Unsure, Music 2xmajor / minor; UCLA v. Cal??

College Majors Music Major
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<p>I officially am running out of time to make my college decision, I'm completely caught between Berkeley & UCLA.
I plan on studying languages, IR, poli. sci. something along that vein of humanities, so academically both schools are on par for me.
My difficulty is in weighing my college environment with the music programs at each, as I want to study music as well. </p>

<p>I am a relatively newfound (about 1.5 years formal instruction), but talented & dedicated vocalist (jazz, folk, opera/classical; mezzo), & ethno. musician (samba, Javanese gamelan). I definitely want to study music seriously & improve, but I am really unsure about what I want to do as a career, & don't know if I want to take a risk & commit to a music career by taking a music major. I'm not sure whether to pursue a double major, solely music major, music minor, or just take part in student-run ensembles. . . I would like to do as much as I can, but I'm also not sure what is available to me. I'm interested in continuing with vocal instruction, learning piano, & studying ethnomusicology.</p>

<p>Based on what I've heard from Berkeley, there is a lot more flexibility in terms of how far you want to go with your music studies, & the opportunities available for non-majors. I am also under the impression that they are more accommodating to double majors. </p>

<p>My impression of UCLA is that there are a lot of limitations to what you can study in music if you are a non-major. There is only a music history minor, to be a major I'm pretty sure you have to switch to the specific School of Music (requiring a petition), & to double major I've heard that you have to apply to the school of music & cross-enroll, & also create a petition to the school. Most of the music courses during the year are reserved for majors (which is fair) & there are a limited number of music courses available in the summer for non-majors. The student groups (esp. a capella) are supposed to be extremely competitive as well. However, it is supposed to have a world-renowned enthomusicology program...</p>

<p>The separate issues here are that I love LA & UCLA's environment, & could not find much to love at Berkeley (no offense to those who love it, it's an acquired taste). For me, there seems to be more to do in LA, & it is also the music/entertainment industry center. There is also an honors program option, which would allow course preferences, smaller classes, & better professor accessibility (esp. important in music...). But, if my music options are limited there, can I still be happy? Berkeley (the city) seems dated, drab, & seedy, the dorms are not anything to speak of, & I can easily see myself getting depressed there. . . Yet the school is also seen as a creative center, & I'm not even sure how much time I'll spend outside of campus if I'll have studies & practice to deal with (esp. if I double major).</p>

<p>Music is the reason my life doesn't suck, & I know that I want it to be a part of my everyday life in college, & for the rest of my life, even if I don't major in it. I know that there are student ensembles at both schools regardless of what I study, but at the same time I do want to do some serious study to improve.</p>

<p>Could any students / faculty / parents give me any more insight into either schools' music programs (esp. UCLA, I need more information...) & opportunities? Any music majors / double majors with experiences to share?
Also, how do Grad schools look at music major undergrads, if they plan on going into another field? I am definitely considering grad school...</p>

<p>Haha, sorry, this is a lot to process. Imagine this a thousand fold in my brain coupled with issues of interfamily Bruin / Golden Bear rivalry & pressure, & proximity to home (San Diego...), & you have the bee-swarm of anxiety that's plaguing me.
I mean, I'm grateful that I can't make a bad choice, but I just want to make the right choice, because music is definitely a part of my happiness, & transfers are not really a feasible option...
Thanks in advance, any advice or thoughts you have on the subject would be greatly appreciated!</p>

<p>(on a side note, though the chances are slim, I've been waitlisted at Pomona College. Anyone with experience of their music program? I know they also have a gamelan & have heard their choir perform, outstanding!)</p>

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<p>UCLA has four undergrad programs in music - Performance, Music Ed, Composition and Music History. You do not list Composition or Music Ed as an interest, so I am going to assume that is not where you are headed. For Performance (and Music Ed), you need to audition before being accepted as a major. Have you successfully auditioned there? If not, realize that the competition for places for soprano and mezzo performance majors is pretty intense and you would be competing against others who have been studying a lot longer than you have with a performance major as their main goal. If you are talking about the Music History program, no audition is required but the focus there is on learning how to think and write about music rather than how to perform it. The degree requirements include just three quarters of ensemble participation and no applied lessons at all. Is that what you want. or are you more interested in performing and taking voice lessons? If the latter and you are not at a level to be accepted as a performance major, then you might be better off just taking voice lessons and participating in ensembles rather than doing a formal music major there.</p>

<p>Berkeley’s program is not as rigidly defined and does not require an audition for admission as a music major. There are two different levels of applied instruction - half hour lessons which anyone can take for two years without auditioning, and hour lessons which require an audition beforehand. You must also pass juries at the end of the semester to be able to continue the following semester with hour lessons. I do not know how competitive the auditions are there or how rigorous the juries. That may be important for you to know before deciding.</p>

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<p>Hello, you are right you don’t have much time. I was going to suggest pm’ing musicamusica, because she knows a lot about UCLA. My D got in as a music major and one of the toughest things we ever did was walk away from that place. You are correct, it is very exciting and vibrant, especially the ethno program, and musicology is said to be tops in the country. UCLA is a fantastic program for the right person. If I were you I would spend the day getting on the phone and calling to see if there is any possibility of expanding your course availability by special permission.</p>

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<p>You may want to choose UCLA since you sound as if your ultimate goal is to be a vocal performance major . My only caveat is that you should be prepared for some very heady competition for entry into the vocal music program. It is very small, only about 30-32 students (undergrad and grad) and HIGHLY selective. However,there are performance opportunities for non majors within the UCLA Chorus and other of “non major” ensembles on campus. And if ethno-musicology is one of your passions, then you can’t do better than UCLA.
No matter what school you choose, you will find that the double major track is very tough at best. Most of the students who pursue a double major are already well entrenched in music performance. They have extensive experience with technique, ear training, sight reading, and performance skills. If you are accepted to the performance program, remember that if you only have a year and a half experience then there is going to be a lot of catching up to do. I would suggest a chat with one of the voice teachers at UCLA and possibly have a sample lesson to see just where you stand.
You sound like a person with a real love for music and I’m sure that whether you pick Berkley or UCLA that you will find a great outlet for that passion. Good Luck!!</p>

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<p>As others have pointed out, you can’t just declare yourself a music major at UCLA. You can at Berkeley, and there are myriad performance opportunities even for non-music majors. If you did not audition and get accepted to a music performance program at UCLA, I believe even your music minor/ensemble opportunities would be limited, but I’m not positive on that.</p>

<p>Having gone to Berkeley myself, my obviously biased opinion is that it’s life changing. The SF Bay area is wonderful. The Cal campus is wonderful. The Poli Sci department is top notch (I had former advisors to two presidents as my teachers - I think that’s still the case.) Northern Cal has more of an east coast feel, and after growing up in Socal, I was hungry for something different. If I’d had my way, I never would’ve left the Bay Area.</p>

<p>As for grad schools, we were surprised to learn here on cc that grad schools consider a music degree to be very rigorous (which it is) and thus, it’s a perfectly acceptable undergrad choice for those applying to grad school (if you’re thinking medical school, though, obviously you’d be missing some requirements).</p>

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<p>For Music History, Berkeley is tops. It also has ethno, and offers gamelan, but does not have a separate department - the music major is a combination of history, ethno, and performance, and requirements in harmony and aural skills. There is a good chorus and orchestra. Lessons are subsidized, but only slightly - you could arrange for lessons privately in the area and not pay much more. There are lots of choral groups on campus as well. The performance teachers are not, for the most part, on the faculty.</p>

<p>UCLA’s music department is split between the college of letters and sciences (music history) and the school of arts and architecture (performance and ethno) - but with the infusion of a large donation by Herb Alpert, they have merged the music departments (sort of) - historically, they were pretty divided. The performance program is stronger at UCLA, but unless you’ve auditioned and been accepted, you may find the opportunities limited. At least in the past, unless you auditioned and were accepted in the School of Arts and Architecture, you were not admitted to UCLA (i.e., you could not apply to the college of letters and sciences as a back-up or alternative - it was one or the other). </p>

<p>UCLA and Cal are quite different (I attended both, in the day) - UCLA is a commuter campus; Berkeley is not and has more of a community feel - students mostly live around the campus. Berkeley is also on the semester system; UCLA is on the quarter system - this makes for a different kind of pace - at UCLA, every time you turn around, there’s a midterm or final…but it also means you can take more classes or if you don’t like one, it’s over sooner.
The town of Berkeley has seedy parts (Telegraph Ave. and downtown Shattuck), but it is a wonderful place to live, with great food, and easy access to SF without a car. The weather is cooler than L.A. - you can almost never go out at night without a sweater, even in summer, and it rains a lot more, but it is also more temperate and the air is cleaner. It is not a beachy place, unlike L.A., though there are lovely beaches in the area (with cold water). It is also far more casual than L.A. - in terms of dress, cars, etc. - it does not have the glitz or glamor.<br>
You might grow to like Berkeley. But if you love L.A., you might be happier at UCLA.</p>

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<p>You might have an opportunity, in three weeks time, to speak informally with representatives and teachers from UCLA and Pomona at the Classical Singers Convention being held in Los Angeles. Perhaps you could attend this event and get some insights as to the opportunities available to a major or a non major. I think some UCLA students are also performing a small opera at one of the venues. [Classical</a> Singer Community](<a href=“http://www.classicalsinger.com/events/reg1.php]Classical”>http://www.classicalsinger.com/events/reg1.php)</p>

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<p>Speaking to the reps at the convention is all well and good, but the OP probably needs information today or tomorrow with the deadline for acceptances fast approaching. She needs to get on the phone and ask any remaining questions ASAP.</p>

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<p>I should clarify—You may want to speak with the teachers AFTER you decide on schools. Not a lot of performance decisions can be made if you have not already auditioned. I understood that she was going to attempt an audition later this year. (??)</p>

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<p>I don’t think she can audition at UCLA to become a music major this year if she has not already done so, particularly as a mezzo performance major. With a voice department including grad students of 30 or so, they must only take one or two freshman mezzos in any given year. She can, of course, audition for participation in ensembles. At Berkeley, she would be able to audition for hour lessons once she got there along with everyone else.</p>

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<p>later in the year (meaning in December for 2012 admission to performance).</p>

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<p>Again, you must audition when you APPLY to UCLA to be a music major there. It is a separate application process from the general application, and those students who are not selected are not admitted to UCLA period. If there is a way for existing students to audition in to music the following year (which I’m not even sure there is), you would be taking (a very serious) risk that you would might not make the cut. And you would likely not graduate in 4 years, having not begun the course requirement sequence.</p>

<p>Berkeley is a school with a great music program (although obviously not as competitive as UCLA) where you can declare yourself a music major once you’re there. Auditions (I believe, but correct me if I’m wrong) determine which ensembles you perform in.</p>

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<p>Sorry I misunderstood. It would be possible to audition there this coming school year, but apparently not in 2011. According to the UCLA website, their earliest auditions for the next admissions cycle are in late January.</p>

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<p>they used to have an audition in Dec.(for Fall of 2012) Woops, my mistake! </p>

<p>If your heart is set on performance, it is certainly NOT the best option, but I do know one male music student who did it.( stranger things have happened.)</p>

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<p>mura, I wish to clarify a comment above: I personally would not consider UCLA a commuter school, not any more than Berkeley. (I am also a UCLA grad from the dark ages).
Please let us know what you find out and decide.</p>

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<p>Wow, this level of feedback in one day is not what I was expecting!!! Amazing!
Before I say anything else, seriously, everyone, thank you so much for all of your input & advice!</p>

<p>As far as clarifying what I am interested in, vocal performance & world/ethnic/folk instrumentation are my foci, but I also would like to go further with theory & composition… </p>

<p>(also I am very interested in opera & classical vocals, thanks for the info on the convention musica, I will definitely be going for some master classes :). )</p>

<p>Today I had a long phone call with Laura Young, assistant director for the arts school at UCLA, discussing my options as someone who did not apply as a music major. Although likely biased, she had many good things to say about the music program & was optimistic about the opportunities available even if I remain a non-major. If I do decide to change to a music major, auditions are in late Jan./early February, & it will be more competitive considering that I’ll be a late entrant. But, for all I know, that gap might be a good way to spend some time exploring the music department & rubbing elbows with some of the faculty, to gain a little more experience & insight before my audition, to see which track (performance v. composition v. history) I’m more drawn to, & to realize whether or not I want to pursue the major.</p>

<p>Another counselor also suggested of pursuing a music major with a minor in my academic interest, since I am not particularly committed to a specific academic major yet either. There are actually several minors in within my interest, including global studies & poli. sci. (& Portuguese! My mom is Brazilian, & I’ve grown up understanding it but my speaking skills are seriously crippled. I wish I’d been brought up bilingual!)
[Minors</a> - UCLA Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/majors/lsminor.htm]Minors”>http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/majors/lsminor.htm)</p>

<p>So while I can’t begin a music major this year, I’ll have some more time to think about my decision. Attending college for a 5th year is not the end of the world for me, & starting late might actually give me some more time to manage a major & a minor. </p>

<p>In any case, I’ll definitely be auditioning for classes & student groups the moment I get on campus, at either school. I’ll be hunting for private classes off campus as well.</p>

<p>Thank you all for your input regarding grad school as well; it is nice to know that should I pursue a professional degree (pre-med aside, I’m too squeamish to even have my blood drawn, let alone draw someone else’s haha.) my choice to seriously study music will be viewed in the correct light. I feel that there is a relatively small circle of people who understand & appreciate the commitment & rigor involved in a music major, compared to the greater part of society that dismisses professional musicians & students of music.</p>

<p>Anyway, I think I am close to making my decision. I just need to sleep on it.</p>

<p>Today is different in that, rather than the other days earlier this week when one day I would lean towards one school & then the next morning be leaning the other way or falling back into confusion, my lean towards one school has stuck, & I’m finally developing that “gut feeling” everyone’s talking about. Ambivalence stinks. You’ve probably guessed, based on this biased post, but I am leaning more towards LA. . .</p>

<p>Today is also different in that I got a chance to talk to my samba drum leader, Mike, who asked me:
“If you were to wake up every day & do something for free, for the rest of your life, what would it be?”
Maybe it’s not going to be my correct final answer a few years from now, but my immediate thoughts were singing & playing. Weird how the right question can clear up a lot for you.</p>

<p>…hmm…talking a lot today.
All of you gave me a lot to think about today, I checked back earlier this afternoon & was touched by all of your interest & feedback. I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart!
I think I am at my decision, but as I’ve said before, I think sleeping on it will help me process everything & come to my final choice.
Again, thanks so much! I’ll post back once I’m sure :)</p>

<hr>

<p>Okay okay, last thing, shameless plug time.
If any of you are in the San Diego area, tomorrow night (4/29) at 6:00pm my high school is hosting a Gamelan Festival in conjunction with the Center for World Music, featuring our high school ensemble & several orchestras from all over California. It’s going to be a mind-blowing concert, & Pak Djoko Walujo (<3 I LOVE THIS MAN) our director will be there, if you are interested in meeting him. (I will be on sarong bells).
Come if you can!
[Events</a> - Envision at Canyon Crest Academy](<a href=“http://www.cca-envision.org/events.html]Events”>http://www.cca-envision.org/events.html)</p>

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<p>Hi everyone!</p>

<p>I’ve made my decision, & I just want to say thanks again to all of your for your help. I truly appreciate it :)</p>

<p>Last night I filed my SIR & housing app for UCLA, & I think that I will be happy there.
It’s hard not to feel the pressure from the slew of friends I have going to Berkeley, & from my dad’s decidedly negative reaction to my decision, but I feel no regret :)</p>

<p>Wrote my honors program essay this morning & I can’t wait to get on campus.
Have a great weekend everyone!</p>

<p>Also, on an unrelated note, last night’s gamelan festival was a huge success! (with the exception of the pad thai that exploded in my car hahaha).</p>

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<p>Best of luck! You will love it there.</p>