<p>Let's start with Rice. What is it like having a graduate student for a director?</p>
<p>WUSTL?</p>
<p>Other medium-sized universities? (I've seen positive remarks about Rochester.)</p>
<p>Is it extremely competitive to get into the non-majors' orchestras at top universities (e.g. Yale)?</p>
<p>Are those orchestras good enough to be fun for a student coming from an excellent public school program?</p>
<p>UNC?
MSU?
Western Washington?</p>
<p>Others?<br>
D would like to continue to play cello, and is at this point a probable math major. She will probably be a NMF, and her SAT scores would put her in the middle of the pack at most top universities (closer to the top in math). She doesn't want a small college or small town. Though you might not be able to tell it from the colleges I named, from my perspective West coast (immeidate family) or Midwest (extended family) is desirable. Merit aid/ affordability is a definite plus. (We are among the many on CC with uncomforatble EFC. I don't want to start a discussion about that-- we just will have to make some choices.)</p>
<p>I'm thinking that admissions offices can put D in touch with current orchestra member-- right?</p>
<p>WUSTL's music program has been described as dismal.</p>
<p>Rice's Shepherd SOM is one of the best. Many of their grad students are the pros of tomorrow. If these same grad students serve as TA's for the non conservatory students and ensembles, you will probably not be disappointed.</p>
<p>Yale does not have an undergrad BM offering, the disciplines are in the academic areas of theory, history, and composition. There are a number of conservatory level undergrad performers at Yale, many taking non-music degree paths. A number of these students will pursue masters degrees at top conservatory/conservatory level programs, and some will perform professionally. Private instruction for undergrad musicians is with grad students, only rarely (usually at the instructor's request) with SOM full faculty. There are numerous high level performing organizations for the serious Yale undergrad. </p>
<p>I have no knowledge of the other programs you've mentioned. If she's accomplished, used to playing with quality peers, a lower quality level ensemble can be quite frustrating.</p>
<p>I would contact the music department or ensemble director directly, rather than going through general admissions for music specific questions.</p>
<p>I'm a math major at WashU, and also a member of WuPops, an entirely student-run orchestra. Most of us are not music-majors, although there are a few. We vote on the music we will play (mostly soundtrack/Broadway, but always 2-3 more traditional/classical orchestra pieces). It's a really laid-back atmosphere, and a lot of fun. The music department moved last year to a new facility off-campus, but it's not that far away, and most of us meet and walk over together, or take one of the buses which drops us off right in front of the door. We rehearse on Tuesday evenings, and our attendance policy is really relaxed. Practice rooms are open to everyone, regardless of major (there are some in the 560 building, some in the old music school which is really close to the dorms, and even some in the actual residence halls). Check out our webpage for more info: Wash</a> U Pops Orchestra
We would love to have more strings! (This year we had 2 cellos). Good luck with your choice!</p>
<p>Thank you violadad and yogadog. It will be interesting to see what factors are most important to my daughter and what options she pursues as she makes her trade-offs.</p>
<p>She will have so many options. How about someplace like Macalester, a nice Minneapolis St Paul location, and an orchestra open to music majors and non-music majors alike (by audition)? If she has come out of a very strong high school program and wants to major in math and continue with cello, a liberal arts college whose orchestra is open to non-majors is worth considering... This might work out best at a smaller school like Macalester. The nice thing about Macalester is that they get students from all over the U.S.</p>
<p>D is NOT a music major at Rochester. Auditioned and made the wind symphony. Rehearsal is one night per week, plus FREE weekly private lessons at the Eastman School. The orchestra also rehearses one night per week. The chamber orchestra is the most intense group, with 2 rehearsals a week and with travel, etc.</p>
<p>She received 1 credit per semester for the ensemble, and I THINK 2 per semester for lessons. She had to be 'juried', if that's the right word, to receive credit for the lessons.</p>
<p>I would STRONGLY encourage you to listen to any college groups in person if at all possible. When you visit, if you can't attend a performance see if you can attend a rehearsal. Quality of music groups really vary widely from school to school. Depending on your daughters current experiences, she may find some groups lacking what she is looking for. </p>
<p>We have an excellent youth orchestra in town. I often run into graduates from that orchestra who are disappointed by their college orchestra experiences. So choose with care.</p>
<p>I wonder if the kids who are disappointed in the quality of a college ensemble still enjoy the social aspects. It seems possible, but maybe it is hard to enjoy a fellow musician's company if you are disappointed by her playing. </p>
<p>I am not a musician, so I have a very hard time figuring out what is appropriate for my daughter. Maybe I'll ask her teacher for ideas-- or tell her to.</p>
<p>My son's HS orchestra practices 2-3 times a week & is terrific. I wonder if there are options like that at any college at the non-conservatory level? For kids who are competent but not prodigies - who just love music? With a great conductor? Where you audition, but can actually get in. There must be ratings of college orchestras somewhere, but I haven't seen them here.</p>
<p>I agree with Shennie. Your daughter really needs to go and listen to the orchestras, if at all possible. You don't even have to visit all the schools, since many have MP3 files on their sites, particularly if they claim to have a "School of Music" (which we discovered, meant diddly squat in terms of the quality of the program). </p>
<p>For kids coming from schools with excellent music programs, or involvement in youth orchestras or pre-college programs, many college music programs are seriously lacking. We heard that from lots of kids who graduated before my son, who just wanted to play for fun in college, not major in music. Many were discouraged and dropped out of various groups and ensembles early on, because the level of play was so much lower than what they were accustomed to.</p>
<p>It was eye opening, because we never considered the college programs of music would be lateral or lower level than high school programs, but indeed, that is often the case. So, the only way you can really figure this out is by visiting, listening, talking to directors and other kids.</p>
<p>mom58 - I think the answer to your question is different for different kids. It really depends on the experience your daughter has in high school and if she is expecting her college musical experience to be as good or better, or if the social aspect is more important to her. My experience is that kids who take music somewhat seriously, even if they aren't planning on majoring in it, value the product. That is, they want to perform with a group that performs well. Your daughter will have to listen to groups to decide what level of playing she wants and if the product or the experience is more important to her.</p>
<p>Allmusic nailed it. Serious student musicians, even those not majoring in the discipline who are used to high level play in high school, or through a quality youth orchestra can be easily disenchanted with a program of lesser quality than they're used to.</p>
<p>For the serious student, it is far easier to try and play up to the level of better peers than to consistently have to play down (or be instructed to by the ensemble director) to the ability of the overall group. </p>
<p>Committing to a performing organization or program without actually listening to it (better yet, playing a session) is like buying a car without a test drive.</p>
<p>We attended orchestra rehearsals at nearly every college on the list, and the final choice was clinched because of the orchestra. Having come from a superb high school orchestra, it was very important. (student is not a music major but plans to continue private instruction)</p>
<p>This thread is old, but I’m hoping one of you previous posters (or any new ones) can comment on where your children went and if they’re happy with the quality of the orchestra. I have a violinist who is very accomplished, but probably won’t major in music. She’d like a good quality orchestra to play in during college… any suggestions? If I had to narrow it down, she’d love to be by the water…</p>
<p>Thanks for the guidance violadad I’ve been noticing your posts for about two years with my older daughter - not musical - hoping you’d still be on the site when my younger was starting to consider colleges.</p>