Musical Applicant

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any experience with an applicant who is a talented musician, but doesn’t wish to pursue conservatory? We aren’t sure if there are particular programs or schools where she might be positioned to either double major or play with a school orchestra. This is a kid with who is competitive at a national level on a historically male dominated instrument.

[Anonymous]

Like a quarterback who doesn’t want to play football? Not sure what advantage you’re looking for.

[Anonymous]

Tons of options out there. For example, UMD. DC can major or minor in music and can do marching band or any number of ensembles. Must audition for music major and minors.

[Anonymous]

Hi! Your child sounds like mine!

My DD is in matching band, pep band, and loves the traveling to the bowl games (D1 football school) on piccolo and is in orchestra and takes lessons on her flute. She was in all state band and all but it was just an EC on her application, and it is a fun part of her college experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like a quarterback who doesn’t want to play football? Not sure what advantage you’re looking for.

OP here. More like a quarterback that doesn’t want to go pro. But there’s no formal recruitment process for music. And more college counselors are able to help kids (from my understanding) leverage serious sports commitment into a college “hook” than a serious arts commitment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tons of options out there. For example, UMD. DC can major or minor in music and can do marching band or any number of ensembles. Must audition for music major and minors.

OP again. Exactly. She might want to minor in music. If that’s a thing. Or we’ve heard there are dual enrollment options. Or even schools where it’s more of a hook than at other places.

[Anonymous]

There are definitely options! Pursuing a minor could be a possibility (and that process can vary, some schools still require auditions and separate artistic application even for certain music minors). Other schools, like Elon and Muhlenberg, for example, offer artistic scholarships (that often includes participating with an ensemble and sone other opportunities—again, you have to audition and apply).

[Anonymous]

Many schools. Mine is a high level dancer. He's minoring in dance while majoring in business analytics. Our school allows all students to audition for ensembles.

[Anonymous]

My class of 24 kid was like this, and as far as applications go he just listed all of his music ensembles and awards as extracurriculars. Did not need to audition with his application to be a music minor.

[Anonymous]

This sounds like a compelling profile for a top tier admission (w/o conservatory program) if grades are excellent. My musician is a step down (state orchestra and regional awards), but also talented in other arts and math. She is thriving at an Ivy. So many competitive caliber students and excellent instructors. Only BA offered, but there is flexibility. She considered Northwestern, but there was no way to pursue any kind of performance based program without a conservatory BMus, and then it would be intense and little room for 3rd interest and 5 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like a compelling profile for a top tier admission (w/o conservatory program) if grades are excellent. My musician is a step down (state orchestra and regional awards), but also talented in other arts and math. She is thriving at an Ivy. So many competitive caliber students and excellent instructors. Only BA offered, but there is flexibility. She considered Northwestern, but there was no way to pursue any kind of performance based program without a conservatory BMus, and then it would be intense and little room for 3rd interest and 5 years.

Same poster. Forgot to mention that a music portfolio is important, no matter intended major(s). Music faculty will review. Different schools have different requirements, but most want yo see some variety w/contrasting pieces in a certain time frame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tons of options out there. For example, UMD. DC can major or minor in music and can do marching band or any number of ensembles. Must audition for music major and minors.

UMD is a conservatory program. It will be hard to double major, and minors won't have same access to resources as majors.

[Anonymous]

Grinnell offers free music lessons if that is something your child would be interested in.

[Anonymous]

What instrument is male dominated? Tuba?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have any experience with an applicant who is a talented musician, but doesn’t wish to pursue conservatory? We aren’t sure if there are particular programs or schools where she might be positioned to either double major or play with a school orchestra. This is a kid with who is competitive at a national level on a historically male dominated instrument.

Look up the Musical Studies Program at Oberlin College and Conservatory. It's part of the college but taps into the resources of the conservatory. Oberlin started the program a few years ago because many of its students in the college had significant music backgrounds, but did not want to be a conservatory student (which is a fairly intense commitment). My daughter sounds a lot like yours and she investigated a lot of prograns and started at Oberlin and began this major last year (likely will double major with chem). She loves it.