<p>My son is deciding between Carleton and Oberlin. He is thinking of going into medicine and will major in the sciences. He has been approved, following audition, to study with a violin professor in the Oberlin Conservatory. He enjoys studying the violin and playing in orchestra and, especially, string quartet.</p>
<p>During a visit to the music department of another highly ranked school, a music instructor there told me flat out that Oberlin will say that non-conservatory majors can play in their quartets, but they really can't and that Oberlin is getting a bad reputation about this. Does anyone know if this is true?</p>
<p>I know he wants to go to a school where he can participate in chamber music. And I don't just mean having a group of students casually getting together and playing. That is nice too, but he wants to be in a string quartet that will be coached by an instructor. Would he be more likely to play in a coached quartet at Carleton or Oberlin?</p>
<p>Does anyone know about Carleton's music department?</p>
<p>As I understand it, qualified A&S students (and the fact that your son has already been approved for lessons with a professor suggests that he is) should have no problem playing in a coached quartet. Here’s what I think is an honest assessment of the situation by a current double-degree student:
[Oberlin</a> Blogs | Blog Entry: “Opportunities for College Musicians”](<a href=“http://blogs.oberlin.edu/applying/applying/opportunities_f.shtml]Oberlin”>http://blogs.oberlin.edu/applying/applying/opportunities_f.shtml)
If you have further questions, you can ask them of that student in the comments section.</p>
<p>Seconding what dave72 said. I know a lot of College students who play in Conservatory ensembles, large and small. Since your son got approved to study with a Con professor (rather than a student; most College students don’t get placed with faculty for lessons), his chances of getting into a quartet are good.</p>