<p>Not conservatories, just outstanding musicianship and a challenge for kids who want to continue to play and challenge their skillset but dont want to be starving artists when they grow up, so they major in something else.</p>
<p>Rice University.</p>
<p>I know that Vassar and Oberlin have really artsy/musically inclined student bodies.</p>
<p>Vassar definitely.</p>
<p>Here are two threads with numerous choices from the music major forum: </p>
<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/6280-suggestions-colleges-music-majors.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/6280-suggestions-colleges-music-majors.html</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/444579-strong-orchestras-liberal-arts-schools.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/444579-strong-orchestras-liberal-arts-schools.html</a> (This is a new fairly active thread)</p>
<p>Oberlin offers opportunities for non music majors, and the conservatory is world class. Rice is also first rate. Pay particular attention to participation policies at these two schools for non music majors.</p>
<p>University of Rochester.
Students who play in ensembles at the River Campus (NOT Eastman) get free music lessons at Eastman. Great deal.</p>
<p>Daughter plays in symphony, takes lessons at Eastman, but majors in math.</p>
<p>Do the faculty at Eastman treat her well, or like a 2nd class citizen since she is at River Campus and not Eastman? Is there camaraderie in general between the campuses or a division between music majors and others? And the lessons are FREE?<br>
My son is auditioning at Eastman next weekend but would like to go the dual degree route, but is told it is grueling. Just looking at other options where he could still play jazz, get lessons and pursue other interests as well.</p>
<p>cjm--</p>
<p>Her instructor at Eastman is a graduate student--she seems to get along with him pretty well--he was helpful when she had to locate a music shop for repairs, for example.</p>
<p>Yes, the lessons are FREE (nice, after paying for lessons through jr-sr high school). She plays in a wind ensemble at the river campus. Both the ensemble and the lessons only required an informal audition--to prove you're not a beginner.</p>
<p>There are buses between the two campuses every half-hour or so, so kids move between the two campuses. Eastman kids take courses at the river campus; less so in the other direction. River campus kids attend performances at Eastman, etc. For her, it's a nice set-up, since she wanted to continue playing, while majoring in something else.</p>
<p>If you can handle the cold; St. Olaf or as a backup school; Luther College. Half of their concertmasters have been nonmajors.</p>
<p>I was going to suggest St. Olaf as well. They have have 2 full orchestras - unheard of for a school of 3000. We heard a recording of the top orchestra and I was quite impressed. Any student can audition for the orchestra and many members are not music majors.</p>
<p>Here's another nod for St. Olaf. Voice is also strong there.</p>