A quick guide for prospective foreign students by the staff at IMS.

by Inside Music Schools

Studying Music in the United States

Inside Music Schools has helped many international music students seek acceptance at colleges and conservatories in the United States. We hear the same questions from many of them. You likely have the same questions if you are one of the many international musicians wanting to study in America. So, we thought we’d dedicate this post to answering some of the frequently asked questions we receive.

Which schools accept international students?

Just about every American college welcomes students from foreign countries. Many actively recruit them as a way of helping their school’s diversity to enrich the education of their students. In general, you can also expect to be accepted by your classmates. There are a few countries from which there are no students in the United States, like Cuba and North Korea, but this has more to do with political issues than college policy.

Contact Us Today!

What types of schools are there in the United States?

There are different types of institutions of higher education (beyond high school) in the United States. While the terms college and university are often used interchangeably in casual conversation, there is a difference. Basically speaking, a college is a small school for undergraduate study. Many colleges champion the liberal arts—academic disciplines like literature, history, languages, philosophy, mathematics, and general sciences. This is in contrast with such professional and technical disciplines as business and engineering.

Many liberal arts colleges treat music as an academic discipline rather than a professional one. That means you take fewer courses to train you to become a professional musician and more in humanities courses to help make sure you receive a well-rounded education. This type of degree is known as a Bachelor of Arts. As a musician at most liberal arts colleges, you would receive a bachelor of arts in music degree.

How is a university different?

In comparison to colleges, most universities are large institutions that teach both undergraduate and graduate students. They are typically made up of various schools and/or colleges, such as a school of medicine, a school of architecture, and a school of foreign languages. Most universities also have a school of music. While some of these offer a Bachelor of Arts in music, the emphasis is usually on the Bachelor of Music degree. It requires more study in music and less in the humanities and other general education disciplines. It is a professional degree.

What about conservatories?

Exterior photo of Julliard.

A conservatory stands as the third type of music school in the United States. It specializes in one or more of the fine arts—music, acting, dance, and the like. Conservatories in the United States developed to first foster classical music but have come to embrace jazz and other forms of music. Juilliard is a well-known conservatory in our country. Conservatories tend to be small, hundreds rather than thousands of students. However, Berklee College of Music in Boston is the world’s largest music school in the world and can be seen as a conservatory.

To keep things simple for the rest of this post, we’ll use the terms college and school to refer to all types of institutions of higher education. We’ll also use America to refer to just the United States even though the word includes other countries in this continent.

What is a for-profit school?

When we talk about colleges in this article, we are mainly referring to not-for-profit institutions. We tend to think of these as purer in intent since they focus on education more than their financial bottom line. Almost all are accredited by a regional agency that helps assure the quality of education you receive.

For-profit schools are just that, “for profit“. They include some well-known music institutions. Some offer quality education to their students while others are more questionable. Some are also accredited while others are not. If you are considering a for-profit college, look closely at its reputation.

How well do I need to know English?

The need to understand English is one of the first things we have to point out to international students who approach Inside Music Schools for help. Almost every college in the United States requires a certain proficiency in English. This makes sense as you will be studying in English. Most schools will expect you to have received a good score on a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam. You can find practice TOEFL exams online.

What does it cost to go to school in the United States?

The cost of going to school in the United States is the other thing we have to emphasize with international students. It is because it can cost a lot of money. The average tuition for a publicly supported, four-year university is around $20,000 if you are a non-resident of the state where the school is located. (All international students are considered non-residents.) The average cost to attend a private institution is closer to $40,000 a year no matter where you call home. A year’s tuition at a top conservatory is over $50,000, not including the cost of room and board.

Can I get scholarships?

Given the cost of going to school in the United States, international students are often interested in receiving scholarships. American colleges basically offer two types of financial assistance. The first helps need-based students and mainly go to American citizens of low income. Scholarships are talent-based and are awarded to highly skilled musicians, especially ones that are of interest to a particular school.

You should not necessarily expect to receive a scholarship from an American college to go to school as a music student from a foreign country. Sadly, if you cannot afford full tuition, you probably cannot afford to study here unless you can find some sort of scholarship in your home country to support students studying abroad. You can read more about music school scholarships here.

Are there other costs?

Tuition is just one of the expenses of going to school in America. You must also pay for room and board, textbooks, supplies, local transportation, and personal expenses. That’s in addition to flying to the city where a college is located and back home at the end of the school year. Together, these expenses can add up to almost as much as tuition itself. 

College students around the world find ways of living cheaply. So do students in the United States. Still, you must budget.

How about visas and work?

International students are required to enter the United States with a F-1 student visa. Once accepted, the college will send you an I-20 form which you will take to the U.S Embassy in your country in order to receive the visa. Be sure to consult the American Department of State for the most current information.

International students are not permitted to work in the United States while they are on a student visa.

Contact Us

Did you find this blog helpful? Do you picture yourself in a music career? If the answer to that is a “yes”, your next step is simple. Contact insidemusicschools.com and allow our team of industry insiders to guide you toward your goal of being a professional in the music industry. Through expert counseling and real world experience, we will make sure you are prepared for the journey

Founder & President at Inside Music Schools | Insidemusicschools.com Head of admissions and faculty member at Berklee College of Music for 40 years, Steve Lipman and our team at Inside Music Schools speak music as their primary language. We approach each client contact with open eyes, ears, and minds. As the country’s premier music school consultant, he has advised students from the United States, Canada, the U.K., India, Singapore, Dubai, China, Australia, Turkey, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Israel, Italy, Russia and elsewhere.

How can Inside Music Schools assist an international student?

At Inside Music Schools, we help college-bound music students move decisively toward their future.

Visit Insidemusicschools.com and contact our staff. You can click this link to contact our staff directly and allow us to guide you during this process.

In recent years, the portability and cost-effectiveness of Desktop Audio Production have allowed musicians to have recording setups at home. However, there are some things you’d want to know before setting up the best home recording studio possible. 

A basic setup will consist of; a computer with a software application for recording, an external hard drive, audio interface, keyboard controller, speakers (or headphones), and at least one microphone. 

Diagram Description automatically generated

Before we talk about the equipment, let’s start by reviewing the common types of audio and computer connections that you should be familiar with:

Audio Connectors

1) 1/4″ TS – used for instruments such as guitar, bass, and keyboards. 

2) 1/4″ TRS – used for connecting headphones to your audio interface output for monitoring.

3) RCA – used for consumer audio components such as home stereo systems

4) XLR – used for connecting microphones to your audio interface or mixer. 

5) A “Combi” connector can accept either an XLR connector for mics or a 1/4″ connector for line-level instruments such as guitars and keyboards. Commonly used for inputs on smaller audio interfaces.  

For more info and pics of the various audio connectors, checkout;

The Ultimate Guide to Audio Connector & Cables

Computer & Software

Whether you are using a Mac or a PC, the computer will serve as your recording device and the heart of the entire system. You’ll need to use a software application for recording, editing, and mixing. We refer to this type of application as a Digital Audio Workstation or “DAW” for short. 

Audacity is a free application that offers all the features needed to record, edit and mix audio. It also includes signal processors such as EQ, compression, and reverb. 

Many other applications offer additional features such as MIDI sequencing that you can use once you’ve gotten familiar with the basic techniques. DAW Software Buying Guide

Audio Interface

There are two main things that an audio interface does; 1) Audio Conversion 2) Level Control 

An audio interface converts the incoming analog signals from a microphone or line-level instrument to binary code (1’s and 0’s). It sends that information to your computer through a USB cable connected to your computer. When you playback the digital audio, the same process happens in reverse. The computer sends the digital information to the audio interface and converts it back to electrical energy you hear with headphones or through the main outputs sent to powered monitors. Many interfaces have built-in preamps that allow for independent gain control of each channel used for recording. They also have independent control of headphone level, and the output sent to the monitors. 

There are multiple reasons why an audio interface is needed;

– The built-in audio input/output of your computer does not adequately handle the levels needed for recording. 

–  It is not able to record multiple inputs at once.          

– The ⅛” jacks are not compatible with standard microphone connections

– And the computer input is not able to supply the 48v phantom power needed for condenser mics. 

System Requirements 

Before purchasing a device, you will want to check the system requirements listed for the product to make sure it is compatible with your computer. It is essential for older model computers that may not possess the minimal requirements to work properly with the device. 

You will want to know the current operating system, processing speed, and amount of RAM of your computer. RAM is the amount of “Active” memory that your computer has available to run the applications used. 

You can find this information on a Mac by going to the “Apple Menu” in the top left corner of the screen and selecting “About this Mac.” It will bring up the Overview window, revealing the current OS, processing speed, and available RAM. Clicking on “System Report” will give additional information about the computer in greater detail. (Apple Menu > About > System Report)

You can find the computer info on a PC by clicking the “Windows Start Button” in the bottom left corner and selecting the “Settings” icon. Then select “System,” scroll down the left column to the bottom and click “About.” Here, you will see the current Operating System, Processor speed, and amount of RAM the computer has. 

Connecting the Audio Interface

You can connect most current audio interfaces via USB and without an additional power source. You should plug the interface directly into the computer. Plugging the interface into a USB hub attached to the computer can cause issues with supplying the proper power required from the USB bus to the interface. Interfaces that require external power will come with an AC cable.

Microphones and instrument cables plug into the inputs on the front. You can monitor outputs through headphones plugged into the 1/4″ stereo output or separate left and right line outputs that feed a pair of powered monitors. 

Some interfaces require a software download to allow for functionality with the computer. Check the user manual or website to see if a download is required. Make sure to restart your computer after any software updates are complete.

Keyboard Controller

If you are programming drums and other MIDI instruments, you will want some kind of keyboard controller to trigger notes using the sounds in the DAW. The controller plugs directly into a USB port on your computer. There are many types of controllers. Here is a list of current top-rated models: 10 Best Midi Keyboard Controllers in 2021

Akai Professional MPK Mini Play 25-key Portable Keyboard and MIDI Controller

Microphones

Dynamic mics are frequently used for vocals in a live setting, but the best mics to use in the studio for acoustic instruments are condenser mics. They have better sensitivity but require “phantom power,” a 48v power source supplied through the mic cable by the interface or mixer. There are many affordable mics to choose from, like the Behringer C-1 large-diaphragm condenser mic or a pair of Behringer C-2 Matched pair small diaphragm microphones. 

Some microphones have switches that change how the microphone picks up the sound. The Behringer C-3 Dual-diaphragm Condenser Microphone has switches to attenuate the input signal by -10dB, low-cut, and select between three different polar patterns to change the directional sensitivity of the mic. I typically use large-diaphragm mics for vocals and the smaller diaphragm mics for acoustic instruments and as overhead mics on a drum kit.

You’ll also need a few XLR cables to plug the microphones into your audio interface. They come in a variety of sizes depending on your needs. You will also need microphone stands to position the mics around the sound source.

Monitoring with Speakers

Speakers in studios are referred to as “Monitors” and come in two types – active and passive. Most home stereo systems use passive speakers. In these systems, the amplifier is in the stereo receiver itself, sending the powered signal to a wooden box equipped with speaker drivers to emit the sound. 

The best speakers for home studio use are active monitors. These units have the amp system built into the box and are matched for proper output gain and frequency response. “Near-field” monitors are meant to be listened to from about 3 feet away. They are usually compact and are easy to connect – a single active speaker needs only a power cable and an input cable from the mixer or audio interface. They tend to be more precise and accurate as compared to the passive speakers.

There are many options for near-field monitors. Some of the more affordable models to consider are the PreSonus Eris E3.5 and the M-Audio AV32. These models only require AC power to the left monitor, which contains a two-channel power amp. The main outs from the interface are fed to the inputs of the left monitor, which feeds powered signal to the right monitor using traditional speaker wire via the +/- terminal connections. 

The PreSonus Eris E3.5

Monitoring with Headphones

Although monitors are helpful, they are not always necessary since you have monitoring capabilities from the interface’s headphone jack. Even if you have speakers, you will need to use headphones while recording since you don’t want the microphones picking up the sound coming from the speakers. 

There are two different types of headphones that I currently use: the Sennheiser HD280 closed-back headphones are good during recording since they are tight to the ear. They don’t let the sound bleed into the microphones while recording. 

When I’m editing and mixing with headphones on the laptop, I prefer the AKG K240 semi-open back headphones. They aren’t as tight to the ears and are more comfortable when worn for long periods. 

Hard Drives

The hard drive is an essential piece of hardware responsible for storing all the files in your computer and capturing what is recorded in real-time. The internal hard drive in your computer is always busy reading and writing information while it is used. 

Although the internal drive can handle basic recording tasks, you should use an external drive to record and store project files. Using an external drive takes some of the burden off your computer with real-time tasks and keeps things working smoothly. 

There are two basic uses to consider when purchasing a hard drive; storage backup and active use. 

There is a difference between a drive used for backups and one for audio and video projects. The main difference is the speed at which the drive can spin. 

For recording, you will want a drive that runs at 7200 rpm or a solid-state drive. 

Drives that spin at 5400 rpm or slower are not suitable for audio recording but can be used for backup storage or archiving projects. 

Consider this article that profiles some of the best External Hard drives in your search for more storage as well.

PRODUCT RESOURCES

Microphones

Behringer C-1 Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone ($60)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/C1m–behringer-c-1-large-diaphragm-condenser-microphone

Behringer C-1 Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone ($60)

Behringer C-2 Matched Studio Condenser Microphones ($70/pair)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/C2m–behringer-c-2-matched-studio-condenser-microphones-pair

Behringer C-3 Dual-diaphragm Condenser Microphone ($78)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/C3m–behringer-c-3-dual-diaphragm-condenser-microphone

Audio-Technica AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Microphone ($99)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AT2020–audio-technica-at2020-cardioid-condenser-microphone

AKG P420 Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone ($149)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/P420–akg-p420-large-diaphragm-condenser-microphone

Rode M5 Matched Pair Compact Condenser Microphones ($199)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/M5MP–rode-m5-matched-pair-compact-condenser-microphones

Shure SM81 Small-diaphragm Condenser Microphone

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SM81–shure-sm81-small-diaphragm-condenser-microphone

Audio-Technica AT4050 Condenser Microphone ($700)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AT4050–audio-technica-at4050-large-diaphragm-condenser-microphone

Microphone Stands

https://www.sweetwater.com/c396–Microphone_Stands

On-Stage Stands MS7701B Euro Boom Microphone Stand – Black

Microphone Cables

https://www.sweetwater.com/c1033–Microphone_Cables

Headphones

Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Closed-back Headphones ($100)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HD280Pro–sennheiser-hd-280-pro-closed-back-studio-and-live-monitoring-headphones

AKG K240 Studio Semi-open Pro Studio Headphones ($70)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/K240S–akg-k240-studio-semi-open-pro-studio-headphones

Powered Monitors

PreSonus Eris E3.5 3.5″ Powered Studio Monitors ($100/pair)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ErisE3.5–presonus-eris-e3.5-3.5-inch-powered-studio-monitors

M-Audio AV32 3″ Powered Studio Monitors ($100/pair)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AV32–m-audio-av32-3-inch-powered-studio-monitors

Yamaha HS5 5″ Powered Studio Monitor ($199 each)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HS5–yamaha-hs5-5-inch-powered-studio-monitor

Yamaha HS7 6.5″ Powered Studio Monitor ($320 each)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HS7–yamaha-hs7-6.5-inch-powered-studio-monitor-black

Audio Interfaces

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface ($160)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scarlet2i2G3–focusrite-scarlett-2i2-3rd-gen-usb-audio-interface

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface ($160)

PreSonus AudioBox iTwo USB Audio Interface ($160)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AudioBoxiTwo–presonus-audiobox-itwo-usb-audio-interface

Steinberg UR22mkII USB Audio Interface ($165)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UR22MKII–steinberg-ur22mkii-usb-audio-interface

Solid State Logic SSL2 USB Audio Interface ($230)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SSL2–solid-state-logic-ssl2-usb-audio-interface

Hard Drives

Storage – Backup: Seagate Expansion 2TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive ($56)

https://www.staples.com/Seagate-STEA2000400-2TB-USB-3-0-Expansion-Portable-External-Hard-Drive-Black/product_1599230

Great for Recording; Glyph Blackbox Plus 1TB Rugged Portable Solid-State Drive ($200) 

Great for recording. USB powered (does not required AC power source)

Great for Recording; Glyph Blackbox Plus 1TB Rugged Portable Solid-State Drive ($200) 

by Steven Lipman

Will you get accepted at a top music college, conservatory, or university music program? It can depend on a lot of factors, including the school’s acceptance rate. 

Factors Influencing Acceptance Rates

An institution’s acceptance rate reflects the percentage of students who get accepted into it out of all who apply. When an acceptance rate is higher, a school is easier to get into. Conversely, when a school’s rate is low, it’s harder to gain admittance. 

Many factors can drive down an institution’s acceptance rate, and the circumstances are different for each school. 

Music college with high acceptance rate

Further, the “acceptance rate” you find for a school is an average of the rates for all students. Admissions departments might accept students more or less frequently for specific instruments, musical genres, and particular majors. 

Here is one common reason the admission rate for a particular instrument or major might differ from a school’s overall standard. It can help fill out ensembles. For example, if a school is lacking in trombonist, it might accept more players of that instrument, and thus a higher accept rate for trombonists.

Still, knowing the general acceptance rate at a college of choice serves as a great first step in determining the right school for you. That’s why we at Inside Music Schools put together this multi-tiered list of the acceptance rates of many top schools around the country. 

I’ve divided this list into two categories. You’ll find conservatories and music colleges under one and universities with truly stellar music departments under the other. 

Is there a particular school on the list that interests you? Perhaps you’d like to know whether your chosen instrument tends to have a different acceptance rate. Let’s get on the phone and talk about your music school goals!  Call us at 617-823-5442 or contact us today.

ACCEPTANCE RATES OF TRADITIONAL CONSERVATORIES AND MUSIC COLLEGES

ACCEPTANCE RATES OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WITH GREAT MUSIC DEPARTMENTS

Music Schools with Under 50% Acceptance Rate

Music Schools with Over 50% Acceptance Rate:

by David Lee Fish

How to Reduce Anxiety for Any Music Performance

Performance anxiety – or “stage fright” as it is more commonly known – can strike even the most accomplished musician.

It’s also something that impacts people from all walks of life. Public speaking engagements, just like music performances, can cause stage fright or performance anxiety.

Stage fright brings with it a range of symptoms that can be more than distressing and actually undermine your performance and even affect your wellbeing. Some even consider it like other anxiety disorders doctors will diagnose.

Your fear keeps you from performing at your best and can make walking on stage a big ordeal. It can even rob you of a standing ovation and be the deciding factor in how well you do during an important audition.

It’s crucial that you learn the tactics that will work best when overcoming performance anxiety. Fortunately, there is a surprisingly simple, proven approach for doing so.

Misunderstanding Performance Anxiety

Let’s begin with some good news.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with you if you become nervous when performing in front of others. The symptoms you experience – an increase in heart rate, a dry mouth, muscle tension, and more – are just a stress response created by your autonomic nervous system reacting to a perceived threat.

Your autonomic nervous system orders a rush of adrenaline that prepares your body for fight or flight. This is an essential response to a physical threat, but is counterproductive for performing artists who have to carry on with trembling hands and a quivering voice.

A perceived threat stands at the heart of performance anxiety. Sometimes it can be subtle. Other times the danger represented by a performance is clear and quite understandable, like before an audition for entrance into an important conservatory or school of music.

The stakes at such a moment are high, with the audition likely representing your only chance for entrance into that institution. Your hopes, ambitions, and all of your hard work rest on this single performance.

How to Calm Your Nerves Before a Performance

Whether stage fright is natural or understandable, you cannot afford to let it undermine you. If you’re like most of us, you’ve tried tackling your anxiety on your own in various ways.

Maybe you’ve tried to convince yourself that getting nervous doesn’t help. Maybe you’ve tried to follow the advice of some self-appointed expert. Maybe you’ve tried taking beta blockers. Maybe you’ve even tried imagining the audience in its underwear.

Whatever you’ve tried, it probably hasn’t helped much. You still get nervous, and there’s a reason – becoming anxious when you perform is as natural as becoming angry or sad.

In the same way you can never completely banish anger and sadness from your life, you cannot completely get rid of stage fright. In therapy, they refer to this as a dead man’s goal because it’s something only a dead man can achieve – don’t waste your time trying to pursue it.

While you may not be able to banish your stage fright, you can find your way beyond it. How?

Accept rather than fight it. As crazy as that may sound, acceptance represents the surefire way to escape the clutches of your fear. You can learn to do so through a process known as mindfulness.

Here’s the great part – mindfulness is not only effective but also quite easy to employ. Plus, you can start to enjoy its benefits almost immediately.

What exactly is mindfulness? It’s the process of concentrating your attention on what you’re doing while accepting any extraneous thoughts or feelings that get in your way.

This simple but powerful formula comes from ancient traditions like Zen Buddhism and tantric yoga, and is quickly gaining scientific validity in our own century. It has inspired a range of organizations including Fortune 500 companies – and even the United States military – to adopt mindfulness in a big way.

Employing Mindfulness

Imagine you’re throwing a party for your friends. Everyone is having a good time until your smelly, foul-mouthed neighbor decides to crash the event. Try as you may, you just can’t keep him out.

Worse, as you try to confront him you spend your concentration on him instead of enjoying your party. The answer to this dilemma is to let your neighbor in. When you stop fighting him, you’ll likely find out that he’s maybe not so bad, and you can go back to enjoying your party.

Imagine stage fright as the unwanted party guest in this story.

If your autonomic nervous system perceives some sort of threat in a performance, you are naturally going to become nervous. When you do, don’t try to resist your anxious thoughts or feelings – simply return your concentration to the performance each time it strays. It may be necessary to do so repeatedly when your performance anxiety is severe.

Achieving mindfulness is more than just thinking about it. Just like with meditation and yoga, employing tested breathing techniques are proven to calm your nerves almost without fail.

You breathe in through your nose, and collect the air in your stomach. Then, slowly let the air out of your mouth.

Before trying this mindful approach, some people can’t believe the simplicity of its recipe for finding your way beyond stage fright. “That’s all there is to it?” some people ask.

The answer is yes, and that’s the best part. You can try employing mindfulness even in your practice room or space – just imagine the audience is there, let yourself get nervous, then practice the tactics I’ve outlined above.

It’s like the old adage about the question of which is the best camera – it’s the one you have with you. The best method to beat performance anxiety is the one that is easiest to call upon when you need it the most.

Release

To be clear, mindful acceptance will not make your anxiety magically disappear.

However, you will experience release from it as its grip on you loosens and your nervousness fades into the background. The increase in concentration you experience also serves as a gateway to the state of flow closely associated with peak performance in music and many other endeavors.

Try this then the next time you find yourself getting nervous on stage. Just accept your anxious thoughts and feelings and return your concentration to your performance, repeatedly if necessary. As you do, you will discover the way beyond your performance anxiety to better achieve the artistic results you work so hard to achieve.