Music Major

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>Major: Music performance/conducting/composing </p>

<p>Ideal Schools:
Rice University
Baylor University
Berklee College of Music
Boston University
Brown University
Cornell University
Eastman School of Music
Duke University
Harvard/New England </p>

<p>Junior Grades:
AP Music Theory -- A
Symphonic Band -- A
Wind Ensemble -- A
Chamber Orchestra -- A
LH United States History -- A
LH British Literature -- B
LH Speech -- A
Algebra II -- B
AP German IV -- A (at our local community college)</p>

<p>Summer Classes at Elgin Community College:
College Algebra
Trigonometry </p>

<p>Next Year (senior year):
AP Calculus AB
AP Literature and Composition
AP Macroeconomics
AP Government
LH Physics
Wind Ensemble
Wind Symphony
LH Journalist Writing
LH Creative Writing
Internship</p>

<p>Classes at ECC for senior year:
Introduction to Business
Accounting
AP German V
AP German VI</p>

<p>ACT: 22
SAT: Haven't received</p>

<p>Hobbies/Activities:
Music -- (viola, violin, oboe, clarinet, trumpet, piano)
Marching Band
Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra
Aurora Youth Symphony Orchestra
Girl Scouts
Math team
Adventure Club
Adventure Scouts (associated with boy scouts)
Captain of the JV Girls Tennis Team (first singles)
Job -- I teach private lessons for younger students
Classes at Elgin Community College
Willow Creek Community Church Orchestra
Willow Creek Community Church Student Impact Band
Lifeguard </p>

<p>Summer Camps:
Interlochen Arts Camp
Birch Creek Center of Music</p>

<p>-- What should I be working on to improve my chances of getting into the colleges listed above?
-- My ACT and most likely my SAT scores do not show who I am as a student at ALL! What should I do?
-- Are the colleges listed above OK for where I am? Am I missing any?</p>

2

<p>You seem to realize this aleady, but your ACT score will be a major albatross at the listed schools (All the Ivies, BU & Duke) that aren't strict conservatories. I can't comment on Rice and Baylor since I don't know, but I'm guessing it will be a handicap there too. You didn't mention your GPA, but if you're not above 4.0 weighted on a 4 unweighted scale, you're also in a bit of a hole. Nothing on your list could be considered a "safety school" and you should consider some. It's a hard fact of life, but some schools use ACT and SAT scores as a screening mechanism, never taking the time to learn about the student.</p>

<p>Eastman and Berklee, being consveratories won't be too interested in grades and ACTs, but will be interested in you the musician, so the interview, portfolio and audition will be key there.</p>

<p>Quite honestly, if your not in the top 5 -10 people, not percent, in your class, most of the schools you list, not conservatories, are probably out of your league. They are that competitive academically and you've got a long row to how with your ACT scores. Maybe a crash ACT course would be a good idea?</p>

<p>Something else that you need to consider is to specialize in a single instrument. You list quite a few, but most conservatories want you to focus on a single, maybe two instruments. DD is going to Peabody for clarinet performance, also loves sax and flute, but has been politely told that it's clarinet for at least the first couple of years. The redeeming factor is her prof feels strongly that the students play all the orchestral clarinets so she'll be able to dabble with the bass and Eb...</p>

<p>Since you're local (I'm Northern Illinois too) have you considered Illinois Wesleyan? That has a respectable music department and, although fairly rigid academically, is probably more suited to your situation. Another one to consider is Lawrence University in Appleton, WI which doesn't require ACTs anymore. Make no mistakes, it is very competitive academically, but they've decided that ACTs aren't a good measure of the student. Additionally, they have a lovely conservatory there. It was another school that DD was accepted at. The clarinet professor there is wonderful.</p>

<p>Well I got long-winded. Didn't want to squash dreams, but did want to provide you with some realistic expectations. Thank about an ACT course and consider some safety schools, but by all means, apply everywhere your heart tells you to.</p>

3

<p>Speaking as someone who got into Rice, Boston University, and Indiana University with a really lousy academic record, I think I'm obligated to tell you this: go practice.</p>

<p>90% of getting into most of those schools you listed is contingent on giving a great audition. Unless you failed several classes and bombed your tests, most schools will turn a blind eye if the music department wants you badly enough. I have a D and several C's on my transcript, and I went into the SATs stone cold. I had no idea which SAT II's I was taking until five minutes before the test began.</p>

<p>It's possible some of the Ivies would care more, but if all you want to do is study music, why bother? Have you considered why you're applying to most of those schools? They all have great records as academic institutions, but some of them are not well known for music. It wouldn't hurt to look into some more traditional music conservatories, where you definitely won't have to worry about your transcript.</p>

4

<p>Baylor is an all-around great school, with a VERY respectable music department and excellent faculty in particular. Plus...it's probably the least difficult school to get into out of all that you've listed. Don't take my word for it, but based on my observations you shouldn't have too much trouble being accepted academically, and it looks like you're doing all the right things musically.</p>

<p>If you feel that your ACT and SAT scores don't accurately reflect your academic aptitude, why not retake them a few times?</p>

<p>I second what ImperialZeppelin said about specializing in fewer instruments, as it would probably be counterproductive to try to prepare excellent audition programs on different instruments - it's hard enough on one instrument!</p>

5

<p>Just to clarify:</p>

<p>I'm majoring on viola, and this is where not only my heart is, but also all my focus goes. The other instruments are just "for fun." I am leaning towards either Baylor or Rice and the ivies are for my parents bragging purposes <em>rolls eyes</em></p>

<p>My GPA is a 5.66 on a 5.0 scale...</p>

<p>Thanks for all of your comments, I really appreciate all of them :)</p>

6

<p>Then you're all set, but you'll have to "ease" your parents into the thought that their dear one won't be in an Ivy League school. They should survive as long as you're happy and thriving...</p>

<p>So forget the ACT class and rosin up the bow to practice!</p>

7

<p>My biggest concern with majoring in music is that I'll lose my "brain." I don't want to do just music...I know it'll be all music all the time, but I don't want to be the stupid viola player who gets all the heat from viola jokes. That's why I want to go to a "good" school, so I can at least get an academic background to back me up in the future. If I get hurt, I don't want to have to worry about where the next check is coming from.</p>

8

<p>I wonder if you could go to NEC and take classes at Harvard without being a part of the double degree program? Many other conservatories have similar exchange programs for qualified students...</p>

9

<p>How much composition/conducting have you done?
You may be able to get some lessons on the viola at NEC or Boston Conservatory or some place but it's very difficult to start composition from scratch even if you have been playing for a very long time at a school like Harvard. The few composers that are there are usually very advanced.<br>
IN that case, it will be a lot easier at a school with an actual composition program. As with conducting...you should know that I don't know a single school that offers that as a major for undergraduates.</p>

10

<p>You may also want to consider Lawrence, Oberlin, and Indiana University. All have excellent music programs (don't know about your particular instrument, since my son plays trumpet). Lawrence and Oberlin also have top notch academics, and IU isn't bad, though not up to the level of the other two. However, you would likely qualify for the Honors College at IU and could take some great classes through that program. (My son is at IU and loves their music program. Because it is such a big college, there is always something musical going on, so there are many opportunities to participate and listen.)</p>

11

<p>My sophmore year I took a private study with my orchestra director for one semester majoring in conducting, and my junior year I helped to conduct the freshman band for several rehersals throughout the year. </p>

<p>As far as composition goes, I've only completed what we've done in AP Music Theory, but I enjoyed it a lot! Enough to minor in it. But I've heard you can't officially declare it until you've completed both Theory 1 and 2...but that's just what I've heard.</p>

<p>What is the difference in being a college music professor and a high school music teacher? I know a college teacher would have more of an education, but as far as what degree is required?</p>

<p>This is where I get picky. I would rather go to a small school...I think it would help a lot more to get more personal attention from the directors and teachers and be the <em>star</em> of everything that goes on rather than in the background all the time and playing in some opera orchestra. Am I looking at this in the wrong light? And plus I don't want to be a number, I want people to know me by name. Oberlin has an excellent music program, I just don't like the location.</p>

12

<p>Random thoughts - too lazy to organize them. </p>

<p>Consider St. Olaf - small school, great music. Lawrence is another. Also, I second the vote for Indiana.</p>

<p>I agree with the posters who say that the schools who are NOT specifically known for their music programs, eg. Ivies, Duke, etc, are going to look harder at test scores. If you want them to be serious contendors, then you need to do some prep and retake. Also, some of these schools (inlcuding Rice) require SAT IIs.</p>

<p>Conducting is usually a graduate school program.</p>

<p>Teaching at HS requires an education degree. (Undergraduate is fine.) Teaching music at a college requires some degree of higher education and/or professional experience. Requirements depend on the school. Juilliard, for example, has college-drop outs teaching - because they also happen to be principals of the Met or the NY Phil.</p>

<p>Music departments of bigger universities can lobby for great students with low test scores, but the really good music program usually have to decide among a number of incredibly talented students, and there will probably be a couple who are as talented as you with higher test scores. So you would be wise to make sure there are a few schools on your list that don't care about test scores, or whose standards are lower.</p>

<p>Music is an extremely brainy major, in my experience. I've not met anybody graduating from a quality music program with jello where their brain should be. There are some smaller publics and such, I think, who have the ideas left over from high school that "band is an easy A." That is not the norm for a quality school, though. If you find yourself in a program that is not challenging you mentally, there's a problem somewhere.</p>

<p>When selecting audition material, consider playing a concerto with a cadenza you wrote yourself. That way you can show off your composition skills as well as your playing. S did that, and garnered quite a few comments at audition, as well as a request or two for a copy of the cadenza!</p>

13

<p>A bit more advice, but it's time for you to take the lead here...</p>

<ol>
<li>pcannon already asked a great question, "Why did you choose these school?" Since you didn't respond with something like, "I loved the viola instructor there," it doesn't seem that you've visited or had lessons with the viola teacher(s) at the schools you listed. THIS IS CRITICAL! Just because a school has an excellent reputation, you still need to feel comfortable with your primary instructor.<br></li>
</ol>

<p>If you haven't had any college visits/lession, you're a bit behind "schedule," IMHO. That means this fall, besides doing your normal extensive school and ECA activities, you must prepare for your audition AND have your initial school visit/lessons. It's an unfortunate fact, but must college instructors are not around during the summer as they're often participating in camps and workshops other than the ones at their universities. So it's important to start planning now and maybe you can hook up with a professor or two prior to the fall.</p>

<ol>
<li>Your list is still a bit confounding. For example, now that you've let us know that viola is your primary instrument, Berklee seems to be out of place since it is more of a jazz and music engineering type of school, as opposed to more classical.<br></li>
</ol>

<p>The other "odd" choice is Cornell, which isn't really known for it's music program. If you'd like to attend school in Ithaca, NY and you want to major in viola performance, then Ithaca College is the better musical choice, the school in Ithaca with the best music program.</p>

<p>Virtually all the conservatories are "small" so you won't be a number in the conservatory, even if it's part of a bigger school like Indiana. Once again, get out there, at least even by email, and contact viola instructors and ensemble directors.</p>

<ol>
<li>St. Olaf and Lawrence, are two great "big fish, small pond" schools that are no slouches academically. I'm sure there are others. I can't comment first-hand on St. Olaf nor it's surroundings, but we made 4 trips to Lawrence and Appleton over the past 2 years so I can comment there. Appleton is a "bigger" (everything is relative) town than Oberlin, and all of us (wife and DD) felt it was much nicer; none of us were impressed with Oberlin, the town.<br></li>
</ol>

<p>Since Lawrence is only a 4-hour ride from your area, you may want to try a road trip very soon to get a feel for Appleton. You may get lucky and even hook up with the viola instructor and/or the ensemble director(s)! Somemthing that may help ease the sting of your parents not being able to fly an Ivy League banner from the house is the availability of merit scholarships. DD was offered some serious $ to attend Lawrence and they suggested that there could be more, just "talk to us," but, alas, she made the decision to go to Peabody, which is notoriously skimpy in the merit $ department. That gave me an acute pain in the wallet area, but like any parent, my first priority is for my children to attend schools that are appropriate for them, make the happy, and will ensure their future success.</p>

<p>Good luck on your quest!!!</p>

14

<p>I wouldn't see Berklee as a choice for a violist (we have seen some jazz violinsts, and even a cellist or two, but they're a bit rare), or for a student who doesn't want 100% music (because Berklee is, more than any other school on your list, all music, all the time).</p>

<p>Also, is your primary interest composition, or performance? That might make a difference and help you narrow your choices. Do you want a music department or a conservatory in a university?</p>

15

<p>Ok...it really sounds like the schools without music performance programs aren't really good for you. Rule out pure liberal arts-based schools. The Ivies in general...I'm not saying you're not qualified for them- it just seems lie they are not what you really are looking for in a school. Umm...none of them offer a minor in composition for one thing. Even if you get into something like the Columbia/Juilliard, Harvard/New England programs...they want you to focus on ONE thing...in your case probably viola performance. Also remember...these are BA/MM programs...you are getting a Masters in music. They expect you to be amazing. They don't want to train you from scratch.</p>

<p>I'd really look at the schools where academics and performance are more flexible...Northwestern University (which offers a 5 year double degree program Music/Liberal Arts), Oberlin, U Rochester/Eastman...these may all be better options. You would also get more of a chance to pursue interests like composition and conducting on the side as the school of musics would cater to such.</p>

16

<p>A thought on your comment about wanting to be the "star" rather than in the background. This may be a great way to be for some people, so I'm not knocking it, just giving an alternative view. My son realized quite some time ago that he improves the most when he is surrounded by people who are better than he is, whether in sports, academics, or music. When he joined youth orchestra three years ago, he loved hearing and working with the better players, and his trumpet teacher was astounded by his growth.</p>

<p>Likewise, he entered IU with the dubious honor of being the "worst freshman" on trumpet there. However, he has learned from, and been inspired by, those better than he is, and he has, again, made incredible growth, even making it into an orchestra second semester, something that is rare for a freshman. (Most are in the bands, instead.) He has not felt himself to be a number, even at a large university, since he mainly hangs out with music students, so is part of a smaller group within the college.</p>

<p>When applying to colleges, my son also thought he would prefer a smaller school, but when visiting schools, he realized that he preferred a big school, where he could hear a lot of music, as well as play it.</p>

<p>just some thoughts... :)</p>

17

<p>First, I would urge you to read these articles published by Peabody Conservatory. Perhaps they will give you some better direction regarding the type of program you are looking for.<a href="http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/787%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/787&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Your list has all different types of schools on it. You need to understand that the acceptance into music programs varies wildly in terms of requirements. For university based conservatory type programs (Rice, BU) you would need to do very well on the audition and at least come close to the academic requirements for the university. For students with stellar auditions, music departments can advocate for admission with the admissions folks...but you can't be totally off the mark. A 22 ACT is off the mark for BU...I do not know about Rice. Re: schools like the Ivies, they do not have particularly strong music performance programs on the undergrad level, and there is no question that you would need to meet the admission requirements for those universities first. Re: schools that are not particularly well known for music (e.g. Duke, Cornell), there is no question that the stats on your application will be viewed with importance. Both my son and daughter were student conductors with their high school ensembles, and both "composed" with their music theory classes. Neither would have gotten accepted into a conducting/composition program based on that. As stated above, composition and conducting are typically grad programs. The combined programs (NEC/Harvard, NEC/Tufts, Juilliard/Columbia, Peabody/JHU engineering) are amongst the most competitive programs in the country..you must be a top student and a top musician (not near the top...top). At Oberlin, if you want to double major, you must get accepted into the conservatory AND into the college. You also mention your summer and youth orchestra participation. This certainly shows your commitment to music. At the same time, you mention several community college courses which certainly will favorably highlight your academic pursuits. However, I don't see anything on your list like precollege music study, private music study with the principal viola of the Chicago Symphony, or something of that nature. Most of DS's friends (DS is a music performance major) studied with principal symphony players, competed in (and won at least some)multiple competitions, and received some kind of honor(s) for their musical pursuits. DS wanted to be around students with other interests as well, but his musical studies require that he spend all of his time in the College of Fine Arts...and that is fine with him. Read those articles, and reflect on them. And then...look up the audition repertoire for the schools you are considering. Start learning those pieces and excerpts...you will want them to be close to memorized by the time you play your auditions. And...here's the free advice you probably don't want to hear....limit the number of schools to which you audition and apply to no more than 6. You will be going to each of these schools to audition (better to go to the schools than to do regional auditions...and do NOT do any auditions by tape only, do them all in person somehow) and this takes time. It is exhausting too. Talk to your private viola teacher and see what suggestions you get from that person. Remember too, that the relationship between the private teacher and student who is majoring in music is the single most important factor you should be considering. You will spend more time with this person than anyone else over four years. It MUST be a good fit. AND at some schools you cannot change once you begin.</p>

18

<p>The more I look at this, the more doubts I'm having. The only thing I see on your record that looks like something a music school would care about is that you went to Interlochen. When you went there, were you consistently one of the top chairs in the best orchestra? Was this for high school or intermediate division? How did you stack up compared to other students there?</p>

<p>The reason I'm asking is because I don't get the picture that you really know "how good" you really are. I'm going to be blunt, and I apologize if it's uncomfortable to read. If you are not already the best of the best in your area, then music school is not for you. If you don't already study with a teacher with a strong record of getting students into top schools, and participate in a high-level youth orchestra program, you need to strongly reconsider what you're doing.</p>

<p>The record you posted on here shows a strong lack of focus. Instead of doing everything you can to be a great violist, you dabbled with half a dozen other instruments and composition. That's all really nice, and you should be proud of yourself, but most schools only care about whatever instrument you wnat to focus on. For the last eight years, the only thing I did was play bass. Honestly, there was nothing else for me to do. I didn't play sports, I barely cared about school work, I just did everything I could to become a better bass player.</p>

<p>If going to a music school is what you want to do, then get to work. If going to an Ivy is what you want, then use music as a "hook" with admissions, but spend more time trying to improve your test scores. A place like Rice is extremely competitive for music and academics. Last year, their acceptance rate was only 22% overall, and I presume it was significantly lower at Shepherd. Music could be the thing that sets you apart at some schools, but your academics have got to be there.</p>

<p>With that said, I want to wish you luck. It's not as if I've ever met you or heard you play. As far as I know, you could be one of the best violists out there. I'm sure you'll end up making the right decision.</p>

19

<p>Oh...one thing about music as a hook. It is not a hook at the Ivies. Many if not most of the students applying to the Ivies have music on their resumes. A hook is something that would set you apart from other students applying to a particular college, and something that would really stand out when an adcom reads your application. For the Ivies, music would not likely do that. </p>

<p>Re: the size of the school...unless you go to Indiana or U of North Texas (they go back and forth being the largest college music programs in the country...over 1000 music majors) size will likely not be an issue. Even at a large university, the music programs are not all that huge. DS is one of only 100 or less music majors in his class at a large university with a conservatory type music program.</p>

20

<p>Just a word of encouragement... You have been given a lot of good advice, and much of it--about the need to be the best in your area and such to be accepted--is probably true 95% of the time. However, don't give up or be too discouraged. My son, although he went to state on trumpet two years in a row (He was an alternate at district and barely made it in.), never won a competition, and finished, I think, 24 out of 25 at state as a senior. He WAS in an excellent youth orchestra; however, he was fourth chair. When the orchestra director was saying something about each graduating senior in the group, her first words on my son were, "And although this person knows he will never make a career of music..."</p>

<p>In applying we did everything wrong; he sent a tape to most of the places to which he applied, playing in regional auditions for the two others. Not only did he send in a tape, but it was a tape quickly made with a friend because the band director forgot to show up. The tape got him into Indiana, U of North Texas, and a couple other lesser known places. In fact, we are convinced that, had he auditioned in person, he would NOT have made it into IU. It was only because the trumpet professor there thought maybe the poor tape was just due to recording quality that he took the time to call my son's private teachers (both players in the symphony) and ask them about DS. It was their recommendations, basically, that got him in. And now he is working super-hard to become the best he can be.</p>

<p>If music is your passion, then go for it. There are other, lesser known schools that also probably have great programs in your instrument. (I don't know much about string programs, so I can't help you there.) Find a safety or two, along with your matches and reaches. Learn from the advice given here, but don't let it discourage you too much. We don't know you, and we don't know the future. So do what is right for you.</p>