<p>What are some performance opportunities on campus outside of a music major? How wide are the offerings? Does anyone have recommendations for voice teachers (I'm a mezzo and do classical)? What about beginning instrument lessons?</p>
<p>I know the music department arranges lessons for students who already play their instruments. Worst case, you could get a list of the private instrument teachers and arrange for beginning lessons on your own. </p>
<p>What instrument are you interested in? D says that in context of the orchestra, violins, cellos, and some of the woodwinds [oboe? clarinet?] are pretty competitive, some of the other instruments less so.</p>
<p>I'm interested in joining the orchestra at Smith - but I have very little experience with the violin. Is there a beginner orchestra? Are professors willing to teach beginners? - I highly doubt this. I have however, taken many years of piano, but don't plan on majoring in music. Can I still continue piano lessons with a profesor?</p>
<p>Sadly, there is no beginner orchestra, but orchestra is one of the non music major performance offerings. Outside of the Smith orchestra, many musicians on campus are part of orchestras at the other colleges, or participate in the Five College opera project (which was AWESOME last year). Also, depending on what kind of music you play, there are lots of performance groups around campus. For example, there's the Wailing Banshees, a celtic musical group, and the Pink Nomads, a really good jazz band. Those aren't run by the college, but many of the college's musicians play in them.<br>
I can't give you specifics about teachers, but I do beleive that beginner lessons are available in instruments and voice. If you want to check into the process for arranging a teacher, I would highly reccommend emailing the department head (you can find them on the Smith website) or one of the music professors (also on the website). Or, if you're brave, you can post on the Daily Jolt and probably get a wider range of Smith musicians.</p>
<p>Cool... when do you have to sign up for the Five College opera project? It's listed as a class in the bulletin (I'd love to learn to direct eventually, so I'd like to get started as soon as possible). How are the a cappella groups? Can first-years try out for/get into the chamber singers?</p>
<p>I second the notion of Jolt. I'd also e-mail Jonathan Hirsh, the orchestra director, who is very helpful though sometimes slow to respond to e-mail.
I think that violin would be one of the instruments where it would be difficult to crack the orchestra as a beginner. To my non-musician ear, the violins sounded pretty darned good when I've heard them play.</p>
<p>Random note for others reading: otoh, there is hope that a couple of first-year French horn players show up this Fall. Between graduation and JYA, the section is being hit pretty hard.</p>
<p>Two superb voice teachers (both full faculty) - Jane Bryden and Karen Smith-Emerson. You'd be lucky to be studying with either. Both classical, both experienced in opera and art-song. What happens is that you do a quick audition, and they discuss which one of them is more likely to serve your needs better. </p>
<p>Besides all the stuff on campus (or within the 5 colleges), there is also Commonwealth Opera that is always looking for more singers. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.commonwealthopera.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.commonwealthopera.org/</a></p>
<p>My d. was secretary of the orchestra, but she is JYA this coming year. More strings are always welcome (if they can keep up). In previous years, most difficult has been flute, with three times as many flute players as they can actually use.</p>
<p>Some of the a capella groups are amazing! (People put a lot of time into them, so be careful.)</p>