<p>I got accepted into both Rice and Vandy for violin performance. I really like the flexibility with double majoring at Vanderbilt. I know at Shepard School the scope is limited. The social scene is vastly different at both, as Vandy the fraternity thing is really big. </p>
<p>How is the quality of the music at Blair?</p>
<p>How hard is it to do other things besides music at Shepherd?</p>
<p>Any insights to these topics is really helpful!!!!</p>
<p>what does this mean:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>kabbow,
I can’t answer your questions, but I have included your acceptances over at the <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1045522-master-list-music-school-acceptances-fall-2011-a-57.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1045522-master-list-music-school-acceptances-fall-2011-a-57.html</a></p>
<p>If you have any more acceptances, we would like to add those too.</p>
<p>mtpaper,
I believe he may be referring to the reputation that Shepherd has acquired for being a difficult environment in which to pursue a second major or a dual degree outside of music.</p>
<p>Do you know your studio teachers at either, and have had trial lessons? Where do you have the best rapport? Strings at Rice is exceptional, but the program has been called more grad focused than undergrad. To take nothing away from Blair, an undergrad admit in strings at Shepherd can be a tough nut to crack.</p>
<p>Try a private message to fiddlefrog, MM acceptance at Rice in violin. Also, try a pm to RedHerring, whose daughter (violist) transferred out of Vandy to Rice a year or to back.</p>
<p>Go through the past masters (linked here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/892168-search-tips-other-insights.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/892168-search-tips-other-insights.html</a>) and see if there are other cross admits.</p>
<p>That’s right, bassdad, Shepard School wants to train you ONLY to become a professional musician. I heard you can do things “under the radar” but it’s difficult. </p>
<p>I also got into Eastman/URochester.</p>
<p>Yeah,I’ve heard that the grads at Rice get a lot of the opportunitites. I loved the studio teachers at Vandy, top notch. I also know I’d have more opportunities at Vandy because they are giving me practically an entirely free ride merit scholarship. At Rice I’d be with Winkler, another good reputation. I think what has me worried is the heavy greek social life.</p>
<p>It is hard to beat the Shepherd School for violin. I don’t think that Vandy is on the same level (although it is good). You will get very solid orchestral training at Rice. When my son visited and talked to several students in their freshman year of violin performance, they all seemed very happy with their experience. </p>
<p>At Rice you need to meet distribution requirements, so you will certainly have many non-music courses and within those there is quite a bit of choice. If by doing other things, you mean a double major, then my understanding is that it would be quite difficult to do a double major at Rice with music as one of the majors. </p>
<p>Now that you are accepted, I would talk to your studio teacher at Rice (I assume that the violin policy there is still that you audition for and are accepted to a particular studio). They may tell you that they don’t want you doing a double major or give you advice on the difficulty/impossibility of it.</p>
<p>kabbow,</p>
<p>I have included the Eastman/Rochester admission as well. Did you have any particular major in mind for the Rochester application, or was it a BA or BS to be determined?</p>
<p>I have an interest in Biology that I would probably not be able to pursue at Rice. I just don’t want to be too frustrated with Vandy music. I turned down Eastman program because I thought double degree was too much. Sooo difficult. I am going out, again, to Vandy next Tuesday and that should clarif things.</p>
<p>Violadad, you are a wealth of information!!</p>
<p>While violadad is indeed a wealth of information, note that it was also violindad who answered your question. He is also a wealth of information.</p>
<p>As is BassDad. </p>
<p>Now if violindad sports a beard, then the issue is further compounded.</p>
<p>Or confounded.</p>
<p>My D has been in contact with a senior flute major at Rice this past week. The girl will be graduating with a double major, although I do not know what the second degree is in. She told my daughter that with some AP credits and a bit of “extra” work, it can be done.</p>
<p>My D is hoping to meet with her later this week (when she is there for Owl Days), and get more information, as she is hoping to double major. The flute professor knew this when she accepted my D and put her in contact with the senior, so we get the sense that at least this teacher is supportive of the endeavor. I may have more info this weekend.</p>
<p>What to do you want to do with your music? Rice strings is an intense world class conservatory experience. Both undergrads and grads play together. The orchestra is phenomenal. The students that are serious are well positioned to continue to succeed. Is that what you want? </p>
<p>DD’s roommate is a senior violin student and has several good acceptances to grad school and an orchestra position offer. Do you really need a double major? As mentioned, there are distribution requirements at Rice that give you a broader experience. You can focus in biology for those. One thing DD really liked is that the music students are not all housed together so you really get to know people with other majors. .</p>
<p>See if you can connect to at least one of the students in the studio. Can you visit for Owl Days? If so ask to be connected with someone in the studio. This is a good time to have the discussion with the studio professor, too. If you can go for Owl days, have another lesson. This time it is different since you are accepted.</p>
<p>I’m the mentioned fiddlefrog. I’m currently finishing a master’s at Rice; I’m also very familiar with Vanderbilt.
While Vanderbilt has a lot to offer, and has sent students to great graduate programs and good careers, I think studying with Winkler is a really special opportunity (one for which people fairly routinely turn down Juilliard and NEC, including Weilerstein’s studio). More broadly, the student level at Vanderbilt, even accounting for the fact that Rice is majority-graduate, is not comparable to that at Rice. At the same time, Rice is small enough that you /will/ have performance opportunities here-- maybe not a lot in the first year, but that’s not such a bad thing, necessarily, and in any case you’ll be in one of the finest student orchestras in the world. Leadership in the orchestra is attainable as an undergrad if you’re hardworking and persistent, but even if you don’t get that, it’s still a fantastic experience, and you can get concertmaster and solo experience at festivals.</p>
<p>Just my two cents. Either school would, undoubtedly, nurture you well.</p>
<p>Also, Shep-H-E-R-D. Really, savor that lovely acceptance letter and remember the spelling …</p>
<p>just my humble opinion. But from what I have observed and from what I have heard Rice is considered one of, if not the very BEST, schools of music for instrumentalists in the world. I would certainly not pass up this opportunity. Their opera program is ASTOUNDING as well. Listen to some of their recordings on their website. Also I encountered this video, which gives a very good description of Rice: [YouTube</a> - Around Campus: Shepherd School of Music](<a href=“Around Campus: Shepherd School of Music - YouTube”>Around Campus: Shepherd School of Music - YouTube)</p>
<p>side note – Rice is VERY selective. maybe the most selective in the country. I am Eastman right now but I was denied undergrad for cello three years ago. If it were me I would go to Rice in a heartbeat. Congrats on a such an accomplishment! :)</p>
<p>I come back to what do you want to do? If it is to be a performer, you cannot do better than to be in Winkler’s studio and be in Larry Rachleff’s orchestra. The opportunities are amazing.</p>
<p>winkler also teaches at USC, from what I know.</p>
<p>“distinguished visiting artist” does not a teacher make =P
really, she’s not there very much</p>