<p>Hi, I'm a junior looking at Case. I've been playing trumpet since fourth grade and I definitely want to continue in college, but not a the conservatory level and not for a profession. I play in a top wind ensemble at a local conservatory's preperatory school, so I'm used to playing with people who go on in music. I'm not at all top-tier conservatory level, but I want to keep playing in decent, fulfilling groups.
I might be interested in a double major or a minor, but I might just want to play in an ensemble. Can anybody tell me about the programs? How many people are in the music major program? What are the wind ensemble and orchestra like, and how competitive are they for brass? Also, how easy is it to get practice rooms and take lessons, and the like?
If anyone is at all involved in the department, I'd love to hear what you think. Thanks!</p>
<p>My S is also a trumpet player and current Junior at Case. He has been in the "extra-curricular" wind ensemble every year, and participates in the marching band and pep bands. He is an engineering major and still enjoys his chance to play music at a very high level, but without major time commitment. The wind ensemble practices one evening a week, as does the marching band during football season.</p>
<p>Great music opportunities available, just have to decide how much time you have to give to it. The wind ensembles play at least once each year at Severance Hall. That alone is worth it to this mom.</p>
<p>Case does have great opportunities for non-music majors to get involved with music. The Symphonic Winds group is open to all students on campus (undergrad and grad), faculty, and even a few community members. At the beginning of the year, all band members audition - just for the director to get a feel for how to divide parts up. Although there is a wide range of ability in the group, we play a lot of difficult and interesting music. (Music majors are required to be a part of Symphonic Winds, so it has to be somewhat interesting for them!) Symphonic Winds typically has at least 2 concerts a semester and practices twice a week (although you are welcome in the group even if you have a conflict with one night's rehearsal). Playing in Severance Hall is an amazing experience.</p>
<p>For students that want to get more involved with the large music ensembles, they can ask at their Symphonic Winds audition to be considered for orchestra or Wind Ensemble. Wind Ensemble is made up primarily of music majors and students at the Cleveland Institute of Music, but there are some non-music majors in the group as well. </p>
<p>I've had a lot of fun in smaller music ensembles too - there are a wide range of groups that may or may not require auditions but anyone is welcome (flute choir, percussion ensemble, jazz bands, etc). I've heard that non-music majors can take lessons, but I never bothered to figure that out...I don't have the time to devote to lessons on top of everything else :-)</p>
<p>There are about 10 practice rooms available for everyone to use (conveniently located by the band room which is in the middle of the dorms on northside). Each dorm also has a piano somewhere, and that often turns unofficially into a practice room. The Village at 115 apartments each have 1-2 soundproofed practice rooms that are very nice :-)</p>
<p>Does anyone know about vocal oppurtunities for non-voice majors?</p>
<p>casehopeful, I don't know a ton, but I do know some. There are several levels of choirs, and I believe one of them is similar to Symphonic Winds in that many students with different majors and backgrounds are in it. Most of the other singing groups exist as clubs - I think there are currently 7-9 acapella groups, including the Mens and Womens Glee Clubs that do not require any auditions. There is always room for someone else to start a vocal group if they want to do something specific - the Women's Glee Club just started this fall, and at least 2 other vocal groups have started since my freshman year. The musical theater group (Footlighters) puts on several shows a year, and anyone is welcome to audition for a part. Vocal lessons are also available through CIM (may be with a grad student).</p>
<p>The Mom and C - thanks for your help! Do you know how common the music major is?</p>
<p>I don't know exactly how many music majors there are...in the flute section I know there are about 3 performance majors, 4 music education majors, 1 masters music education student, and about 20 non-music majors. Not sure what the distribution is in other sections, but I think there are more music majors in the flute section than in other sections.</p>
<p>A lot of students enter as a music double major. It's a great idea, but few people can actually keep up with it. Some have stuck with the music major but switched the other major from engineering to a less demanding major (such as history or psychology where there are many fewer labs).</p>
<p>casehopeful--my S who is not a voice major has more opportunities than he can take advantage of! </p>
<p>Men's/Women's Glee, a cappella groups, Concert Choir, and an Early Music singers group if you are <em>really</em> serious about music. ;)</p>
<p>If I recall, auditions (where required) are in the fall, the week before classes start. Check the web pages of the various groups for details.</p>