<p>We looked mostly in the NorthEast. Here is what we found out about music:</p>
<p>Cornell University is noted for its music programs, including composition. Several of the professors are world famous. Many of the Cornell students, who are not music majors, participate in the music programs, playing in the various ensembles and/or taking private lessons in all aspects of music. At Cornell you can easily major in music and something else and get a broad education. An undergraduate student just majors in music and can concentrate on whatever aspects of music they wish.</p>
<pre><code>Of the very hard to get into Ivy league schools, Yale is known for its music programs, but again, no composing major on the undergraduate level, and Dartmouth is very good in music and has a very nice music building. Williams is a top tier small college in NYS is also known for music.
We also liked TCNJ, but I don’t believe it has a composing major, just music majors for the undergrads, same for Rutgers. At TCNJ you can major in music and something else, unlike most of the conservatories. For example, Bostn University did not allow the music majors to double major, BU has a strictly separate conservatory even though they are part of a large university. Johns Hopkins was similar to Bu, but they said you could double major, but I don’t think anyone ever does it because the Peabody is a very hard to get into conservatory. When we looked into it fully, we saw that it was unlikely that a non music major could really take any of the private lessons, these lessons were restricted to the majors–who were enrolled in the conservatory.
Look at Gettysburg in PA it has a conservatory but students can double major and other students can take music classes, Bucknell in PA is similar to Gettysburg. These schools are known for music, but we also liked Union, in NYS, and Franklin and Marshall in PA, they might have had enough music for a music orientated non music major.
You will find that almost every school has a music department. Look at the courses they offer to see if they have enough for your student. At some of the non-conservatory undergraduate schools there is barely enough people to make up a music department, and also you should try to find out how many concerts and recitals the college has and if anyone goes to them. You can check the events pages and see what time and day the concerts are if they are in the middle of a weekday, it is unlikely anyone can attend, except for the music majors, who may be required to attend.
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<p>If the school offers a music minor, it is often an indication of a more inclusive, non-conservatory environment. You can definitely ask how many music majors and minor there are at any college and then how many students participate in the ensembles–school sponsored groups, not just the student run activities like the a capella groups. </p>
<p>Remember to start preparing your child to have a music supplement, if it is appropriate, and some of the schools that do not have conservatories (where you definitely have to have a music supplement and audition) will still be happy to meet with your child. The teachers at the music schools, non conservatory schools, might be willing to give her a mini audition or even a lesson to see how they would work together. You should be prepared to pay for any private lessons with the music teachers and it could help your child decide if she wants to go to that college and it might help her get accepted to the college if she develops a relationship with the potential teacher.</p>