Music performance at Columbia?

<p>Does anyone have any insight into music performance here, particularly vocal performance? What's the nature of the relationship with Juilliard - must you be fully admitted as a regular student there as well as Columbia?</p>

<p>For the combined program, yes. You must be admitted to both. </p>

<p>There is no performance major at Columbia, but they do have majors in theory and composition. There are tons of musical groups (especially choral groups) on campus. I am personally looking forward to joining the Marching Band.</p>

<p>Hope that helped.</p>

<p>You must be admitted to both- but you don't have to be a full-time student at both if you just want lessons. You can also take classes at Juilliard even if you're not admitted, but you can't take lessons unless you're admitted there as well. For voice, you can also take lessons at the Manhattan School of Music (also an excellent conservatory) about a 2 minute walk away. This is only for voice, I was told.</p>

<p>Music performance- will be superb especially since I will be there as one of their fine cellists. I also know another awesome cellist and a violist who will be there making the orchestra sound good.</p>

<p>Are you only interested in voice? Because I only know instruments there because that's what I looked into.</p>

<p>Jono, we should start a small chamber orchestra. I play Oboe and English Horn (for my classical stuff). I look forward to meeting you.</p>

<p>My son is involved with the jazz performance program. I don't know if that has any relevance, though I do believe there are some vocalists. The way it works is that an audition in the Fall determines your placement in an ensemble and also whether or not you get university provided lessons. These ensembles are open to anyone who is at an intermediate to advanced level, including graduate students, and the most advanced group has some players who already are starting professional careers. The availability of lessons through Columbia is largely determined by how many students are seeking lessons on that particular instrument (I assume this includes voice). If you're willing to pay, of course, there are also teachers right up the street at the Manhattan School of Music who give private lessons.
To be in the Julliard program, I believe you must gain admissions to both schools. Barnard has a similar program with the Manhattan School of Music, I believe.</p>

<p>I was at Columbia this Tuesday and heard the University Orchestra rehearse. This week is the week of midterms so rehearsal was not very heavily attended but the group is very good. They rehearsed a Rimsky-Korsakov piece I didn't catch the name of and also the Rite of Spring (they didn't have any bassoons there, my instrument, but the string section sounded absolutely fantastic, especially the weighty ostinato cello/bass riff).</p>

<p>The director told me that both of the bassoonists were from Julliard, which I was a bit surprised about. I would think that CC and Fu students would be given preference, considering that Julliard has its own orchestras. Anybody know about this?</p>

<p>Sorry for the OTness.</p>

<p>. . . were from Juilliard for lessons? They are probably Columbia students. . . or maybe the auditions weren't up to expectations this year so they grabbed some Juilliard bassoonists? But there are musicians who go to both schools. So maybe those two are examples. Practice hard, though, birdofprey, if you want to be in it. Auditions for winds are harder because there are fewer openings. Plus an orchestra without good winds is gonna sound bad, seriously. Winds are so important.</p>

<p>It is so hard to go to both at the same time (double-degree). That's why, if I ever get into Juilliard (cross my fingers), I will just take lessons there. At least that's my plan now. Who knows if it'll change. If I don't get into Juilliard, I'd get lessons elsewhere, either at Columbia or in NYC. Columbia is preferable because the lessons are free if you get them, and I'm pretty sure I can get them. And the teachers there look good, even though I'd still want to have trial lessons to make sure.</p>

<p>jaug1, have you heard of the Columbia Bach Society? That's a small orchestra. They do pieces that don't have huge orchestra parts. They're not restricted to Bach, even though that's their name. I hear the atmosphere of that orchestra is more love-music and less be-first-chair.</p>

<p>
[quote]
or maybe the auditions weren't up to expectations this year so they grabbed some Juilliard bassoonists?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>That was my suspicion but I don't really know.</p>

<p>My impressions were that the strings were really good and the clarinets and flutes were also fantastic. However, the oboes were a bit weak (confidence-wise) and the trumpet player (only brass player there because of mid-terms) was about twenty cents flat the entire time (hope nobody knows any of these people). It's probably difficult but not impossible to audition into the orchestra.</p>

<p>I'm glad I play bassoon and not one of the uber-competitive winds.</p>

<p>hey, that trumpet player is my best friend!</p>

<p>Yeah, I know what you mean, though. I know I can be in it if I want to. Competitive means different things to different people (I'm skeptical of this version, at least for cello). It's not the Juilliard orchestra, but it's still pretty good. I heard a CD they made of Mahler 1 and Brahms Double Concerto. I kind of think the experience of playing in it is more important than the final product, though, would you agree? Although it would be nice to make some good final products (we'll make it good).</p>

<p>Hey, if I go, it would be the first real orchestra I've played in regularly, so yeah, it would be a good thing.</p>

<p>The director said he'd get me a cd but I think he forgot.</p>

<p>Yeah! Maybe I can get a high chair Oboe spot! <em>gleams</em></p>

<p>Yes Jono, I am really interested in joining both the UO and Bach Society. Did you apply to the dual Julliard program?</p>

<p>I applied to Juilliard, yes, but not for the double-degree program, because that is like applying in a process that kills you just so that you can continue to kill yourself with stress for the next four years. Actually, it's a great thing to do, but I feel like I need to start conservatively and then add more to my schedule if I think I can handle it. Besides, I don't particularly need a music diploma. That's not very important. Lots of famous artists (I will refrain from naming two famous cellists that I hate listening to) don't even have music diplomas but instead have BAs from, say, Harvard and Columbia. I'm also secretly hoping that taking only lessons at Juilliard, or not being a fully registered undergrad there, will allow me to take lessons without fitting into the 9 available cello spots in the incoming class, making it a bit easier for me to get in (watch me get rejected and totally get upset about this stupid plan).</p>

<p>Did you apply to Juilliard?</p>

<p>I also know of a few other amazing musicians on the way to Columbia in the RD round. We'll see.</p>

<p>I am not good enough for Julliard (no way lol) but am a fairly good oboe player as I am principal in a few orchestras in Los Angeles. I am looking forward to playing at groups on campus with talented musicians.</p>

<p>jono i'm curious... if i took lessons does that give credit, i kno at penn you don't get credits and you have to pay extra... assuming i'm not a music major</p>

<p>from <a href="http://www.music.columbia.edu%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.music.columbia.edu&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>CREDIT</p>

<p>The majority of these performance courses may be taken for letter credit. A few are available only for Pass/Fail credit. This is noted below.
*
LIMITS</p>

<p>Music performance courses at Barnard and Columbia fall into a category subject to certain restrictions of which you should be aware. Since they differ from school to school, the exact wording from each bulletin is quoted below:</p>

<p>Barnard College: "No more than 18 points of studio, performing arts, or professional school courses (including film) may be credited toward the A.B.degree [120 points]. Of these, a maximum of ... six courses in instrumental instruction may be credited (except for Music majors and minors, who may take eight, including piano instruction)."</p>

<p>Columbia College: "A total of 18 points may be credited toward the degree [124 points] for courses in instrumental study, theatre arts, film, and painting or sculpture."</p>

<p>School of General Studies: "a maximum of 34 points in physical education and dance courses, studio courses, instrumental instruction, workshop courses, or courses in professional fields such as business or law, may be creditable toward the bachelor's degree [124 points]..."</p>

<p>These limits do not stop you enrolling for more such courses, but restrict the number of points accruing from them that you may count to your degree total.</p>

<p>The number of such points that may be counted specifically toward the Music major, concentration, and minor, is further subject to restriction. No more that 4 points may count toward the 38-point requirement of the Major (all three schools), no more that 3 points toward the 28-point Concentration, and the 17-point Premedical Concentration (Columbia College) and Minor (General Studies).</p>

<p>WIND, STRING AND PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS </p>

<p>W1525-W1526: Instrumental Instruction. 1 or 2 pts.
The prerequisite for this course is an audition to be held during Registration. Please refer to the prerequisite under V1591-V1592 (University Orchestra) for details of what is required at the audition. Students participating in the orchestra are given preference when applying for private instrumental instruction. Available for letter credit.</p>

<p>thanks! just wondering... couldn't find that</p>

<p>I'm a violist, and I plan on doing music at Columbia too! I've been told that the instructors there are excellent -- I got a great recommendation from the viola instructor at Rice for the lady I hope to study with.</p>

<p>I'm wondering though...how competitive are auditions for strings? It bothers me that everything is in August (when you're already in the school) instead of now, like most schools.</p>

<p>They are "competitive." I have no idea what that means. I'm guessing I would be able to get lessons. Do you study at Rice? </p>

<p>I think the auditions are in August because they only want people who are attending to audition. Auditions don't influence admissions, so there's no point in auditioning lots of prospectives if they can simplify things and only audition the matriculants.</p>

<p>what kind of pieces are required for audition? i mean, i don't dare compare myself to the level of music majors at julliard, but i would like to play in the columbia symphony/orchestra</p>

<p>I did the prep program there for a year, but it was pretty expensive and I had conflicts...my current teacher, however, is a Rice alumnus, and I've gotten lots of valuable music connections (including from the professor there) and outside help through her.</p>

<p>That makes sense, now that you mention it. I wouldn't imagine the orchestra auditions to be as competitive as Rice or Julliard, but enough to make it a quality orchestra. I'm not particularly worried, I just feel like I'm slightly in the dark.</p>

<p>cujoe - For the orchestra, I read that you have to audition on one standard piece (typical known repertoire on your instrument), orchestral excerpt(s), and some sightreading at the orchestra's level.</p>