<p>My violinist son has decided against a music major, but he does love violin and orchestra.
He's a B+ student, and his ACT score on the first attempt was 28 ( He can probably do better). Possible major is biology, but he's really uncertain at this point.
He's a good violinist, but not talented enough for a performance major. He wants to stay near home (Ohio) or neighboring states. Case Western Reserve is a possibility, but he's afraid he wouldn't get as many opportunities with the CIM students nearby!</p>
<p>Any suggestions for colleges where a music minor is given private lessons and is able to participate in ensembles?</p>
<p>You have to check with his schools. At Crane where my son attends they have an orchestra and a concert band for non-majors (or majors playing a non major instrument) and a class called teaching music to non-majors, my son teaches trombone to a bio major at SUNY Potsdam.</p>
<p>I’m sure other schools have similar programs.</p>
<p>At most schools, minors can participate in ensembles (although their participation will often be limited by their ability–i.e. they may not be playing well enough to make it into the best orchestra if a school has several orchestras). Many smaller schools actively welcome non-music major violinists into their single orchestra in order to augment the violin sections. </p>
<p>Private lessons are harder to come by for minors. Ohio State, for example, states in one place on their website that private instruction is not normally a part of a music minor, but elsewhere states that applied group or private lessons can constitute no more than 8 credit hours out of the 20 hours required for the music minor (so clearly a case of “email or call the school to get clarification”).</p>
<p>If your son is interested in Case Western, I wouldn’t dismiss it out of hand because of CIM’s proximity. He is right that there is a very high concentration of violin talent at CIM (and it would be either difficult or impossible for a CWU student to get into the CIM orchestras, depending on the orchestra and one’s talent). The Baroque orchestra, for example, is a joint venture of the two schools, but CWU also has its own orchestra open to all Case students and faculty. CWU music minors can take private lessons (although they are limited in the number of semesters according to the official rules).</p>
<p>As the others have stated, you do have to check with the individual schools/departments, as both the playing opportunities and lesson availabilities will vary widely. The websites should be your starting point, but normally there is more in depth info within the “undergrad handbook” or similarly titled document, typically found as a link off the academic or “current students” webpages.</p>
<p>Hi Cherylk – I don’t know much about CaseWestern/CIM, but suspect it my be similar to my son’s school in that if you want it, you can make it happen. If you’re looking out of state, I do know that UMich will allow a music minor in LSA (college of literature, arts and science), that it has a strong biology program, and that there are ample performing opportunities despite the high level over at the School of Music (myriad opportunities, including the ability to audition into the highest level orchestra even if a non-major, though the competition is stiff. Many equally fab OTHER high quality bands and orch). With respect to lessons, I believe you <em>can</em> access the School of Music studios provided you are not concerned whether you might have a GSI instead of one of the highly-sought-after perfomance professors. Eg. my son is at SOM, but is not a vocal major (at all!) but was given a private lesson/vocal studio worth 2 credits including recital etc. Non majors/non-performance degrees are “second” in line for studios, non school-of-music third – but nonetheless I was surprised he was accommodated, and by his first choice teacher request, no less!</p>
<p>UMich likes a 3.7 - 3.8 and up unweighted GPA from a rigorous program and your son’s in the ballpark with a 28 ACT (though 30 is more mid-range). That said, UMich is far more expensive out-of-state.</p>
<p>So even if you’re not interested in UMich, at least know that it is entirely possible at many schools to take lessons, perform, and minor – I actually think MORESO at a large school with a strong school of music than other environments! Good luck in your search!</p>
<p>You might want to send a PM to a poster Binx who has a violin playing kiddo…who wanted the same things. Hopefully she’ll see this thread and respond.</p>
<p>Our kiddo is an oboe/English horn player who never intended to major in music. BUT she wanted to continue lessons and play in an orchestra as a non-major. I will tell you…there ARE schools that allow this…but there are also schools that don’t.</p>
<p>As I’ve posted on the threads that are linked above…have your kiddo do a few things.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Contact the music department chairperson, the instrument teacher, and the orchestra director. We found these folks to be tremendously helpful to our daughter and were more than willing to answer her questions about lessons and ensemble opportunities. </p></li>
<li><p>Check the schools to see if there are ensembles for those who are not music majors. Some larger schools do have this. As noted Case Western does. So does Boston University. I could well imagine that many schools have ensembles for students who don’t major in music.</p></li>
<li><p>Find out if those who are NOT majoring in music are allowed to audition for spots in the orchestras. Our DD found that at some schools, this was NOT allowed. At others non-majors were welcome to audition but the competition with the majors lessened chances of being seated. At other schools, the orchestras were less competitive and welcomed students from ALL majors into their fold.</p></li>
<li><p>Re: lessons…some schools will allow your kiddo to take lessons and others won’t. </p></li>
<li><p>Check other opportunities. If you kiddo is in a large city, there might be other private teachers and community ensembles that would welcome that violin player.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Just as an FYI…our daughter graduated as an engineering/biology major this year. Her school welcomed students from all majors to be in the orchestra. She actually played principal oboe for all four years (not for every piece but at least for some). Her school provided private lessons at no charge as long as she played in the orchestra. In addition, she received a very small “performance award” each quarter that was actually enough to pay for her books. Every penny counts.</p>