<p>Hi everyone! </p>
<p>I was just curious as to how easy it is for non-music majors to get involved with music ensembles at Vandy. I've been playing my instrument for about eight years and am fairly involved in it both in and out of school. Although I'm perhaps not the most disciplined practicer, I'd love to continue playing in college. </p>
<p>I'd appreciate any input about time commitment/audition difficulty, etc. </p>
<p>Thanks. (:</p>
<p>I am also interested in this; a reply would be most welcomed.</p>
<p>Bringing up this post because I am also curious about this.</p>
<p>You can get involved in orchestra, band, choir, etc. as a non-major, but it <em>is</em> a time commitment. Ensemble goes MWF 2:10-5, and it’s only 1 credit hour. Anyone who is good enough at the audition can be part of it. The likelihood of you getting in depends on the number of majors.</p>
<p>Blair is a bit of a hike from the rest of campus, so be prepared to spend quite a few hours a week at Blair (and just getting there!).</p>
<p>The Spirit of Gold marching band is also a fantastic option. We rehearse MWF from 4:30-6:30 during football season, play at all the home games and take one trip to an away game. It is really a great time all around, and made my transition to Vanderbilt very smooth by introducing me to tons of people and new friends a week before everyone else made it to campus. Members of Spirit of Gold can also play at the basketball games during basketball season. There really isn’t a better deal for basketball band; one rehearsal a month, only go to the games you want to go to, free lunch or dinner, and get paid to have the best seats in the house. The audition for Spirit of Gold is very minimal, more of a formality than anything.</p>
<p>In the spring semester we have a community concert band that rehearses on Tuesday evenings. This is a non-auditioned group open to anyone in the Vanderbilt community. Undergraduates play along side grad students, law, med, and owen students, post-docs, and vandy faculty. They put on three concerts at the end of the semester including a community band festival featuring bands in the area.</p>
<p>Like macaroni said, all of the ensembles at blair are open for any students to audition. It can be hard for non-majors to fit these ensembles into their schedule, but I know several who do. These ensembles are graded and attendance as well as preparation is expected.</p>
<p>Any Vanderbilt student can take lessons from faculty as well. There are semester lesson fees, something to discuss with parents. Music minors get half off of these fees. Students can take a 30min, 45 min, or hour long lesson once a week, for one or two credit hours. One credit hour lessons come with a 5 hour a week practice commitment while two credit hour lessons come with a 10 hour a week practice commitment. I hear that different faculty enforce this commitment to different extents, the most important thing is that you’re prepared for your lesson.</p>
<p>There are tons of choirs here at Vanderbilt, all male, all female, coed, small, large, Christian, secular, you name it. They are a lot of fun and many non-music majors join a choir.</p>
<p>If you want to do music, its definitely available. I am an engineering student, and last semester I participated in spirit of gold and took lessons on two instruments. This semester I’m involved in the basketball band, community concert band, and take lessons on my principal instrument. I hope to audition for the Blair orchestra/wind ensemble sometime in my years here. Good luck with your musical pursuits!</p>