<p>If I were to get in and go to Duke, (Applying ED), I would definitely want to pursue music, specifically piano, during my time at Duke. I am not intending to major in Music, if anything it would just be a side hobby that I would take lessons for and possibly minor in. Could someone tell me more about Duke's music programs? I know Duke isn't known for their music, but I hope they have at least a decent music department. Thanks!</p>
<p>A lot of my fraternity brothers are music majors or interested in music as a side hobby. Although the department is small, they have enjoyed working with the faculty (many of whom they cited as brilliant), classes aren’t large, and many are also involved in the symphony orchestra and other music groups as well. Duke has also made the fine arts a high priority for the university, so I feel the program will only get better. Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Duke’s Ciompi Quartet teaches students. Our son took lessons from one of them the most of his semesters for pure pleasure plus he attended most of their performances. There have been occasions where a Duke pianist wins the annual talent competition…the prize is to have the Duke Symphony devote an entire program to the soloist who wins…this is always an exciting night in the year. I was present once when it was a pianist who received this incredible support and she was the featured artist. Often it is a violinist. Duke also puts on an opera a year with the Symphony…great experience for the symphonic players. It is typical at Duke to have fine musicians in the student body who are not majors but like to play and take lessons. Would recommend you sign up for lessons as a freshman because you can walk to where the music department is located in the domed building on the freshman campus, and later when you move to West campus…you will find some rehearsal pianos about but you will miss being able to walk to the Music building as easily. Music at Duke was one of our son’s happiest second or third “home bases” although he was not a spectacular gifted talent or anything. He is however a musicologist as well and he attended tons of world class programs that Duke brings in annually…great great shows.</p>