Non-Conservatory Piano schools/ Dual degree

College Majors Music Major
1

Hi everyone,
I thought I would post here, when someone in reply to another one of my questions suggested that.
I have a few questions about schools, if anyone has any insight I would appreciate it!
The first question is just about schools in general. I want to get a double major/dual degree in Piano performance and something like Public Policy and International Relations. So preferably a school with strong faculty and strong policy program. I don’t want a conservatory, where the dual degree would be a nightmare because you’re expected to put in conservatory-level practice, while completing a full degree somewhere else, like JH/Peabody, Tufts/NEC, or anything like that. While the reputation of the music program is important, I value a good teacher over really anything else, so if anyone has personal experience that would be great. I would love a college above 4,000 people, or if not that, at least be in a city where other schools are. I’ll post my stats at the bottom just in case.
My second question is more specific and probably better suited for the college’s page, but I have been looking at Bard College recently. The problems I have with it, is that I have heard bad things about the campus life, like people being put into trailers as campus housing, and the future of Bard’s financial resources being precarious. Is any of that an issue? Also has anyone gone to Bard for Piano Performance and can tell me about the teachers?

Race: White
Gender: Male
Income: <50k
High School: Diverse public, with lots of APs
GPA: Weighted 4.74, Unweighted 3.6 (I know that’s low, it was junior year Calculus and French that I did horribly in.)
PSAT- 216 (commended NM Scholar, will find out about SF + F I think soon)
SAT I: 2180 (planning to take it again) 800:CR 690:Math 690:Writing
ACT: 34
SAT II: 750 English, 660 Bio, 700 USH
AP Scores: USH-5, Lang-5, Bio-4, Stats-3, Art History-3
Senior Year- Planning to take lots of APs (>4)
Class Rank- 10% in class of 220

Piano: Taken for 7 years privately, College audition pieces are: J.S. Bach - Prelude and Fugue #16, Beethoven- Pathetique 1st Movement, Brahms Intermezzo Op. 118 #2, Debussy- La Cathedrale Engloutie, and I’m also working on Tchaikovsky- Concerto No. 1 for competitions this year. I have won some competitions, and had chamber music and accompanist experience, so if you need more I can add.

I also have other extracurriculars, but if you need those just ask.

Thanks so much in advance and for reading this

2

I can tell you a lot about Bard. Feel free to message me. But it doesn’t meet any of your criteria - it’s not in a city, the piano performance BM degree is most definitely conservatory level, and Bard College is only 2000 students. On the other hand, if you don’t want a double degree, but instead a double major (two BA’s), or just to take piano lessons while in college - the Bard College piano faculty are great. However, you can find many great piano teachers at lots of schools. To decide what might work best for you, first tell us why you want to get a music degree, and not just continue with lessons while in college? My recommendation is that you look for schools which meet your criteria - urban, mid-size, strong IR & government departments - then check out what would be available to you for piano study. For instance - Claremont McKenna might be a good fit. Or Tufts, without NEC.

As for Bard and the trailers, just to answer that - they’re a non-issue. Most of them are gone - but my son was in one freshman year - basically a brand new portable - and it was his favorite dorm. Dreary on the outside, yes - but inside it was great. And the finances of Bard are really not something to worry about - it’s just that they spend their money rather than hoard it in a large endowment as many other well known schools do. As for campus life - that will all depend on what you’re seeking for a social scene. No Greek life there, for instance. No Senior Ball. Or Homecoming football game. Probably more students hanging out in a room playing board games than you’d find at some other schools. But plenty to do, to watch, to hear, and plenty to talk about with one’s peers.

3

Check out USC. yes it is larger than you want but it does have the highly reputable Thorton School of Music
http://music.usc.edu/
, The Sol Price school of Public Policy, a VERY healthy endowment, generous FA packages, AND it encourages students to double major or do a major and minor in diverse subjects. [ See this link to the Renaissance Scholars program
"The Renaissance Scholar designation honors students whose broad interests help them excel academically. Like Leonardo da Vinci, who was equally adept in the arts and the sciences, Renaissance Scholars are students whose majors and minors are from widely separated fields of study.
http://ahf.usc.edu/scholars/renaissance/
]

4

How about Indiana University? (Jacobs School of Music) It seems to match up well with what you’re looking for.