<p>Hi! Our d has been accepted at Oberlin College and is wondering about their 5 year dual degree program. She did not audition or apply to the Conservatory. She has been told that she can audition for lessons with a prof in the fall, and if she wishes, apply to the Conservatory after her freshman year. How competitive is it at Oberlin for flutists?</p>
<p>Openings for flutes and sopranos are generally considered to be the most competitive.</p>
<p>It is very competitive; Oberlin is a first-rate conservatory (and flute is a particularly competitive instrument everywhere, no?) but she will have a better sense of her chances after she takes some lessons there.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. So, if she doesn't get accepted into the conservatory, are there still music opportunities for her at Oberlin?</p>
<p>wedgedrive, BassDad has summed up the opportunities very well here <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/488961-oberlin-college-conservatory-no-chances-next-year.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/488961-oberlin-college-conservatory-no-chances-next-year.html</a> in a thread with a similar question to yours.</p>
<p>That post explained the drill for lessons, but there are lots of performance opportunities at Oberlin for non-Connies. The official ones include College Community Winds, College Community Strings and Musical Union, the latter being the second oldest continuously operating chorus in the country after Boston's Handel and Haydn Society. There is a class available that is essentially an introduction to playing in a Balinese Gamelan ensemble and another in African Mandinka ensemble. There also tend to be College students in groups like the Collegium and the acappella vocal groups Nothing But Treble, The Obertones and The Offbeats. Then there are the ExCo classes that have things like the Marching Band, Steel Drums (through which you can audition for Oberlin Steel, which is an amazing group) and The Big Parade, plus opportunities to mentor a middle school music student in the town public school system. Add to that the student-run groups in all sizes and tastes that come and go from semester to semester. Don't forget about the occasional open mic night at the coffeehouse. If none of that appeals, you are also free to round up a few like minded souls and form your own group. There is a pickup group that plays for the monthly contradance and there used to be a Gilbert and Sullivan society (OGASP) but I have not heard much from them lately. The amount and variety of live music going on never ceases to amaze considering the size of the school.</p>
<p>The number of performances to attend is mind boggling, and a look at the school calendar on the website will give you a good idea of what goes on. One of my favorites is the monthly Organ Pump. Where else would you find an audience of hundreds of college students attending an organ concert that starts at midnight?</p>
<p>Oh yes, there is a lot to do musically there, whether or not you are formally studying music.</p>
<p>Great! 10 characters</p>
<p>Be advised that Michel deBost's flute studio at Oberlin is one of the most competitve in the US.Other opportunities may be available musically.</p>
<p>Oh my. It doesn't sound as though D would be accepted. I am hoping there would be enough other opportunities for her to pursue her passion/avocation. Her other choice of school is Smith, which doesn't have a great music department, but there would be plenty of music opportunities in the 5 college consortium. She is really on the horns of a dlemma in trying to decide. Oberlin (we think) has better science programs--more courses, more opportunities.</p>
<p>Oberlin was looking for 1 or at most 2 flutes this past audition season (so we heard from a student who was accepted last year). It is extraordinarily competitive for flute, as it should rightly be so with DeBost and Chastain teaching.</p>
<p>SIGH (10 characters)</p>
<p>its a big sigh...
D's year they took one, she was waitlisted.She loved Mr DeBost so much...wedgedrive, in the past he and his wife (Chastain) ran a summer flute institute week for players of all ages (HS and up, by audition).D had attended ,thats where she first met him.Maybe its still in operation?
Oberlin is a great place musically and I believe for science as well. D now has a friend on faculty there in the Conservatory.</p>
<p>Another question about Oberlin....only except for jazz guitar.....is it also very competitive?</p>
<p>Cathymee,
Thanks so much for your input. Our D made the decision last night to attend Smith. She thinks she will feel better musically as a big fish in a little pond rather than vice versa. I'll check in to the summer music camp with DeBost & Chastain and see if she is interested in auditioning. She had lessons last summer with a prof at Brown and may do that again this year.
What did your D wind up doing? Is she happy with her choice?</p>
<p>howlingwaters,
Sorry I know little about jazz guitar. A good friend's son will be attending Eastman in Rochester on classical guitar. They take very few.</p>
<p>wedgedrive
Congrats to your D on her choice!
My D wound up at Arizona State in Liz Buck's flute studio (originally in her freshman yr the teacher was Trygve Pederson,who left midway in the first semester under a "cloud of suspicion".Such drama it was!! ASU is a highly rated but undervalued here at CC Music School,with fabulous faculty,facilities and performance opportunities.
D ultimately veered out of performance and into musicology,graduated summa with departmental honors and is in Grad school doing a PhD in Musicology.
Look for postings by "mini" who has a D coming out of Smith this year who is also a musicologist.She had many music opportunities there.</p>
<p>Oberlin's summer flute institute is still in existence - although the deadline for this summer has passed. It is a great institute...look for information about it and other summer flute opportunities on the NFA (National Flute Association) website.</p>
<p>For anyone interested in future years, the application deadline is usually in early April and the direct web site is Conservatory</a> Summer Programs</p>
<p>BassDad & BEK,
Thank you for the info & link. I'll put in my reminders box for summer 2009.
Cathymee, I'll check out mini's posts. thanks.
It is such a relief having the decision made!</p>