<p>Can anyone tell me about the classical music scene at Amherst? Is it easy to get lessons (violin?), play in an orchestra, do chamber music and possibly major in music? Not looking for a conservatory, but looking for a strong group of musicians and faculty.</p>
<p>Also,
Columbia
Barnard
Wash U
Chicago
Northwestern (non-conservatory)
Oberlin (non-conservatory
Dartmouth
Amherst
Cornell
Pomona
Grinnell
Haverford
Swathmore</p>
<p>I can only tell you what my daughter has learned in her first semester. She plays in the 1st violin section of the Columbia Orchestra. Had to audition of course. The orchestra is big and incredibly good. I wouldn’t have been too confident of her getting into it if I’d heard them play before. There are plenty of Barnard students in the orchestra. Director is very good and is also very warm to players and parents. Daughter gets one credit per semester (and a grade) for being in orchestra. Orchestra prepares for one program (two performances) each semester. One three-hour (6:30-9:30 pm) rehearsal session each week. They did Brahms 1st and Bartok Miraculous Mandarin Suite last semester. There are practice rooms you can reserve at the beginning of the semester. No more than an hour a day. Not sure if there’s a limit on days during week. There were teachers available, but I think they were grad students and only 30 min/week (and not free) for non-majors. You can check for yourself, but I think music is pretty much all Columbia. There is some connection with Manhattan School of Music, but you have to apply for that program separately and audition. My daughter is taking lessons with a private teacher (1 hour/week) in Manhattan, not that far. Supposed to be lots of chamber group opportunities, but she hasn’t looked into it. You really need to talk to someone in Music dept., but this will give you some idea. At this point she isn’t planning to major in music, though she is taking a theory course as an elective. Check out web site, of course.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about it, but the facilities are wonderful, I went to one great classical music concert when visiting campus and I’ve heard it is easy to get lessons. You’l hopefully get better answers from someone else.</p>
<p>Yes to all of the above. Well, except that I wouldn’t call the music major easy - it’s one of Swat’s more demanding majors - but it’s a very tight-knit and supportive department. The major requires extensive work in performance, theory, and history, so it may not be a good fit for those who only want to work in one or two of those areas. </p>
<p>There is a college orchestra as well as a chamber music program. Both can be done for credit. Private music lessons are also available through the music department - the college pays a percentage of the cost, depending on audition (last I checked, it was no subsidy, 1/3, 2/3, or full subsidy).</p>
<p>You can find many posts on this subject on the Oberlin Blogs. Just a few for starters:</p>
<p>[Oberlin</a> Blogs | Blog Entry: “Secondary music lessons”](<a href=“http://blogs.oberlin.edu/learning/college_courses/school_starts_i.shtml]Oberlin”>http://blogs.oberlin.edu/learning/college_courses/school_starts_i.shtml)
[Oberlin</a> Blogs | Blog Entry: “Musical Moments”](<a href=“http://blogs.oberlin.edu/community/music_theater_arts/musical_moments.shtml]Oberlin”>http://blogs.oberlin.edu/community/music_theater_arts/musical_moments.shtml)
[Oberlin</a> Blogs | Blog Entry: “Flauting Con-vention”](<a href=“http://blogs.oberlin.edu/community/music_theater_arts/flauting_conven.shtml]Oberlin”>http://blogs.oberlin.edu/community/music_theater_arts/flauting_conven.shtml)
[Oberlin</a> Blogs | Blog Entry: “Opportunities for College Musicians”](<a href=“http://blogs.oberlin.edu/applying/applying/opportunities_f.shtml]Oberlin”>http://blogs.oberlin.edu/applying/applying/opportunities_f.shtml)</p>
<p>Look into DSO. This is my daughter’s 4th year as a member and she loves it. I’ve attended a concert and thought it was great.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.dartmouth.edu/~dso/[/url]”>http://www.dartmouth.edu/~dso/</a></p>
<p>My son will be starting at Amherst in the fall and is interested in playing in the orchestra (timpani; percussion). We have read that Amherst has the largest all-student (no professional ringers as some colleges use) orchestra of all of the liberal arts colleges in the country, about 70 students. I believe there are a few from U Mass-Amherst (since students from any of the Five College Consortium can participate or take classes at each other’s college). The conductor e-mailed my son and seems very nice. Also, we googled “Amherst Orchestra” and found a place online where there are clips (7 to 9 minutes each) of the orchestra playing several different pieces–Beethoven symphonies, etc. There is a music major, but many (I’d guess the majority) of the kids in the orchestra are not music majors. Also, Amherst was long known as the “Singing College”. Choral music is still very big at Amherst, and they have 6 or 7 extracurricular a capella groups, too. Hope this helps. Are you planning to attend Amherst?</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the great reply. I’m inquiring for a daughter of a friend who is a current hs junior, and Amherst is definitely on her list now, although we all know that the odds for getting in are tough! Congratulations to your son!</p>
<p>Non-Conservatory students can audition for secondary lessons. Most ensembles are open to audtion by students in the College. In addition there are ensembles that are primarily non-Conservatory students. In addition to the links provided by dave72, the link below is an interesting read regarding a non-Conservatory student and the Oberlin Orchestra:</p>
<p>[Oberlin</a> Stories | Mariko Meyer '11](<a href=“http://stories.oberlin.edu/2/music-conservatory/mariko-meyer-11.shtml]Oberlin”>http://stories.oberlin.edu/2/music-conservatory/mariko-meyer-11.shtml)</p>
<p>NYCM,
HI! I’ve been waiting for someone to ask this question! My son, a 2016, is a violinist at Dartmouth. He LOVES the DSO. He played violin all through high school, but music wasn’t a big part of his college search because he just didn’t know what level of involvement he’d seek in college. Because I’m not a musician, I can’t really tell you what level of musician gets into the DSO etc etc. Our son auditioned during orientation last September. He really wanted to get in and so he took the audition very seriously. His audition, I think, served as a screening to lessons with the conductor. (I could be wrong.) But he did end up with weekly lessons with the conductor-- and he is very very very happy with those lessons. I think that’s terrific support and opportunity for a freshman. Students have to commit to a full year of lessons if they sign up for them-- no charge though. That was not a difficult commitment for him. He likes the repertoire, admires and respects the conductor, and most of all loves the other kids in DSO. It’s a fun group. Dartmouth is currently expanding the scope of the orchestra. I think prospective students should send in art supplements. My son will probably not major in music. He’s in a music class this term, however, and he is enjoying it. He’s only been pleasantly surprised with music at Dartmouth. I think it’s funny that we didn’t even visit the music building when we visited when he was a prospective student. I’ll ask him if he minds if I give you his email. If it’s OK with him, I’ll message it to you. :)</p>
<p>Thank you so much coureur and DartDart! Great information and very helpful. My inquiry is for a friend’s daughter and it sounds as though Dartmouth might be a perfect fit (if she can get in!)</p>
<p>Many thanks dave72 and Compdad. All very helpful!</p>
<p>Many thanks, Notakid. It sounds as though my friend’s daughter should perhaps be thinking more about Columbia than Barnard? We will definitely talk to the music department! By the way, your daughter might be interested in the New York Youth Symphony which is quite good and rehearses (I think) at Riverside church just nearby. It’s one of the highest level youth orchestras in the country, perhaps in part because it is open to college students. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been thinking of Barnard for my friends.</p>
<p>Thanks etselec; this information is really helpful. I’m actually a Swarthmore grad and inquiring for a friend’s daughter since there was virtually no music when I was there (well, very little…before the days of the beautiful Lang building!)</p>
<p>My S had a very bad experience with the conductor of the DSO that discouraged him greatly. My impression is that the conductor was pompous and arrogant. S took up another instrument and had lessons in it, and continued to play his primary instrument, but he never regained the pitch of enthusiasm he had when he went off to college. It still saddens me.</p>
<p>nycm, my D is a Barnard student, and my reply was from that standpoint. The fact is that Barnard students pretty much have all the privileges of Columbia students as far as course offerings and extracurricular activities go.</p>
<p>I would add Vassar to the list. Eduardo Navega, the orchestra conductor, is phenomenal. The music is excellent. The Vassar orchestra is all students - no ringers. The energy level at each music concert is very high. The audience consists of students, friends from other colleges, parents/relatives, faculty, community people and the Vassar president attends every orchestra concert. Everyone is so supportive of the music. S1 was accepted to a conservatory and choose Vassar. S2 plays an unusual instrument and could have had some choices but applied ED to Vassar. We are thrilled with the musical experience they are getting. Since there are few distribution requirements at Vassar, it is easier to double major in music there.</p>
<p>I will also give a ‘shout-out’ to the Hamilton College orchestra, and the Wesleyan orchestra- both we heard in college visits. Also, we have a good friend who is having a great musical experience at Swarthmore.</p>
<p>We know conservatory-level violinists who had a good experience (with other majors but participating in music) at Chicago, Wesleyan and Oberlin (College not Con).</p>
<p>Thanks stradmom and chemusic. Very helpful. We were under the impression that Wesleyan might be a bit of a challenge for a classical musician, even with a fairly vibrant music community there. Perhaps we judged too quickly? Encouraging to hear about Chicago as well.</p>