<p>I'm planning on applying to Barnard, and it's currently my top choice; the only thing that I'm hesitant about is the lack of music ensembles available. I would imagine that, given Barnard's small number of choruses and complete lack of instrumental groups, I would be looking at participating in Columbia's music programs, but they don't seem to have a university concert band or wind ensemble, and the few instrumental ensembles they have appear to be offered exclusively with the performance major program. I would hate to have to give up on my dream school, but having an ensemble to play in really is a deal breaker for me and I know I won't be looking into community ensembles my first year in New York. Am I just completely missing something? Any details would be appreciated!</p>
<p>Sarah, yes, I think you’re missing something. The Columbia Music Performance Program (MPP) is open to music majors and non-music majors, and offers a wide variety of classical and jazz performing opportunities, including a full orchestra, and chamber music groups and jazz combos of varying sizes. My son has been very involved on the jazz side, participating in combos and taking jazz instruction for credit every semester, but is not majoring in music. You do have to audition for placement, and the top groups have some very accomplished musicians, including participants in the Columbia/Juilliard Exchange, but there are some less high-powered groups as well. In addition, Barnard has an affiliation with Manhattan School of Music that allows qualified students to take lessons there (it’s not open to Columbia students, so I don’t know much about it, but here’s a link: <a href=“http://music.columbia.edu/programs/undergrad/bc/msm”>http://music.columbia.edu/programs/undergrad/bc/msm</a></p>
<p>For more information on the MPP, here’s a link to their website: <a href=“Columbia University Music Performance Program”>http://music.columbia.edu/mpp</a>, and here are a few excerpts:</p>
<p>"Offerings in the MPP are subdivided into private instrumental lessons and a range of sponsored and affiliated performing ensembles. One of the main goals of the MPP is to provide high quality music instruction to students within the stimulating intellectual atmosphere of a fine liberal arts college. Many students involved in the MPP major in subjects far removed from music; others double major in music and some other discipline. The best of our students perform at levels comparable to those of students in the country’s best music conservatories and are accepted to top summer music festivals and graduate programs. As Columbia’s MPP is located within the rich musical world of New York City, our students have the opportunity to perform in some of the city’s top venues. Columbia’s MPP students are deeply immersed in both performance and intellectual pursuits, and we feel that this combination creates particularly strong and compelling performers.</p>
<p>MPP OFFERINGS</p>
<p>Along with the CU Orchestra, there are dozens of chamber music ensembles, numerous jazz ensembles, Collegium Musicum, and world music ensembles including a klezmer band, bluegrass band, and Japanese Gagaku ensemble. The MPP sponsors student-run music organizations as well, such as the Bach Society, Columbia Classical Performers, and Columbia New Music for composers. Not only do these groups enrich life on campus, but they also help bring the community together through the many events presented in neighborhood venues such as the jazz club Smoke, Miller Theatre, and in Riverside Park as part of its Overlook Concert Series."</p>
<p>columbia has a wind ensemble…</p>
<p>I would try to ask around about the reality of actually getting into the ensembles you are interested in and whether private lessons will be available to you as a freshman. It may be different for instrumentalists, but I know that for vocalists, it is very hard to get private lessons as an underclassman. We were told that by the music department as well as a student who was at Barnard and quite talented. She was lucky to get vocal lessons in the 2nd semester of her sophomore year. In the end, it was a deciding factor not to go to Barnard, even though it is a great school. I just didn’t want to shell out an extra $150 a week or so for lessons on top of paying full tuition. As for the combined Barnard/ Manhattan School of Music program, we were told that maybe 5 students had successfully graduated from the program in the last several years. It seems to be a hard to get through the program with conflicting schedules for classes, etc…</p>