S24 was just accepted at Oberlin (arts and sciences; he didn’t pass the prescreen for the Con). I think it could be a good fit for him, depending on how music works for non-conservatory students. He would want to do the musical studies major (and something else)…the website talks a good game about how the major is designed to be a partnership between the con and the college for serious musicians. But it’s very light on details. Does anyone have personal experience with the musical studies major? Who would he take lessons with? What’s access to ensembles like? And related question: do people audition into the con from A&S very often? Making this tricker this year is the fact that the current horn teacher is leaving at the end of this year, so it’s hard to even know the best person to reach out to with questions.
I am probably late. My son is a dual degree student at Oberlin so I am probably not the best person to answer this question except that I know there is a big music scene for students who are not in the conservatory. They have their own orchestras, small ensembles, etc…
I asked my kid, who told me con students teach non-con students. He also thinks there is a separate faculty who comes in and gives lessons, as well.
Some rare kids do study with a con professor, though. I know of one who started as a dual degree student who loves playing his instrument, but he didn’t enjoy the rest of the con program. He is now in the college, still studying with his original instrument’s professor.
Oberlin is a great choice for a kid who is not on a conservatory level of playing but loves music. I log onto the performance calendar every so often, and sometimes I watch the non-conservatory kids perform. Since the semester has ended, this is not advice to you but to others who are reading this: Oberlin livestreams concerts.
Thanks for posting the info–hopefully future prospective musical studies kids will find it! S ended up e-mailing a faculty member who told him pretty much what you said: lessons are with 4th year con students, and most ensembles that are open to non-con students are separate from the conservatory ensembles. It was not a good fit for my son, but seems like a great option for some people. S ended up deciding on a non-conservatory LAC with strong music offerings (Amherst).
I would have thought that what @Chucklesbythebay describes is more typical of a student who is not in the Musical Studies program. The point of the Musical Studies program, I thought, was to give access to students not in the Conservatory because they wanted to study other things as well, but still function at a high level musically.
If anyone wants to know the experiences of a Musical Studies student, I would wait for info from students who are actually in the program, or their parents.
@kokotg did yoyr son speak with a faculty member who works with Musical Studies students? I am surprised that 4th years, not faculty, are teaching Musical Studies students and that ensembles are separate. Can you please clarify for certain?
Oberlin has the reputation of having a “low wall” between Conservatory and college so it might be possible to audition into the Con. I would ask.
We loved Oberlin. Students are so supportive of each other and the town is lovely.
S24 was told directly by the chair of the Musical Studies program that most Musical Studies majors are placed with 4th year Conservatory students for lessons but that “occasionally” they’re placed with a faculty member, based on audition and studio space. That was the major dealbreaker for him. I just had him forward the e-mail to me and reread it. The ensembles part was a little vaguer. She listed out several ensembles that do and don’t need auditions, and specifically mentioned a few that are for arts and sciences students in particular. She didn’t mention the possibility of playing in the larger conservatory ensembles, but Oberlin’s website does say those are open to non-conservatory students by audition. I imagine it depends on available space as well as audition since, of course, priority would go to conservatory students.
Good to know. I thought that there would be a distinction between Musical Studies students and “non-Conservatory students.” Guess not.