@drmom123 You might want to do a search for “double degree” or “dual degree” in the Music Major forum. There have been MANY recent posts on the subject. As for visiting, you can call schools or go to their websites, where most, though not all, have visit forms.
@listenmissy thank you. I’ll look into that. Not sure what S really wants to do…I think if he new for “sure” it would be easier…but, until th!
@drmom123, is your son a junior? One way to begin is to choose a university and a LAC within driving distance and make a plan for a visit during vacation week. Sign up for the tour and see if you can arrange to meet with someone in the music dept. I know every university and LAC are different but it’s a start. One thing I discovered by going through this with my son is that musicians seem more inclined to choose a college based upon the actual music program (versus campus, dorms, even size). And some places just click. I think it’s great that your son has these varied interests and he sounds open minded too!
While far from a comprehensive list, I think this list is the best one I’ve come across recently in terms of compiling in one place many (maybe most?) of the best regarded conservatories and music schools within colleges. It also has a list of several colleges with strong music programs (though not a music school within the college). Most colleges have a music program, so that category is way longer than what’s on this list, but the list isn’t a bad place to start even for that category. http://www.hbms.org/pdf/Hoff-College-List-Handout-January-2015.pdf.
thank you all for your help and advice! It actually feels really good to know that others have more knowledge than I do! so I can do all the asking I need to do! I will look at the list, @jazzpianodad and I think my S, once he starts to visit the schools, or I guess look on websites, he will have more ideas and questions and perhaps be the one asking the questions that are most pertinent!
@jazzpianodad that’s a great list—someone sent me a link to it a couple of weeks ago and I’ve kept it for reference. @drmom123, I have a d who is looking into 5-year dual degree programs (BA/BM, not masters programs, to be clear)… and 4-year double major programs (BM, and one or two BA). but there are many routes. Double majors can usually be done within a 4-year span. And some schools, such as Columbia (if your s is the kind of student who is looking at schools like Columbia) have extensive performance programs that have the potential to provide enough music to allow for a single, non-music major. It’s a lot to consider. Happy travels!
My son is probably a step or two below a Columbia like school…but I want him to have the options. so…we will travel, and look…and maybe spark some interest!!
@jazzpianodad regarding the link to that wonderful list of schools…what is the difference between a school with “strong music programs for non-performance majors” versus schools with music within colleges?? thanks!
Often if there is a School of Music in a University setting, many of the resources, ensembles, instructors, and classes are reserved for Music Majors in that school. It’s always important in those cases to find out what is available to non music majors.So schools which have strong music programs for non-performance majors have serious high level classes, ensembles and instructors available to those not majoring in music.
@drmom123, this is a generalization but that second category (schools of music within colleges) are programs that typically offer a BM, not BA (not always, New School of Jazz offers BFA) and entrance is audition-based. There’s some great explanations in this site regarding the difference between BM and BA programs. Here’s a link (I hope! ) to one:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/561184-help-understanding-ba-vs-bfa-vs-bm.html?highlight=BA+vs+BFA
thank you! I will look! a related question…I think: If my S plays trumpet…can one take private lessons, if one is not a Major in Music…at either of these kinds of schools? BM or BFA, or BA? how does that work…or how do we ask that without sounding really stupid?
@drmom123 it really varies. At many schools non-majors have to pay for private lessons, and they don’t get priority scheduling. At some schools (not those with BM programs), all students arrange their own private instruction. You’ll have to check with each school, and it’s not a stupid question at all. I will say that, having drilled through the websites of a couple dozen schools’ music departments, they are pretty clear about who pays for what. But you would not seem foolish to ask in person when you visit schools, not at all!
You’ll also want to ask who the teacher for the private lessons will be - a regular faculty member in the school of music, an adjunct faculty who comes just for private lessons for non-performance majors (no knock on that - they might be an extraordinary teacher/musician) or a graduate student. Often you’ll need to dig into the student handbook, or look at a current course list to get all the information about private lessons and their cost, if any. And asking the music department itself is perfectly acceptable!
@drmom123, as others have said, the “music school within a college or university” category generally consists of separate music schools that are part of a university but that you would apply to separately, with audition-based admission to the school of music specifically, where you would study for a BM, which is typically a performance oriented music degree. It’s like a standalone conservatory except that, as part of a larger university, you have access to courses at the university outside the music school (which may be more or less difficult to coordinate depending on the school and the proximity of the music school to the larger university).
The third category consists of regular colleges where you would not apply to a separate music school and would not have to audition (musical talent might be taken into account in the admission process but it would not be the primary basis for admission), but which have strong music departments within the college and good performance opportunities even though they don’t offer a performance-based major or degree. You could major in music, but it would be an academic music program leading to a BA. And you would typically not have to be a music major to participate in the music performance opportunities.
I know you said your son would probably not be looking at a school like Columbia, but Columbia offers a good example of a strong music performance program within a regular college. My son, who is at Columbia but not a music major, takes lessons - there’s a $500 additional fee per semester for that - and is in a jazz combo and gets academic credit for both. Here’s a link to the Columbia music performance program website: http://music.columbia.edu/mpp.
Not a stupid question at all! Many colleges and universities make it possible for non-major BA students to take private lessons, but the system varies from school to school. Sometimes the lessons are for credit or partial credit. Sometimes the cost is covered by tuition; other times it’s partially subsidized or available only to students who pass an audition. You will need to ask at each school. Even schools with non-performance-based music departments may have this opportunity for students to study performance.
sigh… this is all very helpful information…it’s just a bit overwhelming to know exactly how to begin. We will be visitng some LAC’s this weekend…I guess I’ll get my feet wet by asking a bunch of these kinds of questions…thank you all!
An oldie but goodie, http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-to-be-music-major-one-familys-experience-p1.html
This is a good place to start to understand the process.
@singermom07 and @bassdad thank you. Of course this is overwhelming, and every day my S has a different idea of what he wants…I think this is a process. He is hoping to do some Jazz summer program this summer…so that will help. He may not be ready to actually do all the things requried of one who really wants to audition for places…I just don’t know if he really has the experience yet…but, we will see what he decides!
Visits begin in earnest in 3 weeks for my daughter. Sample lessons are all set up, tours arranged, flights purchased, hotels booked (mostly) and … we’re off! I will try to file visit reports as I am able.
The next 14 months or so will be interesting. Fortunately, at this point she’s simply very excited about the whole process. Her dad, however, is experiencing a wider range of emotions! I feel like this is the start of what the past 8 years or so have all been leading up to. Here we go. Oh boy.
I agree @DesignDad! Oh boy indeed.
We just started our visits and sample lessons for my junior soprano last week over the NYC schools winter recess.
We drove to Hartt, Bucknell and Peabody.
It’s exciting and exhausting and wonderful and scary!
She’s now got lessons at MSM ( where she goes to precollege) Mannes and Juilliard in the next few weeks as they are all close to home and her school.
We will go further afield when the thaw comes!