<p>I am planning to apply ED to Hamilton this year, after doing pretty much research on the school.
But what I'm still wondering about is the quality of the music dept here. Not that I'm going to make music my future career. I'm still focusing on an academic and mainstream major but in case I want to be a music minor, would Hamilton provide decent experience ? Im not asking for a top-notched quality like that of Juilliard or some conservatories, just wondering if it's decent.</p>
<p>We heard the jazz band and the orchestra during our visit last spring and they were both excellent. The jazz band played more progressive jazz than traditional jazz the day we were there. The orchestra was playing a major symphony. We did not hear any choral groups so I can’t comment on the choral side - but the instrumental groups sounded great!</p>
<p>thanks, chemusic. really appreciate your info</p>
<p>It’s there if you want it. Just ask my classmate, Mindy Wagner, Hamilton class of '79. She won the 1999 Pulitzer Prize in music!</p>
<p>I know people in both the orchestra and jazz band, and they all love it. The orchestra is really good. The Jazz band instructor, Doc Woods, is both racist and sexist, but he’s funny too, as long as you dont really care about that, and he is really good at what he does.</p>
<p>i’m a freshman at hamilton and i’m in the orchestra. i havent taken any music classes yet but there are a ton offered, you can just look at the course catalogue. as far as the professors go, all the ones i’ve encountered have been great! compared to most other small LACs, hamilton orchestra is really great, especially considering the small student population. if music isnt something you want to be your career hamilton would be great-the professors are great and since the music program isn’t huge, theyll be focused on you and youll have more opportunities. i’m in a trio which is a nice little extra thing</p>