<p>Please comment on the music performance program at the University of Notre Dame (South Bend). Is it a quality program? How selective is the music admission process? Is it a good program for violin performance? How would you rate the music facilities? Please feel free to offer any other information not covered by these questions.</p>
<p>I've heard that they have a pretty decent piano department and the voice dept is up and coming ( the guys are really in demand there). I know that you didn't declare your major until sophomore year so all you had to do was tell them that you are "intending to major in music" when you are admitted. Things changed recently and now you are to send a CD, but the requirements are very loose and it's kind of, "Do your best and we'll let you know what we think of you". Since they have changed things, it might be worth looking into, especially if there is a teacher there that you want to study with.</p>
<p>A quick search on Notre Dame from prior threads yields no more than a dozen threads, with an equal number of posts, none of which contain more than a passing mention. There is one comment of ND having historically strong marching bands. It appears to be a BA, rather than a BM degree path. It's not a school in my experience one would necessarily associate with an undergrad performance path. I saw no music ed concentration either, which I recall as a possible requirement from your earlier threads.</p>
<p>Potential concerns might be the depth and scope of peer quality for an advanced performer bent on performance. There are no Masters levels programs, beyond a single offering in Sacred Music as a joint program under the auspices of the Department of Theology. </p>
<p>Academically, it's a solid program, but it's not a school I would consider as a prime contender for a serious student of performance.</p>
<p>Again, this is opinion. If it falls within your needs, by all means investigate further and include a visit, class/ensemble sit-ins and trial lessons with instructors.</p>
<p>The undergrad music majors are either in theory/history or performance. They do put on an opera each year though... All I know about the piano and voice departments are from my D's teacher and a couple of kids we know that attend the school. They are putting money into building the vocal performance area (at least by putting the feelers out for new faculty), which is why I think that if one finds a teacher that is a "good fit" and if one wants to place more emphasis on theacademic side of things then this might be a good LAC to consider.</p>