<p>I’ve played in a band that did a couple tours. Guitar, piano, bass, a little bit of drums, and I sing. I’ve been in a couple musicals. Dunno if I’ll continue at Yale, though.</p>
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<p>Yeeeees. I spent a very large portion of my summer glued to my piano bench with a Real Book in front of me. So much fun. I actually wrote my common app essay about jazz improv, among other things.</p>
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<p>Yale has a lot of performance opportunities for undergrad classical vocalists, and there are a lot of very talented singers in the Yale undergraduate community. Voice lessons are available subject to satisfactory audition, and plenty of students do take voice lessons. You can take voice lessons for credit provided you take the prerequisite music theory class. Or you can pay for them out of pocket. Most undergrads will start out getting lessons from advanced grad students in the school of music. These grad students are themselves very advanced vocalists and are able to guide undergrad singers quite well. A few of the more advanced undergrad singers will be assigned to faculty instructors. There are also opportunities for private instruction outside the undergrad voice lesson program. </p>
<p>In addition to the Glee club there are several other choral groups you can audition for- check out the Yale Schola Cantorum and the Battel Chapel choir, for example. There is an undergrad run Opera Theater of Yale College, an undergrad run Gilbert and Sullivan society, and many opportunities to be part of musical theater and a cappella groups that are extremely popular on campus. </p>
<p>So while it is not possible to be an official vocal performance major at Yale, you can make very good progress towards developing your vocal performance skills. If you must have a performance major, then you need to go for a conservatory or a dual degree program.</p>
<p>OMG I LOVE MARCHE SLAVE. If we both get in, we shall be friends HAHAHA maybe 
depends whether you like late-Romantic/early-contemporary folk melodies (Jewish, Hungarian, etc).</p>
<p>Mmmmm yes. Late Romantic is fantastic. Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Bart</p>
<p>Sophieangeline, for the Harvard/NEC program you are describing, one has to audition for and be accepted into the conservatory, apply to and be accepted to Harvard, and then also apply to and be accepted into the dual degree–a three step process basically. It is not as easy as you made it sound–very few actually make it into both institutions, and then only very very small number are accepted into the dual degree program.</p>
<p>Wow, a thread for musicians! I love Marche Slave too! I’ve played violin for 9 years, placed at region, area, and state level. I guess the best place I’ve played, although not that impressive, is at Armour Stage in Chicago as part of my school orchestra. I’d love to be a part of YSO! (I’ve heard it’s very, very hard to get in though.) I teach violin, have played oratorios with professionals, and currently play in a classical quartet for weddings and the like…lots of musical volunteer work too, all 3 of my jobs are music-related, tons of leadership positions within orchestra too, although they don’t really count 
And I guess I like 4/4, it’s just the classic time signature.</p>
<p>bump</p>
<p>also, 100th post 
yaaaaaaay</p>
<p>Hmm. I’ve played the violin for nine years, though I doubt I’ll continue in college. I also do a lot of musical theater. recently I’ve gotten really involved in vocal music and joined two choirs. I want to join an a cappella group in
college.</p>
<p>Where’s the best place to study operatic history? :)</p>
<p>Is anyone familiar with how difficult it is at Yale to gain regular access to high-quality practice pianos if one is not a music major?</p>
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<p>Well then Yale’s the place to be. It’s probably got the best a capella scene in the country.</p>
<p>@silverturtle: I obviously can’t speak to how often they’re available, but I know that there are a few pianos and at least one Steinway in every RC. Lots of the RCs have music practice rooms in their basements, and if the music school is anything like music schools I’ve been to, they’ll have loads of practice rooms with pianos. Of course, everyone at Yale plays piano, so it’s possible they’re in high demand.</p>
<p>This might be useful: [Yale</a> School of Music : Facilities](<a href=“http://music.yale.edu/resources/practice.html]Yale”>http://music.yale.edu/resources/practice.html)</p>
<p>I wish I had taken up piano as a kid… It would have helped a lot. And I’m glad the a cappella scene is good. :)</p>
<p>I’m a classical pianist, been playing for 13 years. My father was a Yale in Jonathan Edwards and was the one who told me that his dorm had numerous pianos… it’s one of the reasons Yale was my SCEA - I would be thrilled to go to a college where I could still play at night. </p>
<p>@silverturtle - my father told me that he had no problem getting instruments to play on as long as it wasn’t the busiest rehearsal hours. Then again, his info is 30 years old :P</p>
<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>I’m a classical violinist for 13 years, but I am not applying as a major. I am more politics, but I have done numerous competitions/long commitment to orchestra. Applying there, not sure if I’ll get in, but worth the shot (:</p>
<p>piano for 8 yrs, violin for 9, voice for…idk. I don’t take voice lessons, but I’ve done very well at NYSSMA (state thing - prepare a solo, play/sing for a judge, get a grade out of 100) and I really love to sing. unfortunately, i have no room for chorus in my school schedule. I really hope i can get into the orchestra, join some form of a cappella group. i also love being in pit orchestras, and i’ve played with a local arts college for a few of their musicals.</p>
<p>@silverturtle: i desperately hope that we can practice on some good pianos - i actually like it more than i do violin, and it’s basically my favorite form of catharsis. hooray for sanity!</p>
<p>but for now i’ll just hope that i can get into yale itself :/</p>
<p>@silverturtle
Accessing pianos is not difficult. Each residential college has practice rooms and most practice rooms have fairly decent pianos. Additionally, there are a number of practice rooms available in one of the undergraduate music buildings and the pianos there are quite nice. If you are taking lessons for credit, you also have access to the school of music practice rooms and those pianos are fantastic.
So, finding practice space and high quality practice pianos is not an issue.</p>
<p>^Sweet! Could you comment on the availability of marimbas to practice, by any chance?</p>
<p>shameless bump</p>
<p>haha, from what I would know (of how famous Yale’s music program is) I believe you would have access of marimbas for practice. Most likely, like other schools, you’ll have to get the permission things/papers in order to use them, but after that you’ll have access. :P</p>