<p>I just finished my junior year and am trying to find a college.</p>
<p>Im doing fine academically (4.0 GPA, ACT 32, SAT 2110, also plenty of ECs) so I think I could get into a decent school. Im particularly interested in science/engineering.</p>
<p>However, throughout high school Ive been heavily involved with music. Im pretty good and I love it more than anything else. Id really love to major in it, but I dont think I have the talent/drive to make it as a career, so a music major wouldnt be of much use.</p>
<p>I have lots of experience playing flute in various venues and make it into plenty of honors bands (I was 5th in the state last year).
Just a year ago I started taking voice lessons on a whim, and Ive improved dramatically since. My teacher thinks that Im conservatory-level.
I also love to play the piano, and Im decently good but nothing phenomenal.</p>
<p>So I have several questions:
1) Which schools have good music AND science/engineering programs?
2) How difficult is double majoring? Would a music minor be of any use?
3) Is it possible/practical to participate in a quality music program without being a music major? I know that conservatories are only for the most dedicated students, but how about other good music programs?</p>
<p>If anyone has any insights, they would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>Specifically, Take a look at Oberlin.
Generally,we did find that a number of engineering type schools had a ton of music on campus. On a tour of MIT, it seemed as though instrumental groups were practicing behind every second door. Many,many LACs and undergrad university environments have a rich music subculture. So, I would find schools that are attractive in general and then scope out the music culture. I think it'll be easy for you.</p>
<p>DD is also an engineering major and a musician. However, she wasn't looking for the best music program...just an opportunity to continue playing in an orchestra, and take lessons on her instruments. She is attending Santa Clara University. They have a decent enough orchestra, and she has been welcomed into it. She continues to take private lessons and loves it. The department is very small, and not particularly strong, but DD is there for the enjoyment of it all, and it is just right for her. She could probably have majored in music as she was also quite a strong player in HS. BUT that was not her choice. She also had the option of a music minor but has learned that with an engineering major, it is virtually impossible to find time for the coursework for that minor (and graduate in four years).</p>
<p>You also might want to look at the University of Rochester. They are very strong in science and engineering. One of UR schools is Eastman. As a non-major you can take lessons for free from an Eastman grad student. UR has its own orchestra which is quite good I believe. And you can attend all the great concerts and performances at Eastman.</p>
<p>Oberlin and Carnegie Mellon are both TOP flute schools with teachers Michel Debost and Jeanne Baxtresser respectively. These schools get top flute applicants from all across the country. Expect very accomplished competition in the audition rounds!</p>
<p>I'll admit the competition worries me, especially at schools that want just one or two flutes. Are there any less competitive schools that still offer a quality music program? Also, how about schools for voice? I think that's where I'd have the most opportunity anyway...</p>
<p>S's first horn teacher started out as a double major in horn and studio/recording engineering - at FSU, I think. (Although I get FSU and U of F mixed up.) Ultimately, he opted to pursue horn only, switched to Cincinnati, and did his MA at Juilliard.</p>
<p>But he specifically chose that engineering program because it would allow him to stay involved in music, even if he didn't become a performer.</p>
<p>Take a look at the University of Virginia. While they have not had much to attract top performance majors in the past, they are planning a new $90M Center for the Arts due to open in 2010 with the intent of making the performing arts one of their strengths. They have always had good ensembles, particularly some of the choruses, but have never really been thought of as a destination school by top music students. The next year or two could be an opportunity to get into a program that is on its way up. </p>
<p>Academically, they are top notch and have well regarded programs in the sciences and many fields of engineering. It is a very tough admit, but your GPA and test scores are in the ballpark and a female engineer from South Dakota who also sings and plays flute might get some favorable attention when applications are read.</p>
<p>Double majors are never easy and most take five years to complete when the majors are as different as musical performance and science/engineering. There are often scheduling difficulties with that particular combination with lab courses and ensemble rehearsals both tending to be scheduled mid-afternoon.</p>
<p>Schools with music minors in performance are fairly rare, although you may be able to select your electives to build the equivalent of a minor concentration. I did this myself at UVA a while back, graduating in four years with a BSEE while taking more than 30 credit hours of music courses and presenting a full senior recital in their main musical venue.</p>
<p>I think that if you look hard enough you can certainly find schools with quality music programs that do not attract the very highest level of competition. Flute and female voice are the two most competitive performance majors so, while it may be good to have a couple of the top programs as reaches, I think you are wise to look for some programs in the next tier down.</p>
<p>We looked hard at U. Va. where my son was accepted. They are working to get musicians there (they have a special music tape submission form you can use with your application which gets screened by the music faculty). We visited and my son took a lesson with a wonderful young violinist who is teaching there. They don't have a performance major, but as mentioned above, they are trying to improve their visibility in music and it might be promising if you don't want to do it professionally.</p>
<p>Another school to consider is University of Maryland which has a very good smaller music school (with performance major). I don't know about their flute faculty, but they are quite excellent in voice/opera. The school is too small to support a full orchestra so slots are open for qualified students/faculty who are not performance majors. My son is going for a performance major and considered this to be a negative there, but might be a positive for you. U. Md. is very strong in engineering, but not as competitive as Cal Tech and MIT where you really have to have almost perfect SAT scores. Unlike Carnegie Mellon, you might be able to arrange to study with a full instrument/voice professor there (even if privately for extra $$).</p>
<p>Another thought: George Washington University has a minor in music with some good voice faculty. They also have a Presidential Arts Scholarship (by audition) worth $15K/year. It is a tiny dept., but it looks as though some of the voice students have done quite well in graduate school placement so they're doing something right. They too have a school-wide orchestra. I'm not sure how strong they are in engineering however.</p>
<p>Maryland has William Montgomery, who is very well known in the flute world, and Kathleen Trahan who, while not as well known, is still quite good. Montgomery will draw interest from some very talented potential students. Their performing arts building is spectacular.</p>
<p>What about University of Delaware? I know that they welcome students from all majors to audition for seats in their ensembles. </p>
<p>University of Maryland is terrific, but most non-performance majors study with grad students, not the applied faculty (who have the performance majors in their studios). If there is a particular teacher at ANY school, you should inquire whether their instrument/voice studio is open to non-performance majors.</p>
<p>Practically every college and university has a music major, and many even have schools of Music for performance majors. These different schools are of hugely varying quality, from kids who can barely play instruments, to kids who play very well. There is literally something for everyone.</p>
<p>I think the only way to really determine the quality/fit of a program, aside from reputation alone, is to go and see for yourself. One listen to an ensemble or orchestra will tell you more than any viewbook could possibly reveal.</p>
<p>My D has a friend who is at CMU. He is not a flute performance major but has many opportunities to play. He is studying with someone, not one of the big names at Carnegie Mellon but someone else (I'm not sure of the particulars but I wonder if it's not one of Jeanne's grad students) who is a principle at a regional orchestra. He also is playing in a flute choir and with one of the non-music majors orchestra's. </p>
<p>My D wanted to continue playing in college but knows that she is not going to be any competition to play for a big name school. She looked at smaller schools that have a music program that she could participate in but that her major is her primary objective. She received CD's from the school that she is going to attend and we also attended a performance. It gave her an idea of the quality of the orchestra and also what her chances were to preform. I think that if she wants, she should have a good chance of participating in the ensemble of her choice.</p>
<p>One thing that we found is that the quality of playing in the CD's and an actual performance were quite different. I hope that wasn't bad to comment on.</p>
<p>Another comment is that you don't have to study with one of the big name flute teachers to learn a lot. The quality of flute performance majors and the schooling that they receive is spectactular. If you find the right fit, studying with a grad student might be a wonderful experience. My D has taken lessons with a grad student and he was great and she learned a lot. It was a great experience and much cheaper than studying with his teacher.</p>
<p>What about Case Western? It sounds like it would fit well with your science/engineering strengths and interests, and you could see if there is a way for you to take advantage of Case's relationship with CIM.</p>
<p>Rather than push for a conservatory, like CIM or Oberlin, I think the OP would benefit more from "leveraging" her/his musical talent. First, OP stated the lack of passion or drive - I think this would come through in a conservatory application.</p>
<p>Second, I think the stats are great, and the Dakota address (I can't remember if it's north or south) would be appealing to many schools that try for geographical diversity. But I don't think the address, the stats, or the music are enough tipping factor to make stellar unis a sure thing, so be sure to look for safeties.</p>
<p>My D was in a similar situation - Her stats were somewhat similar, and she was not really interested in a performance degree, but unwilling to give up her violin. We decided to look for schools where her other interests were available, and her violin would be a welcome addition that might equate to money. She is now at Miami U of Ohio (this is old news for many of you, but perhaps not for the OP) where she is double majoring in violin and German, and received some generous scholarships. They have an engineering program, and offer instrumental and vocal (opera) programs - you might want to look them over.</p>