<p>Do you need to be a stellar musician to play in the music organizations at Wellesley? I'm...decent...but I'm so freaked out that I'm not going to be good enough. Also, is it a huge time commitment? (Btw, I play a wind instrument.) It really freaks me out that there's a written music placement test during orientation.</p>
<p>There are some answers to questions you asked here: [wellesleyblue:</a> Transfer student with some questions!](<a href=“http://community.livejournal.com/wellesleyblue/245471.html]wellesleyblue:”>Transfer student with some questions! - Wellesley College — LiveJournal)</p>
<p>Thank you for the fast reply! Unfortunately I play flute, which I imagine is more competitive than the trumpet at an all-female college. :(</p>
<p>Hmm…flute is one of the more popular instruments. You do have multiple options though: chamber music society, brandeis/wellesley orchestra, mit orchestra, prism jazz, etc. Different activities have varying amounts of time commitment, but expect at least 2 hours per week of rehearsals plus your own practice time.</p>
<p>It is competitive to play in one of the orchestras, but not to play in Chamber Music Society, which has an audition but accepts all people as far as I can tell. Lessons, too, are basically open to all. The written placement test is just that–a placement test. To do many things in the music department (take lessons for credit, for example), you will need to take or pass out of music theory. The test just suggests what class you should be in; personally, I found it rather difficult overall, as it includes identifying intervals and other aural skills that I was totally unpracticed at, and I was placed in the lowest music theory class (MUS 111), but I took the slightly accelerated class MUS 111X and found it extremely easy. I would characterize myself as a good but unremarkable clarinetist (I made it into my high school’s highest and very well regarded ensemble my senior year, but I was one of the lesser clarinetists and was certainly not all-state material, for example), and while I did not get a spot in the orchestra I never received any doubt that could take lessons and be in the Chamber Music Society. Doing lessons and Chamber, I spend slightly less than 2 hours in rehearsal and then practice time. Overall, I would not worry very much about it. It is not very high pressure in my opinion; I feel confident that a “decent” musician has a home somewhere in the music department.</p>
<p>What about the Wellesley College Choir? I sing and I’d love to do choir, could someone tell me more about it? The audition process (my sight-singing isn’t the greatest), how much of a time commitment it is, what they sing etc… any information would help, I’ve heard about a cappella groups but don’t know much about the choir. (Sorry for hijacking the thread btw!)</p>
<p>There is a previous thread on the choir here:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/wellesley-college/724709-wellesley-college-choir-wellesley-singers-advice-wanted.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/wellesley-college/724709-wellesley-college-choir-wellesley-singers-advice-wanted.html</a></p>
<p>More info on the choir:
[Wellesley</a> College Choral Music | Ensembles: Choir](<a href=“http://www.wellesley.edu/Activities/homepage/choralmusic/Ensembles/choir.html]Wellesley”>http://www.wellesley.edu/Activities/homepage/choralmusic/Ensembles/choir.html)
[Wellesley</a> College Choir](<a href=“http://www.wellesley.edu/FirstYear/Academic/Music/wellesley_coll_choir.html]Wellesley”>http://www.wellesley.edu/FirstYear/Academic/Music/wellesley_coll_choir.html)</p>
<p>Choir rehearsals are on Thursdays 6-8pm in the Chapel.</p>
<p>@advantagious and welles10: Thank you so much, that was what I wanted to know. </p>
<p>@whedongirl: that’s fine, I’m done!</p>
<p>Is there also a music room on campus? I’m DEFINITELY not very good at piano, but I still like to play some pieces once in a while when i have time.</p>
<p>There’s a music library! We have over 9500 cds at this point, a whole floor of sheet music, and an upstairs with all the dvds, cds, and books about music you could ever want to see. It’s also the best place on campus to work, if you get work study. SO MUCH FUN! Any student can borrow anything.</p>
<p>There are private practice rooms for piano and other instruments. Though I am not sure if access to these areas are only for students taking lessons or not, Each residence hall has a grand piano in the living room, so many people practice in there; don’t worry about not being very good – I have heard quite a range of abilities played over the years. If you practice in a common space, please be courteous and don’t do it at like 2am though.</p>
<p>All the Jewett practice rooms have pianos (many of them have two!). I don’t know if there’s a technical rule, but the rooms are unlocked and there’s no one there checking whether you’re a music student in any way or not. It can be a little difficult to find a room sometimes, and private lesson teachers always have the right to politely oust you if they need a room, but other than that, there’s generally no problem. </p>
<p>And the music library has a ton of sheet music to either check out or photocopy.</p>