<p>Does anyone have information about the music dept.? In particular, how do students feel about participation in the orchestra or classical music ensembles? What about the music theory and composition program?</p>
<p>Thank you so much.</p>
<p>I’m your person for that! I’m a music concentrator and viola player. I’ve been in the orchestra for my entire time at Brown. It’s a great group - mostly non-concentrators, since there is no performance major - but extremely talented. If you’re visiting for ADOCH, you’d be welcome to come listen to a rehearsal. We’re currently playing the Walton viola concerto, Vaughan-Williams 9th, and Haydn Symphony 102.</p>
<p>Theory and composition track: that’s the “standard” track for people. I actually just declared it a few months ago. You start out with a 2-semester intro sequence of courses (MUSC 55 and 56), then move onto basically whatever you want. I’m veering towards the theory side, but that’s just my preference. You’re required to take 2 semesters of music history, as well as a 2-semester sequence called Musicianship, in which you do lots of dictation, piano playing (reading chorales in 4 clefs eventually), and stuff like that. It’s fun, and the professor is awesome.</p>
<p>Feel free to comment with further questions.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your comments. I’m actually trying to find out for my son who was just admitted, and is trying to come to a decision, but Brown is his first choice. He was wondering about the classical music scene and whether there was a serious music component there, but it sounds like there is.</p>
<p>My son was also admitted to Brown but is seriously considering an offer from Vanderbilt/Blair School of Music as a composition major. Vandy was much more generous than Brown with fin aid. Does anyone know what opportunities there are for composers to have their music performed at Brown?</p>
<p>I’m involved with a new group on campus (just a semester old) called Fermata. We play music by student composers on campus. So there’s that. Otherwise, it’s a matter of getting together people to workshop pieces. The composition classes sometimes do that as well.</p>