too. dyou have to audition? i live on the east coast =T dyou know if it's possible to be in the orchestra, chamber groups, etc without majoring in music?</p>
<p>Haha, I'll add to the questions. I've played violin since I was 4, but I'm not really that serious about it. I'm actually pretty good, but not great at all compared to people who focus on it. I'm wondering if a sent in tape would help me at all in admissions. The judges won't push for me or anything because of fantastic talent, but I want to do something to show the admissions officers that violin has been a big chunk of my life. However, they do say they don't want you to send anything unless you're super good. I don't know what to do.</p>
<p>hi123: yes you can</p>
<p>how good is "super good"? ive played for a long time too but i havent had a teacher since 8th grd or so..</p>
<p>I don't know either, so I'm trying to decide whether I want to put all that time into a recording if I'm probably not at the right level.</p>
<p>They say you can send in a tape/CD or audition if you have had recognition at a state or national level. I've advanced to state from the regional Solo and Ensemble contest (but didn't do well there) and have gone to All-State. Do you think that counts?</p>
<p>I think it would be the most worth it if you're also thinking about sending in a supplemental recording to the other schools you're applying to. I know I am going to, so I have already prepared a mini-program for both the recordings as well as my in-person auditions.</p>
<p>I was thinking of going into Flute Performance. Unfortunately, I haven't heard anything good about Stanford's music department. There are a lot of people there, and surely there's a wealth of talent, but the people I asked said I would do better to look elsewhere for a music education.</p>
<p>If you're not too serious, I would think the resources they have are fine. But Yale's better, and UCLA down south has all the benefits of Hollywood central.</p>
<p>Stanford isn't known for music and I am not sure if it's any good. You may find the following link helpful:</p>
<p>Type "Music School/Conservatory Tours" under Search if the link doesn't work.</p>
<p>Hey, I play the viola and I actually was given a tour of the music departmentlast spring. I admit, their music department isnt as great as say...Yale, but it is decent. A lot of the chamber music groups are excellent from what I hear. And if you plan on joining the orchestra if you get in, I know that the orchestra just got a great new conductor from China and often tours Europe and Australia along with many other places! If you are curious aboout who the music professors/private teachers are, there is a list available online at the Stanford website.</p>
<p>i think it sounds fine..does it have to be recognition for individually playing? or can it be with an orchestra. i guess i just dont want them to listen to it for a minute and end up throwing it out after i put an effort into it =T</p>
<p>The music dept at Stanford is small and not as strong as music programs at other schools, and most students who are serious about studying music as a major would probably not put Stanford at hte top of their list. </p>
<p>However, if you enjoy playing music extracurricularly, you will probably find everything you want there. There are lots of performance opportunities. I played clarinet in the wind ensemble last year, but I also went to quite a few orchestra concerts, and they sounded pretty good at most of the performances. Earlier this summer, they toured Australia for two weeks. Next summer, the wind ensemble will be touring Europe. You need to audition for most of the groups, as well as for private teachers. (note: i think what rhs06 mentioned above is not an audition, per se, but just a chance for the teacher to hear your skills and possibly make a recommendation to the office of admissions. This is the same as sending in a recording of yourself. To actually join a music ensemble, you audition at the beginning of the school year.)</p>
<p>BTW sending in a recording of yourself is a great idea, especially if you excel at your instrument. If your recording sounds terrible, it probalby wont help you, but it certainly cant hurt you and might demonstrate your interest and effort you put into it.</p>
<p>thanks for your reply.. since i live on the east coast, i dont think i'll be able to "audition". is it ok if you dont?</p>
<p>Thanks for everyone's help. So it can't really hurt you, and may possibly help you in admissions to send a recording in? </p>
<p>I do want to take lessons and join the orchestra/symphony, but I won't be majoring in music, so Stanford's quality of music program doesn't matter to me.</p>
<p>In case anyone cares, I decided that music is too important to me (even though it's not really a career option) so I'm changing my SCEA to Yale. I know one of the violin teachers there, and I prefer the east coast anyway. I'll still apply to Stanford RD.</p>