<p>What are the odds of a talented instrumentalist (but NOT a music major) being allowed to play with an Eastman ensemble?</p>
<p>Is this possible and probable for a talented player ... possible but unlikely ... impossible ... ?</p>
<p>How much interaction is there between Eastman students and students in the arts and sciences college?</p>
<p>My son was an Eastman student so I can answer from that end. If you are not an Eastman student you will not be able to play in the Eastman ensembles no matter what your abililty level. The River Campus has it's own ensembles for non-Eastman students. Lessons for non-Eastman students are available at no charge from graduate Eastman students. I think there is also some adjunct faculty who teach lessons for some instruments for non-Eastman students. </p>
<p>There is a shuttle bus that runs between the 2 campuses (campi?). The level of interaction is not great but there is some. Many Eastman students take classes at River campus but there are not many Eastman classes open to none performance majors. River campus students do come to Eastman for lessons and to attend performances. Eastman has its own dorm called the Student Living Center which is a dorm, cafeteria and student union rolled into one building. Students can eat at either campus under the meal plan but most eat where they live. Eastman students can participate in any of the University programs and activities that they want but the reality is that they don't have time for much more that doing music. I know that my son did play intramural soccer and ultimate frisbee while there. He played on teams with other Eastman students and competed against River campus teams. </p>
<p>Some Eastman students are pretty involved with stuff at River campus, but it is pretty uncommon.</p>
<p>Thank you Shennie. Too bad that non music majors are excluded from Eastman ensembles but good to know this. How does the quality of the River Campus ensembles -- are they strong ... or not so?<br>
It is cool that non-Eastman students can take lessons from graduate Eastman students at no charge. Do the Eastman students get credit for this?</p>
<p>I am not familiar with the River Campus ensembles. I think they are fairly strong because a lot of students who play are attracted to Rochester because of Eastman. The grad students who teach don't get credit, they get paid as Teaching Assistants by the university.</p>
<p>What about dual degree students? Does anyone know anything about how kids manage the courseload/ travelling back and forth between campuses? I'm definitely going to be a freshman at River Campus next fall, but I didn't audition for Eastman this year because I want to spend my freshman year getting settled in. I'm seriously considering auditioning at Eastman for my sophomore year though (for voice).</p>
<p>My son says it is pretty tough to do the double degree although it is probably a bit easier in voice than strings or piano. The shuttle runs back and forth every half hour. Classes are set up so they start on the hour at River Campus and the half hour at Eastman. It can still be impossible to leave Eastman at 9:30 and make a 10:00 class unless your class is really close to the bus stop at RC. The biggest issue is that ensembles rehearse in the afternoon and it can be difficult or impossible to schedule afternoon classes at RC.</p>
<p>DD students can live either at Eastman or RC. My son says that all the DD students he knew lived at Eastman. Most of the DD students were doing their music degree in theory or music history. </p>
<p>I would suggest that when you get to Rochester you speak with an advisor in the voice department at Eastman to see how doable the DD is in voice.</p>
<p>thanks for the info!! yeah, i'll talk to my advisor once the year gets started to see if that could work out.</p>