<p>Does anyone have any information or insights into the Music Department at Bowdoin? A prospective applicant is interested. Thanks!</p>
<p>as a music student at bowdoin i can tell you a little more about it:</p>
<p>program:
the program itself has courses in ethnomusicology, composition, performance, western music history, music and culture, etc. students can design their own music track.</p>
<p>there is a strong electronic music program and multiple studios to work from. you can learn visual programming, do advanced studies in electronic music (after you’ve done the introduction level courses) you can also use these recording studios if you have a band</p>
<p>its very diverse, with lots of different student groups, including orchestra, chamber music, jazz ensembles, concert band, middle eastern ensemble, etc.</p>
<p>the faculty is great. it’s a very friendly department. the facilities are incredibly nice, 3 concert venues (though mostly studzinski) and two areas with practice rooms (tons of steinways). keep in mind, bowdoin is also the location of the bowdoin international music festival during the summer, which draws world class musicians from over 30 countries a year along with faculty from juilliard and curtis.</p>
<p>a chamber group at bowdoin was coached by the president of curtis who came to visit (they have a good relationship with bowdoin)</p>
<p>overall, there is something for everyone regardless of your musical background, facilities are v nice for a school of 1700, and the faculty is amazing (most famous for composition i believe)</p>
<p>We have great facilities, that is for sure. However, if you are a string player, be aware that we don’t have very strong orchestra or chamber music programs.</p>
<p>I noticed that the orchestra doesn’t even practice during the entire semester. Is it a full orchestra? What level/caliber of music does it perform?</p>
<p>It is a full orchestra. I attended the end-of-the-semester concert, and though they didn’t sound bad, I woudn’t boast to anyone about the program. I don’t really remember what pieces they played. If you are seriously considering Bowdoin, e-mail the music department chair or the orchestra conductor, and they can tell you what works have been performed recently.</p>