<p>Collaborative piano programs focus on training a pianist to collaborate with other musicians in instrumental and vocal accompanying, chamber music, orchestral piano, and the like, instead of focusing on solo repertoire. They are mostly at the graduate level; Arizona State is the only college I know of which offers a BM in collaborative piano. Some schools have minors or emphases in it; for example, CMU or St. Olaf. Most conservatories, though, do have some kind of organized collaborative component to their undergrad piano performance degree, as binx pointed out with IU.</p>
<p>Thank you Bachlover. That helps.</p>
<p>When I was applying to college, I was really looking for many of the same qualities in a school as you are (quality music program but with solid academics). Oberlin was really the best match I could find. I applied to NYU, but felt that their music program and academics (undergrad) weren't strong enough. I ended up attending Oberlin on a merit scholarship (I'm a soprano) and graduated 2 years ago. The musical training is really top-notch and the academics are excellent. So I guess this is really turning out to be a plug for my alma mater!</p>
<p>Skak, did you do the double degree program? And what are you doing now?</p>
<p>I did do the double degree program. I finished my BA in sociology. I am in the process of applying to Masters in Urban & Regional Planning programs. I love music, but it is very difficult to make a career out of (of course, unless you are interested in teaching). I always intend to perform music, I just don't know if I want to literally be "singing for my meal".</p>
<p>When I think of collaborative piano program, I really think it depends on what the individual make of it - if you are really keen on being a collaborative artist, you can always find opportunities (there is always a constant need of good accompanist!) regardless of whether there is an official program/degree for it. And really, what make a good collaborative artist is a lots of diverse experiences rather than a specific class, etc. (having a specialized class helps, but it can't subsitute for experience). Hope it helps.</p>
<p>thzxcyl: Yes and no. Instrumental, chamber, or even mus. theater need just a lot of experience doing it. Vocal or opera requires knowledge of languages and vocal production. So yes, there are classes that can be helpful. French, German, Italian, opera history or survey courses, plus playing for lots of voice lessons, preferably in the studios of superlative teachers.</p>
<p>Well, mommusic, all the helpful things you talked about are really more about the conservatory (having a good voice program, humanities program, etc.) rather than the specific program for collaborative art. That's pretty much what I'm going at: whether the conservatory has a degree/program in collaborative piano, you can still get a good education out of it.</p>
<p>Absolutely. I think a Master's in Vocal Accompanying is also a great liberal arts education!</p>
<p>I was just trying to point out the things that are particular to vocal rather than instrumental accompanying/collaboration. A good program will require these and not leave them to chance.</p>
<p>From my daughter's experience, I would say that looking for a "performance major" at a University or LAC without planning to do an acutal double degree with the conservatory program is risky at best, and requires doing a lot of homework to identify the particular teacher and availablity at each school. Yale, for example, is certainly NOT a good bet, since the Music School is for graduate students only and is quite small, so the chances of having one of the great big-name piano teachers are slim (more likely: studying with a grad student until at least junior year, or commuting to Manhattan or Hartford for a teacher at a conservatory). Schools like Oberlin may have 200 pianos, but the piano faculty is there primarily for the con. students, so again, lessons for other students will not be guaranteed. UMich has a fantastic School of Music, and lots of offerings for non-music students to play in the non-concervatory orchestras and bands but again, the chances of getting a top teacher are slim without having gone through auditions and being admitted as a music performance major.
Princeton is one of the few Ivies that actually offers a "performance certificate", something like a performance major, and P. allows a wide range of teachers, including privates from Julliard, Curtis, etc.
Lehigh also has a great music program.</p>