Suggestions for contemp/indie musician who DOES NOT want to major in music

Parents Forum
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<p>A friend's son is a talented musician. He would love to continue performing and to being studying music more formally - - but he doesn't want to major in music (at some schools, it can be difficult to get practice rooms or instruction unless one is majoring in music). </p>

<p>Preferance is for a small uni (3000-6000 students) on the east coast or in the mid-west, in or close to a city. </p>

<p>His grades are fairly strong (gpa 89-u/w; a number of honors/AP courese); his test scores somewhat less so (SAT 620-640 on each of the sub-sections; he's taking it again in Oct.). He's also an athlete and posts times strong enought for pretty much any D3 track program.</p>

<p>Any thoughts on:
URochester
Tufts
Brandeis (legacy)
BC (though his parents aren't keen on a Catholic school)</p>

<p>Any match or safety suggestinos?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>If he doesn’t mind being surrounded by quite a few Minnesota Scandinavians, he could consider St. Olaf College. They do have students from across the U.S. </p>

<p>They have great music and offer it to non-music majors, and it would be a match for him. I think they’d love to have him; he’d add to their diversity. On one of the other threads, parents were discussing how “Christian” or “Lutheran” the feel is there. St. Olaf welcome students who are not Christian but most students are Christian and the vibe on campus is “medium” Christian. A visit while the students are there would be important. All of the music programs offered there are very good; it is particularly a good choice for someone interested in voice.<br>
<a href=“http://www.stolaf.edu/depts/music/admissions/StOlaf10MusicInfo.pdf[/url]”>http://www.stolaf.edu/depts/music/admissions/StOlaf10MusicInfo.pdf&lt;/a&gt;
It is one of the CTCL schools.
<a href=“http://www.ctcl.org/colleges/st-olaf#enrollment[/url]”>St. Olaf College – Colleges That Change Lives;

3

<p>Look at Clark in Worcester Ma (in a city…and about an hour from Boston), Ursinus near Philadelphia (may not have music major, but they have a music minor.)</p>

4

<p>Austin, Boulder, Seattle (U of Washington) come to mind and anything close enough to Boston for a night out.</p>

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<p>University of Denver has a surprisingly strong music program, and its offerings and facilities are available to non-music majors. The city of Denver also has a sophisticalted music scene and a lot of opportunities for musicians as well.</p>

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<p>How about Ithaca College.</p>

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<p>Jeez, forgot my graduate school alma mater - University of Minnesota…not too expensive and in an incredibly hip town with a good music scene…</p>

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<p>Wesleyan – very artsy and welcoming</p>

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<p>God no. A non-major trying to practice music there is like taking fresh brains away from zombies.</p>

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<p>Worcester is a good bet; Wesleyan may be artsy, but it would be a reach school.</p>

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<p>Wes may be a reach. OTOH, my nonmusic major D took classes in Gamelon and AFrican Drumming, among others, just for the heck of it. It’s extremely welcoming to folks who just love music. It’d be worth a look, especially with the track angle, or if music was a major hook.</p>

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<p>You don’t say what he actually wants to major in, but what about Case Western in Cleveland?</p>

<p>They encourage music for all–there are vocal and instrumental ensembles full of engineering & humanities majors.</p>

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<p>

Can you elaborate? Obviously you’re indicating a problem :). But it’s not clear to me what it is. (Maybe it’s too early and I need coffee.)</p>

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<p>I don’t know how the formal music program is, or availability of campus practice rooms, and it is certainly not small, but the indie music scene around the University of Georgia is legendary.</p>

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<p>I think he meant <em>trying</em> to take fresh brains away from zombies. Tough to do.</p>

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<p>What about Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis? A good conservatory and a good liberal arts college – it should fit his stats nicely. About the same size and caliber kids as St Olaf, but without the Christian vibe and maybe a little stronger in music.</p>

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<p>I’d recommend a visit to Worcester if accepted to Clark. It’s a city that’s beyond its prime and IMO very depressing. (I worked at Clark for two years.) There’s not much beyond the campus (which is great). Clark (unlike WPI) is not in the best part of the city. It’s not unsafe; you need to use common sense, but it’s . . well . . depressing.</p>

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<p>Blemont University in Nashville is an option. Size & city location seems right. It has a great music program, but many non-music majors find a home there as well. Many students bring instuments (it’s a question on the dorm questionnaire) and there are lots of opportunities for musicians (majors & non-majors) to form informal groups. Great practice and performance facilities, and many majors offered that relate to music, without the performance requirements. And Nashville has a wonderful music culture- way more than just “Country” music.</p>

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<p>Oberlin, Kanyon if he will consider LACs.</p>

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<p>^^oops- I mean BELMONT UNIVERSITY in Nashville.</p>