Orchestra’s at university ( non music degree)

[SunonmyFace]

Hi DD has asked about being able to join an orchestra when she goes to university. She won’t be studying music, but is a talented musician. Do uni’s have orchestras for non music students, is it a thing, and where is good?
She has indicated that this is something she would like to think about when she does look at uni’s

Thank you!

Some student accommodations have a special rehearsal room. Not sure how much it's used.

Lots of music groups for all abilities at many unis.

We went to an open day at Warwick and there is no music degree there but lots of active music groups. We spoke to a very enthusiastic young chap. Birmingham also made a good impression on us in that there were plenty of musical opportunities for non music degree students.

Definitely in both of those unis there were places for students who did not play at the highest level. DD ended up at Leicester and played in a non-audition wind band there which was perfect for her; there was also an audition-only orchestra.

hahah reading the thread I see others say the same as me about Warwick and Brum

@LesLavandes

Where do they practice ?

In a hall.

Birmingham University has lots of varied music societies - jazz, folk, orchestras.

DD is very active in the music society at Lancaster which doesn't have an academic music department but loads of opportunities to perform. It's been a fabulous experience for her and of course is a great way to meet like minded people and form friendships.

If she's keen, it's worth asking about instrument practice when looking at university accommodation. Some allow you to practice in your room, some require use of a practice room which could be a bit of a pain if it's hard to get a slot. My eldest practices sax in their bedroom, in a hall of residence which is thankfully well soundproofed. Lots of people practice instruments and it doesn't seem to be an issue. But one of their friends, who is actually studying music, had a much less good experience last year in a badly soundproofed flat with a neighbour who liked silence!

One thing we also spotted while looking around is some unis have fantastic performing arts/music centres without actually offering a music degree. So you get all the facilities, without having to compete with the music students .

Agreeing with everyone else here. DS1 was at a uni without a music department and spent every evening at a different group, got involved with the committee and was President for a year (still playing with one group as a PhD student. DS2 has just gone to uni and had been attending conservatoire JD. He only shortlisted unis with playing opportunities. He didn't get into every thing he auditioned for, again is playing every night and we went to some amazing concerts. The music dept/non-music dept have some different advantages. DS1 would say he and his friends really enjoyed it being 'their' society and able to run as they wished.

Many moons ago i went to Manchester university and wanted to join their orchestra and was virtually laughed at by some of thw orchestras members (who i shared halls with) because whilst i had studied for my grade 8 at 15 and having played in regional orchestras, they said i wouldnt get in due to all the people who were studying music or at RNCM. I never went for the audition because i thought they would laugh at me because of this, hope your child doesnt have this experience OP

It will depend on what instrument - flute/clarinet pretty much no chance as all the spaces will be taken by the music students, strings probably yes - but - I'd say grade 6 may be too low. Unless a shortage instrument I'd expect grade 8 and above. All depends on the uni and the orchestra though.
Depressingly, some of the smaller universities which offer music don't even have an orchestra

@Oviraptor21 i was strings

I managed to find places to play my Grade 5 flute at Cambridge. I was rubbish compared to all the Grade 8 virtuosos around the university and I had huge imposter syndrome and struggled a bit but managed to play Holst's The Planets in a university wide orchestra and my college set up an orchestra, conducted by one of the music students, which had a no audition policy and was (meant to be) fun (although she was pretty scary!).

She's grade 6 in yr 10 so will be higher for uni.

My daughter would love to continue when she's older but is a flautist... hopefully there'd be some opportunity.

Ah brilliant crosspost with Jules - that's great! Very different to oviro. Must vary so much.

[quote CheshireSuburbs]@Oviraptor21 i was strings[/quote]
But a very prestigious university in terms of music and if it was joint with RNCM as well that would have made it a very high standard. Still as strings with a grade 8 at 15 I would have expected you to have a good chance so I'm sorry you were put off auditioning.

I think it depends on the people around to an extent. Obviously an orchestra is harder to set up with a few mates than a string quartet (!) but there are bound to be others in a similar boat who want to play but aren't at top level. I think Cambridge was quite good for recognising that not everyone could be brilliant at everything and creating opportunities for participation. This was 20 years ago but hopefully still the same.

Slightly different question are there practice rooms for pianos. I had no need for them when I went to uni so I haven't a clue. Again not studying music but will hopefully be grade 8 at that stage.

www.uobmusicsociety.org.uk/

There is a huge amount and variety of extra curricular music at Birmingham University. Opportunities for anyone interested - certainly not just Music undergraduates.

@Oviraptor21 thanks, was a shame as i tried one of the other hall based orchestras but the standard was pretty low so i didnt bother.
I dont know why i let that comment get to me, another orchestra i was in, everyone around me was studying music including at Oxford and Chets.

Once i left uni i did find a couple of decent non professional orchestras to join.

My daughter was not doing a music degree but has grade 8 so auditioned for her uni orchestra. She didn't get in and felt that they definitely chose music students over those doing other degrees.
Maybe that was just her uni.

My ds is at Southampton studying Aeronautics and Astronautics, and he plays in the university symphony orchestra (percussion). There are definitely many players in the orchestra who aren't doing a music degree.

A really good question to ask at open days etc is not just "is there an orchestra" but "are there lots of ensembles/opportunities to play music at different levels?" Because some universities do have more of a society culture and/or more of a classical musical culture than others.

@Cattitudes

Slightly different question are there practice rooms for pianos. I had no need for them when I went to uni so I haven't a clue. Again not studying music but will hopefully be grade 8 at that stage.

That will differ between institutions. I would assume that anywhere that offers music will definitely have practice rooms, but they may be less common elsewhere. If practice rooms are in short supply, priority will probably be given to music students.

It will be worth checking websites of individual institutions for info on this sort of thing.

My DD needed grade 8 merit plus two references for her choral scholarship. The non-auditioned choir and chamber choir would not have needed that standard/opportunity. Similarly music groups.

Her university (non-academic music) has music practice rooms, each with an upright piano, as well as a concert hall with fancy organ and grand piano.

She has her singing lessons in the church that co-sponsors her scholarship.

@RaraRachael

My daughter was not doing a music degree but has grade 8 so auditioned for her uni orchestra. She didn't get in and felt that they definitely chose music students over those doing other degrees. Maybe that was just her uni.

To be fair, I think they need to prioritise music students. Your DD should not feel bad.

There are also musical opportunities within the local community. For example, we have a very good Brass band, that recruits quite a few students from our local university (which does have an extremely prestigious music department).

Local churches are very happy to have students join the band (whichever instrument) or choir/organ. This includes working the sound deck.