<p>hopkinslax....what else course wise?...hmm...geo or smth but not many colleges do that...def a premed track but i dont want to major in a science...i want to do some sort of social science first....yeah rochester is a really good fit cause I also want to continue with my music...just wish the town was bigger...</p>
<p>divonne --- Like you, my son also wants very much to continue in music (as double major), but also wants the strong academics in humanities, etc.. What do you know about the music program at UR (not Eastman)? We paid a visit for the Fall Into Rochester event back in November, but didn't get a chance to go to the music department (there wasn't extra time for that). However, my son talked to the music dept folks at their table in the library during the "visit" with faculty/departments session, and he was not very impressed with the faculty present that day. My son apparently inquired about what kind of repertoire the ensemble performs (trying to gauge the caliber of music and students within the program), and got some half-baked answer from the faculty rep which led him to believe the guy either didn't know or didn't care. To be perfectly frank, my son got the impression that the attitude at UR is "if you're serious about music, apply to Eastman". Unfortunately, that is an extraordinarily selective program...though he has been accepted to the School of Music at our state university. So...just wondering if we've misjudged the music program at UR. Thoughts, experiences anyone?</p>
<p>soddy</p>
<p>I've heard much kudos of the UR music program, although I personally do not have a first-hand experience or primary source...</p>
<p>Happy Lunar New Year!</p>
<p>suman --- Need something more to go on than that. If you find out something concrete on the quality of the music program at UR(not Eastman), please let me know. I'll continue to look/ask around. Don't want to sell them short just based upon a twenty minute conversation with a faculty member and few internet searches. Could be that the faculty member available that day is the dud of the department. </p>
<p>In a similar vein...the poli-sci department sent a faculty member to the Fall Into Rochester tables in the library, but the guy only teaches graduate students! He did little to nothing to interact with the students visiting the poli-sci table(he left that up to a student who was with him). In contrast, the history dept sent a faculty member (female) who was both enthusiastic and prepared with handout folders containing info on the history dept and the typical 4 year history major curriculum. Really amazes me to see faculty look less than excited to be there since this is <em>their</em> opportunity to recruit for the school. Not only that...but with all the hoopla that small, private schools like to promote regarding accessibility and involvement of faculty, it kinda falls flat if they blow-off the interaction with perspective students at the Fall Into Rochester event. Surely seems they would appreciate knowing that the families of some of those perspective students purchased plane tickets(for two), hotel room for two nites, meals, and auto rental just to see them. After over a year of researching schools and the process of selecting the best match, we definitely concluded that the most important factor (given an average or better academic reputation) is not the school name, the location, the most popular majors, or the average SAT score...but rather, the people. </p>
<p>soddy</p>
<p>its a pity you had such a bad experience...i went for a day in august and was extremely pleased...the admissions officers were extremely helpful....the sure knew how to sell their school!</p>
<p>i dont know much about the music program...im not that into it as your son...just want to keep it up...but what i understood from my interviewer was that you had free acess to eastman...like for me, i want to continue conservatory level piano in college...so i can take classes, for free at eastman, same teachers and everything.</p>
<p>divonne --- I agree that the admissions office personnel were on their toes. As you said, they really know how to sell their school. But good gosh! I hope so! Half their job is marketing!!! Less stellar, as I mentioned, was the interaction with specific departments, during the library meet and greet portion of the event.</p>
<p>Regarding lessons: "same teachers" is not what we were told. We were told that more than likely any lessons would not be from the same Eastman faculty who teach Eastman students (I took this to mean lessons would probably be from graduate level students).</p>
<p>Perhaps not as much of an issue for piano...but the other issue is competitive, audition-only music groups. Other than the Chamber Orchestra at UR, I see no other student-only, audition-only, high caliber instrumental ensemble opportunities. In other words, the neat stuff (e.g. brass choirs, small ensembles, etc) playing top level music...is over at Eastman because (once again) UR figures if you really take music seriously, you shouldn't be fooling around with the music dept at UR. </p>
<p>soddy</p>
<p>awesome. what instruments can you learn for free at eastman?</p>
<p>...I'm pretty sure nobody gets lessons at Eastman from the beginner level. We're talking about continuing studies. I'm guessing that by audition, UR determines if you are at intermediate or better level on your instrument, and then the opportunity for private lessons from Eastman is a possibility.</p>
<p>soddy</p>
<p>I think all liberal arts colleges and universities the size of U of R struggle with their music programs. How to provide top-notch ensembles etc. when the best musicians have been siphoned off? That said, U of R at least is located in a city very heavy on music opportunities and (an excess of) good musicians/conductors. </p>
<p>There is a distinct line between Eastman and U of R. Make no mistake about that. After all, Eastman is a world class conservatory. You will not be taking lessons from Eastman collegiate level faculty, no matter what your level. You may be taking lessons from Eastman students. It does not appear that there is much cross-over between Eastman faculty or conductors and U of R.</p>
<p>When I looked at the ensembles here's what I learned about them:</p>
<p>University of Rochester Symphony Orchestra:
(The Symphony Orchestra is a blend of university undergraduate and graduate students as well as talented community musicians from the greater Rochester area. Open by audition.)</p>
<p>David Harman
Music Director: David Harman
Dr. David Harman has been Music Director and Conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra since 1993. He is also Professor of Music and Director of Orchestral Activities at the University of Rochester and Music Director of the Penfield Symphony Orchestra. Quite a popular guy in Rochester.</p>
<p>L. Brett Scott, occasional conductor
Eastman School of Music, Assistant Professor of Conducting and Ensembles, part time Assistant Professor of Music in ESM. L. Brett Scott received the BSM from Canadian Bible College, the MM from the University of Regina, and the DMA from Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He was one of six conductors chosen for the 1994 National Conductors' Symposium of the Vancouver Chamber Choir. Dr. Scott has served on the faculties of the University of Regina (1996-99), the Cincinnati College-Conservatory (2000-01), and Eastman School of Music and the University of Rochester (2001- ). I've never heard of him. (But that doesn't mean a thing.)</p>
<hr>
<p>University of Rochester Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Ensembles:
David Harman, conductor
See above.</p>
<hr>
<p>University of Rochester Wind Symphony:
Bill Tiberio, conductor
Bill Tiberio (summer jazz studies, Eastman Community Music School Chamber Wind Ensemble director) BM, Ithaca College; Masters in Music Ed, Fredonia; Concert Band and Jazz Program Director at Fairport High School, Instrumental Music Teacher, Fairport Schools, 1988 to present. Faculty, Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camp, and Hochstein School of Music Summer Staff. Recipient, RPO Music Educators Award, April, 2004. This guy is FABULOUS.</p>
<hr>
<p>University of Rochester Jazz Ensemble:
Eric Schmitz, director
Eric Schmitz is in his third year of a Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media at Eastman, where he studies jazz composition with Bill Dobbins and jazz drumset with Rich Thompson. His pieces have been performed in Iowa and New York. In addition to music for jazz ensemble Eric has been commissioned to write a piece for English horn and small group, which will be premiered in April. His studio orchestra arrangement of Harold Danko's "For Bud" was named "Best Jazz Arrangement" in Downbeat magazine's 2003 26th Annual Student Music Awards. Never heard of him -- but Rochester is very strong in Jazz, so he's probably good.</p>
<hr>
<p>Plus four additional vocal ensembles.</p>
<p>Disclaimer: I do not attend U of R, or Eastman. I just live in Roch and know a lot about Eastman due to involvement there.</p>
<p>wow.. im not terribly interested in music, nor did i read the whole post.. but that was VERY impressive.</p>
<p>well, i have learnt an indian instrument called tabla for quite a bit so far, so i would like to continue.</p>
<p>During my interview, I asked if it was possible to start a musical instrument and take lessons at Eastman, and if I recall correctly (it was kind of awhile ago) the interviewer said it was possible.</p>
<p>hysteron:
It probably is possible. You'd be taking with a student of Eastman. Also, I have no idea how much it would cost.</p>
<p>Just a thank you to set people straight about Eastman. It has pretty much nothing to do with Univ. of Rochester except that one can take classes if they are available. Also, a double major is offered to Eastman students. But forget taking lessons from one of the faculty at Eastman. My son applied for violin performance at Eastman, and we discovered at orientation that they accept approx. 16 violin majors (that is applicants from all over the world). They get around 1,800 applicants overall for Eastman. So if your son or daughter plays an instrument and wants some instruction in addition to a LA education, don't go to Rochester. There are plenty of other places to go with a much better balance.</p>
<p>Violinmom... Please don't say things if you ave no idea what you are talking about...
Just because you are mad that your son didn't get in doesn't mean that you have to bash the school...</p>
<p>UR is one of the best places to get an education and be able to continue music...</p>
<p>I agree with hopkinslax. Violinmom, you sound a little bitter (although I know how that might happen).</p>
<p>My point was exactly the opposite of what you are saying. My point is that U of R is no different than any other non-conservatory college, of its rank. In fact, music opportunities there are probably better due to the unusually large number of conservatory-trained people in the Rochester area.</p>
<p>weenie --- Thanks for the time in posting all of that. Though conductor bios are helpful (saw some of that at the UR site), I wonder if you have or can point me to a list of selections recently performed by the symphony orch, chamber orch, and wind symphony? The level of music they are performing will tell all.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>soddy</p>
<p>I overheard some students telling a prospective student's family that the orchestra had recently played all of Holst's -- The Planets......not exactly Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, eh?!</p>
<p>Hmmm...I don't know how to find this out -- but I'd just email David Harman and ask him. I think that's an important question.</p>