good LAC percussion department?

compmom
Mon, 02 May 2016 21:11:56 +0000

You might want to have your daughter read this: http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html

I always get confused by posts like this, about kids who want to major in performance but not in a BM program. Or not in a conservatory, should I say. Rayrick has, as Spirit Manager said, done a lot of research on this and might even have a list.

Some liberal arts colleges will have a School of Music or a BM program. For instance, U. of Puget Sound and College of Wooster, and, obviously, Oberlin, Bard, Lawrence and Ithaca have conservatories. Overall, it is really important to check to see if BA students, whether music majors or majoring in something else, have fewer opportunities in music because the BM students take precedence with lessons and performance groups.

Other liberal arts colleges have music departments (as opposed to music schools) and from what you have posted so far, it would seem like these would be the best route for your daughter. But many of them won’t have a performance BA. They sometimes have an academic/general music major with theory, composition, ethnomusicology (Wesleyan is strong in this, aka world music), technology and often some performance component for credit such as lessons, orchestra and so on, but sometimes those components are extracurricular. You really have to peruse websites carefully, and ask questions.

There are schools like the Colleges that Change Lives schools that offer great experiences overall. Vassar and Skidmore are good choices. Marlboro, Hampshire and Bennington are more alternative but given how you describe your daughter, she might like them. Barnard? Sarah Lawrence?

Percussion is a little different and will take careful research.