Selecting a Music School Archives - Page 6 of 10

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.

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?

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 insidemusic schools.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 a 1967 hit song, Roger McGuinn of the Byrds rock band sang:

So you want to be a rock ‘n’ roll star?
Then listen now to what I say.
Just get an electric guitar,
Then take some time,
And learn how to play.
And with your hair swung right,
And your pants too tight,
It’s gonna be all right.

The song was a satirical oversimplification even when it was written. Today, those wanting to pursue a career in popular music can take a more systematic approach with the help of colleges and universities with outstanding contemporary music programs.

Dr. David Lee Fish, a founding board member of the Association for Popular Music Education and director of Catawba College’s popular music program, points out an interesting statistic. While there are over 2,000 four-year colleges and universities in America, only about a dozen grant degrees in popular music studies. He adds that there are quite a few “pretenders” and suggests students keep two things in mind when assessing if a school has a true curriculum for contemporary music.

“The first thing to consider is the types of ensembles it offers,” says Fish. “The second is whether they offer songwriting. Many schools say they have a commercial music program, but their ensembles are primarily jazz bands. As for the second point, it’s hard to make the case for a pop music program if there are no songwriting classes. Songwriting is central to popular music.”

Below, we will look at five institutions with celebrated popular music studies programs that do meet these two criteria. At the end of the post, we follow it up with a list of notable programs at other institutions.

University of Southern California

The Thornton School of Music at USC has all-star faculty drawn from respected names in music. The overarching contemporary music program includes a range of areas for study in popular music, jazz, the music industry, music technology, musical theatre, popular music, screen scoring, and studio guitar. USC’s popular music department is within the Contemporary Music division. Founded by Christopher Sampson in 2009, it is chaired by composer, keyboardist, and four-time Grammy nominee Patrice Rushen.

USC’s popular music degree track embraces rock, R&B, pop, folk, Latin, and country styles. It emphasizes musical skills and the nuances of styles. Undergrads take classes in performance, songwriting and arranging, recording studio techniques, MIDI programming, music production, and entrepreneurship in addition to core courses in music theory, ear training, music history. Electives in contemporary music culture, film music, world music, and general education courses are also among degree requirements.

Located in Los Angeles, USC enjoys a roster of faculty who are veteran composers, performers, and producers with impressive credentials. Among them are guitarist Paul Jackson Jr., bassist Alphonso Johnson, drummer Will Kennedy, pop music violinist Ginny Luke, songwriter Andrea Stolpe, and multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Adriana Balic. The department strives to foster a creative and collaborative environment for students.

At the nexus of America’s music, movie, and TV industries, USC is near major concert venues, record industry headquarters, famous recording studios, and more. The proximity offers many extra-curricular learning experiences and employment opportunities. Admission to USC’s Thornton School of Music is competitive, with about a 20 percent acceptance rate. The popular music program has the reputation of being even more competitive. (For more information, visit https://music.usc.edu/departments/contemporary-music/.)

Belmont University

In 1979, Belmont University’s College of Music and Performing Arts became the first in the nation to offer a Bachelor of Music degree in commercial music. The course of study includes commercial music, music technology, and performance, but also embraces traditional offerings in classical, church music, music education, and more.

The program is built on a foundation of classical music, jazz, and blues to inform student studies of contemporary forms. Those majoring in commercial music can choose from five areas of emphasis: performance, songwriting, composition and arranging, music business, and music technology.

Belmont actually fields a second college dedicated to various aspects of popular music. The second is the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. Founded in 2003, it bears the name of a legendary performer, songwriter, producer, and record company executive. The Curb College offers courses in songwriting, audio engineering, media production, music business, journalism, publishing, and more. Look inside its buildings, and you will find top-notch studios and technology.

Like USC, Belmont is in a musical hotspot with proximity to Nashville’s iconic Music Row. Many Belmont faculty members have had notable careers in the industry, and networking opportunities abound for students. Belmont has a high acceptance rate of 84 percent and prides itself on being the largest ecumenical Christian university in America. (Visit https://www.belmont.edu/cmpa/music/undergrad/index.html for further information.)

Berklee College of Music

The world’s largest institution for music studies is the combined Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee. It ranks at or near the top of the list for best contemporary music colleges, with popular music being a key component in its expansive curriculum. Berklee grants undergraduate degrees in 12 majors and 30 principal instruments ranging from electric guitar, bass, and drums to orchestral instruments, banjo, electronic digital instruments, and more. For decades after its founding in 1945, Berklee was the only option for students to learn musical styles not taught at classical conservatories.

Berklee was the first school to offer studies in performance, composition and arranging for jazz musicians. Over the decades, it has burnished its outlier reputation by creating a very diverse curriculum. Berklee became the first institution in the nation to offer electric guitar as a principal instrument in 1962, a film scoring major in 1979, music synthesis studies in 1984, and songwriting in 1987. Further innovations included establishing an audio recording department (1977), music business major (1992), music therapy major (1996), hip-hop curriculum (1999), American roots music minor (2006), Africana musical studies (2006), video game scoring (2009), an institute for creative entrepreneurship (2014), and a popular music institute (2016).

In 2016, Berklee merged with Boston Conservatory (founded in 1867), expanding its curriculum to include musical theater and dance as well as operatic and symphonic orchestra instruction. As a result, Berklee became a musical melting pot with a vibrant atmosphere and teaching in many musical genres and styles. Numerous Berklee students have gone on to noteworthy careers as pop and jazz performers, film composers, record company executives, hit songwriters, recording engineers, producers, and more. To date, its alumni have won a total of 310 Grammys in addition to many other industry awards. Berklee has a high acceptance rate of 54 percent. (Visit https://www.berklee.edu.)

University of Miami

The Frost School of Music at the University of Miami (Florida) offers an array of highly respected studies among its eight departments. In addition to instrumental and voice performance studies (which embrace classical music, opera, jazz, and popular styles), other departments focus on music education and therapy, theory and composition, studio music and jazz, musicology, and music media and industry.

Frost’s Modern Artist Development and Entrepreneurship program (M.A.D.E.) is a comprehensive program for those seeking a BM in popular music and music business. The program’s approach allows students to tailor their studies for the career they envision. The school’s motto reflects this emphasis: “Build Yourself at Frost.” The M.A.D.E. program is designed for the business-minded musician; honing one’s musical craft is but one component needed for success in today’s music industry. The curriculum covers performance, writing, arranging and orchestration, musical directing, marketing and promotion, copyright and licensing, creating business plans, and more.

M.A.D.E. students who want to delve deeply into performing and songwriting can pursue a minor in the Bruce Hornsby Creative American Music program (C.A.M.), named for an iconic singer-songwriter and UM alumnus. C.A.M. is open to all Frost music majors by audition.

The overarching mission of the M.A.D.E. program, as articulated on its website, is to “provide the highest level of preparation for qualified performers and creatives to thrive in all aspects of the contemporary music industry.” The Frost School has a moderate acceptance rate of 40%. (Visit https://bulletin.miami.edu/undergraduate-academic-programs/music/music-media-industry/musicianship-artistry-development-entrepreneurship-bm/#textcontainer#text).

New York University

Like Belmont, the study of popular music takes place within two areas within New York University (NYU). The Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, with its Music and Performing Arts Professions Department, offers an expansive curriculum. Areas of emphasis include instrumental performance studies for orchestral players (brass, woodwind, strings, and percussion) as well as vocal and jazz studies. NYU’s popular music track leads to a BM in Music Theory and Composition with a concentration in Contemporary Production and Songwriting.

In addition to typical undergraduate music courses in aural comprehension, music history, music theory, and general keyboard skills, popular music majors study songwriting, music technology, music publishing, contemporary scoring, orchestration, and jazz arranging. Songwriters receive input from accomplished faculty members and songwriting professionals and collaborate with classmates as lyricists and composers. Liberal arts courses round out the degree.

For high school students wanting an advanced look at its songwriting studies, NYU offers an intensive, two-week songwriting seminar each summer. (Visit https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/programs/songwriting.)

T he Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music presents its own comprehensive program of study. It bears the name an NYU alumnus and distinguished music industry executive who signed such superstars as Billy Joel, Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, Bruce Springsteen, and others. The institute’s mission is to equip students with the business and creative skills to become industry leaders in the art and commerce of recorded music. Among its many offerings are studies in entrepreneurship, analysis of the contributions of various popular music artists and movements, and such current issues as music streaming. (See https://tisch.nyu.edu/special-programs/courses-for-non-majors/clive-davis-institute-of-recorded-music.)

With a campus located in one of the world’s great cities—another music industry hub—and proximity to many cultural happenings, NYU is an excellent destination for those serious about a range of music careers. Acceptance into NYU is competitive at 16%.

Prepare for Your Next Step

The electric guitar and distinctive hairdo recommended by the Byrds may still have their place in rock stardom, but much has changed since 1967. Developing a multifaceted talent and gaining practical knowledge about the music industry at a college or university multiplies the options and increases the odds for developing a lasting career somewhere in the music business.

Additional Colleges and Universities with Strong Pop (Commercial) Music Programs

Catawba College (Salisbury, NC)

University of the Arts (Philadelphia, PA)

Los Angeles College of Music

Middle Tennessee State University

Fullerton College (Fullerton, CA)

Columbia College Chicago

The City College of New York

Also, visit the Association for Popular Music Education website at www.popularmusiceducation.org.

About the Author

Mark Small, classical guitarist, composer, and music journalist, has spent the majority of his life in New England. He has composed classical, jazz, pop, and sacred music for chorus, wind ensemble, orchestra, piano, and guitar. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in classical guitar performance from New England Conservatory and California State University, Fullerton. He also studied guitar and composition at Berklee College of Music, and served for 26 years as editor of Berklee today magazine until his retirement in 2018.

An active music journalist, Mark has written for Guitar Player, DownBeat, Acoustic Guitar, Soundboard, Classical Guitar, and other music publications.

The effect movie, TV, and video game music has on viewers and gamers is powerful and has spiked an interest among musicians to learn the craft of writing to picture. Many composers work in all three mediums, which requires the ability to write for orchestral and electronic instruments, understanding the technology for pairing music and visuals, how to run a recording session, and the business aspects of this industry.

It’s a fairly technical field, so most college programs cover the same requisite skills for the job: foundational music theory and composition skills, history and techniques of film music, orchestration, conducting, and creating electronic scores using sequencers and sample libraries. Below, we will look at a three undergraduate and several graduate programs for those seeking a scoring career.

Berklee College of Music

https://college.berklee.edu/film-scoring

Many cite Berklee as having the nation’s top-rated undergraduate program which has been training media composers for decades. The college established a film scoring major in 1979, music synthesis major in 1984, and added video game scoring specialization within the Film Scoring curriculum in 2009. The Shames Family Scoring Stage is the largest recording studio at Berklee and ranks alongside the best studios in Hollywood, providing essential experiences for aspiring composers. With more than 6,000 students at the Boston campus, the instrumentalists and singers needed for even the most adventurous student scores are readily accessible.

The final project for Berklee students involves creating a finished media production that begins with creating a temp score for existing video and ends with a final soundtrack production plus additional steps that include recording and mixing scores and musical stems. Also addressed are the business, legal, and marketing aspects of a scoring career.

Berklee’s Valencia, Spain campus offers an intensive, one-year master’s degree program in scoring for film, TV, and video games, making a deeper dive into all facets of the field. The final project has students composing and conducting their orchestral score to picture at a top recording studio with professional players. Past projects have found the grad students leading sessions at London’s Abbey Road and Air Lyndhurst studios for their culminating experience, which becomes a major component of their portfolio. (Visit https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-today/fall-2015/abbey-road to read about a student group’s experience at Abbey Road Studios.)

New York University, Steinhardt School

https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/programs/screen-scoring

Located in Manhattan, Steinhardt offers a B.M. degree in Music Theory and Composition: Screen Scoring. Foundational training includes core music skills and historical survey courses in Western music, film music, and world music traditions. Further instruction includes four courses in orchestration and private composition lessons every semester. Students learn DAW technology and software programs as well as recording and mixing principles. Steinhardt’s undergrad students also take 20 credits of electives in composition, songwriting, and scoring and in other areas of their choice. NYU students also collaborate with young filmmakers among the university’s Cinema Studies students. The networking opportunities and internship possibilities in general around New York City are plentiful and enhance the student experience.

Steinhardt also offersr an M.M. degree in screen scoring. The program provides intensive training from faculty members and visiting artists as well as opportunities to work with celebrated professionals. Students collaborate on multiple scoring projects, and will graduate with a network of contacts and a portfolio containing many varied recordings that showcase their abilities.

University of Miami, Frost School of Music

https://mediawriting.frost.miami.edu/degrees/bm-in-media-scoring-and-production/index.html

Frost offers a B.M. in Media Scoring and Production with stated goals that include cultivating a highly competitive skill set in media scoring production techniques, an understanding of the music industry, and the ability to craft and execute a sound business plan. Frost graduates leave with a polished portfolio and electronic press kit showcasing their personal brand identity.

Frost also offers a two-year, M.M. program Media Scoring and Production with further emphasis on orchestral and electronic scoring, and more. The program is structured to be flexible enough for students to tailor their experience to their areas of interest and learn to adapt their skills to the future technological developments in the industry. Students also learn to create and execute a sound business plan and develop a portfolio that highlights their brand identity. The Frost media scoring program has been named by the Hollywood Reporter in their annual “Top 25 Music Schools for Film and TV” article for the past five years.

University of Southern California (USC)

https://www.uscscoring.com/

The nation’s premier graduate-level scoring program is the intensive, one-year M.M degree track in Screen Scoring offered at USC’s Thornton School of Music. Occupying the catbird seat in Los Angeles, USC affords its students a vantage point for observing the entertainment industry close up. Students hear from its chief composers, recording engineers, music supervisors, and movie directors and producers, and other professionals who visit weekly for the Industry Forum and Composition Forum Lab.

The curriculum includes spotting for cinema, scoring for orchestra, and specialized explorations of scoring for motion pictures, TV, and games, conducting, film music history, recording, mixing, and editing for the screen, advanced scoring technology, and entrepreneurialism for composers.

Students write music for 10 scoring sessions booked at such iconic facilities as Capitol Studios, Warner Bros., and the Clint Eastwood Scoring Stage with first-call studio L.A. musicians in ensembles ranging from five to 65 players. Each student also composes for five film productions created by graduate students in USC’s School fo Cinematic Arts and recorded on campus at the John Williams Scoring Stage with Thornton School musicians.

University of Rochester, Eastman School of Music

https://www.esm.rochester.edu/

Eastman offers a Master of Music in Contemporary Media/Film Composition, and accepted students begin by taking placement tests in music history, jazz or traditional theory, and piano skills. The curriculum includes courses in film and video game scoring, history and analysis of film music, conducting, contemporary styles composition, digital programming, arranging for the recording studio, participation in ensembles, and a media composition forum.

Eastman’s Beal Institute for Film Music and Contemporary Media provides instruction and practical experience with visiting artists and opportunities to collaborate on cross-disciplinary and multi-media projects with students and faculty members from other departments. Institute students compose for recording sessions and live performances with Eastman instrumentalists, including conducting their scores live-to-picture.

Indiana University Bloomington, Jacobs School of Music

https://music.indiana.edu/admissions/auditions/music-scoring.html

The graduate degree program in Music Scoring for Visual Media Program at Jacobs, requires a bachelor’s degree in composition or a demonstrated equivalent before students can begin to explore the staples of a scoring education: orchestration and synth orchestration, tailoring music to dramatic storylines, as well as facets of music licensing. A plus for this program is that it facilitates collaborations across majors with filmmakers and video game designers from the Media Arts & Sciences studies area. Additionally, the Jon Vickers Scoring Award (named for Jon Vickers, director of IU Cinema) pairs a winning student composer of a score for a silent film with student musicians, audio engineering and production students, and IU Cinema technicians and projectionists for a live-to-picture event.

The Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program

https://www.pnwfilmmusic.com/master-of-music-in-film-composition

Seattle, Washington’s Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program has partnered with the Seattle Film Institute to offer a 40-week, low-residency M.M. degree in film composition. Like the Frost School, Pacific has been named among the top schools for scoring studies by the Hollywood Reporter. Areas of emphasis include instruction in software programs used in the industry, studio technology, mixing, creating music and sound design for games, plus business and contracts. Students write and conduct music for live recording sessions with professional musicians in state-of-the-art studios, and collaborate with student directors from around the world. By the end of the one-year program, graduates assemble a stylistically-rounded, demo reel, as well as invaluable connections from which to launch a career.

Columbia College Chicago

https://www.colum.edu/academics/programs/music-composition-for-the-screen-mfa

Columbia offers a two-year graduate program leading to an M.F.A. in composition for film, TV, video games, and augmented and virtual reality. The coursework includes techniques for dramatic scoring for live musicians and programming for digital instruments based on the industry standards for media music production. Through courses on the unique processes of film, TV, and interactive media, students learn to adapt their music to various contexts. For the program’s capstone project, students spend five weeks in Los Angeles for an internship with a composer of their choice based on their interests and aspirations. The end result is a student-led recording session for the thesis project with a full orchestra in a professional studio.

Important Considerations

Giving advice for future grad students, Dan Carlin, chair of the screen scoring program at USC, cites the choice USC made to create an intensive, one-year program requiring 18 credits per semester. “The high cost of tuition will deter some students from choosing a two-year program,” he says. “We want to attract the top students and cost can be a factor.”

Carlin also mentions the advantages of studying in New York or Los Angeles because of the entertainment industry presence in those cities. Both NYU and USC give students access to top figures employed in the industry.

“When our students record their projects with L.A. studio musicians, we build time into the schedule so they can get feedback from people who make their living playing this music,” Carlin says. “They tell students how to improve their conducting, copy work, voicings, or whatever. You can’t get that from student musicians. Additionally, we’ve had our graduates get jobs because these musicians have recommended them to filmmakers they know. This is a word-of-mouth industry, so this is a very important factor.”

About the Author

An active music journalist, Mark has written for Guitar Player, DownBeat, Acoustic Guitar, Soundboard, Classical Guitar, and other music publications.

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM: KAREN KERR, STEVE LIPMAN & MARK SMALL

As a young music student, you may be seriously debating which schools to apply to during the college search process. It can be confusing to determine how much the reputation of a school matters and even which type of school is best for you. You’ve likely come across two major types of music schools: conservatories and schools of music that are part of a larger university. Do you ever wonder what the differences or similarities are between the two? How do you know which one might be right for you? And does it really make a difference?

University of Michigan and Boston Conservatory of Music

Understanding Music Institute Options

Among the primary considerations for those seeking to earn a music degree is determining the type and size of the school that will enable you to meet your goals. Depending on the major and genre of music you want to pursue, you’ll likely be choosing between a music conservatory, a small liberal arts college, or a large university. The academic opportunities and student experience are different at each type of music institution.

Today, music schools of all descriptions offer a broader range of majors and minors than in past decades. Even a classical conservatory like Juilliard now has a jazz program. Oberlin, another top music conservatory with classical and jazz bona fides, also offers courses in the recording arts and production. Small liberal arts colleges may serve up a mix of traditional classical, jazz, and popular studies as well as a concentration in music business. A large university offers a big academic tent in which the university’s school of music may have all of the above while residing alongside separate schools of business, engineering, law, medicine, and so forth.

What’s the Best Fit?

If you are wondering: “Should I study music at a university?”, the resources at large institutions—for example, the University of Southern California or New York University—are vast. The music schools within both offer degrees in performance, composition, music technology, screen scoring, music business, music education, and much more. Being located in Los Angeles, America’s entertainment capital, USC’s faculty members and visiting artists are among the most celebrated professionals in every quarter of the industry. NYU’s faculty is equally extraordinary, and the university is also located in an industry hotspot.

USC has more than 46,000 students and NYU, 58,000. At a university with a population approaching that of a mid-sized American town, living among a large cohort offers social interactions with those from other backgrounds, academic disciplines, and cultures. Additionally, USC, like the University of Michigan, is a division one school with top-notch athletic programs. This is a plus for those who want to play or those for whom attending huge sporting events or playing in a marching band is a desired part of the college experience.

Brian Head is associate dean for academic affairs at the Thornton School of Music at USC. “Here, undergraduates are immersed in a full college experience with courses that are very rich outside of your major,” he says. “You will be exposed to really smart, dynamic people in other fields among the students and faculty members. You get to see the world not only through the eyes of your music friends but your engineering and English major friends too. There are many opportunities to get involved in the academic life outside of music and there are lots of different clubs and activities.” One popular activity Head describes are the hackathons where students from all disciplines—including music—spend an entire weekend together coding and creating apps. “USC is also in a big city rather than tucked away in a remote place,” Head continues. “That’s great for students who want the opportunities a big city offers. We really lean into Los Angeles and our students can get rush tickets for the opera or shows and our campus is only 20 minutes away from the music clubs on Sunset Boulevard.”

Liberal Arts Option

For those who are more comfortable with a smaller student body and a campus with more of a small-town feeling, there are many liberal arts colleges with excellent programs and professors. Catawba College in Salisbury, NC, is a case in point. Dr. David Lee Fish is the founder and director of Catawba’s popular music program and formerly chaired the music department. “What we provide has been described as a boutique experience,” says Fish. “One illustration of that was a recent guest artist visit by a famous rock musician. He worked with only nine guitarists here. Our students got more of an intimate experience than they would have gotten at a big school. He said he had just come from a visit to a large music school where there were 1,200 guitarists.”

Catawba has a total student population of 1,300, 75 of whom are music majors. “Our department is a small community and the students look after one another,” says Fish. “It’s like an extended family. At a small institution like this, the students also get to know the faculty members well because they will take several courses from them. Another distinguishing factor of a liberal arts school is that you will earn a bachelor of arts degree. That means fewer hours in your major and more in general education courses. The liberal arts ethos is that we strive to educate the entire person. We’re not just training a musician, so our students have to take non-music classes seriously. I’m teaching songwriters and I want them to be able to write about more than love. At a school like this, they will be studying history, philosophy, the environment, and more.“

Many who choose a liberal arts college declare their major after arriving or may change majors altogether. “At Catawba, you can also blend studies,” says Fish. “We have business majors who take a minor in music business and study in our department. An important stat for Catawba is that over 90 percent of our music students stay to graduate from us.”

The Conservatory Experience

This author’s undergraduate music education took place at both Berklee College of Music and New England Conservatory of Music. Both institutions are today considered top music conservatories. In the 1970s when I entered Berklee, there were only three majors: music education, performance, and composition and arranging, and the student population was about 1,000. Berklee’s student body has now grown to nearly 7,000 on all of its campuses and the number of majors has multiplied considerably.

I entered as an electric guitar performance major interested in popular music. At the time, Berklee was the only music institution where that instrument could be your principal instrument. Many schools have since followed suit. Berklee’s core curriculum was jazz-oriented then, but readily applicable to many musical styles. I learned much about playing and writing music, and formed relationships with classmates who went on to distinguished performing, recording, and composing careers. Such interpersonal connections are a celebrated part of the Berklee experience. I found, however, that as I grew musically I wanted to dive deeper into classical music. I transferred to New England Conservatory of Music and completed my bachelor of music degree in classical guitar performance.

At NEC, I was exposed to the rich history and traditions of classical music and met entirely different types of students and faculty members among a very small and tight community of focused musicians. NEC taught music theory with a different approach from Berklee’s, rounding out my musical persona.

Today, a student who changes directions wouldn’t need to transfer to another institution since Berklee merged with Boston Conservatory several years ago. Now students enrolled at Berklee can have a traditional conservatory experience studying classical performance, composition, conducting, dance, and musical theater, and also take courses in songwriting, music business, music production and engineering, music therapy, jazz composition, film and video game scoring, music technology, and much more.

Best Music Conservatories and Universities in the U.S.

Some well-known conservatories include The Juilliard School, New England Conservatory of Music, and Berklee College of Music. Well-known music programs that are part of universities include University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.

In this blog, we’ll help clear the confusion by outlining the differences and similarities between conservatories and university music schools. Considering a liberal arts school? Learn more about a top liberal arts school for music majors and why students choose this option.

The Difference Between a Conservatory and University Music Program

The College Experience

At a conservatory, campus life generally is focused on music, music, music. While some schools will have student clubs, the majority of activity is centered around performances, concerts, rehearsals, jam sessions, and trips to the symphony; for freshmen, there may be a few outings to cultural and recreational opportunities. Some conservatories may share sports facilities/opportunities with a nearby university.

At a university, you’ll experience an environment where students have diverse interests, backgrounds, and majors. You’re likely to have access to many types of activities including, but not limited to: NCAA (or similar) college sports, intramural/club sports, Greek Life, student organizations (outside of music), dorm life – living alongside other majors, gen ed classes – taking gen eds alongside other majors.

Size

Conservatories tend to be much smaller than liberal arts colleges and certainly smaller than universities, with anywhere from 500 – 1000 full-time students. That may include undergrad students as well as graduate students. Some schools permit part-time study.

In general, universities are medium to large institutions, with some topping 30,000 students on campus and others with only 12,000. Each school is different, but overall, they tend to be larger than conservatories. Within the university, the individual schools may be much smaller, though. For example, the music school may be a small, tight-knit group of student musicians who get a conservatory-like experience with a large university’s resources. For some students, this is the best of both worlds.

Curriculum

The curriculum at a conservatory will include Core courses, courses in your major, and required liberal arts/humanities courses. Academics might make up 25% – 30% of the required 120 credits to graduate, with the remainder in music areas. The music courses will vary depending on your major. Much of your major coursework is concentrated in your 3rd and 4th years of study for a Bachelor’s degree. Students should compare the curriculum at various schools to determine which are the “best-fit” for their particular interests and career aspirations.

Depending on the type of degree you’re pursuing, you’ll be required to meet the university’s general education requirements. That means some liberal arts courses (math, English, sciences, etc.). The number of credits and requirements vary. A typical Bachelor of Music degree requires at least 120 credits, approximately ⅓ of which might be liberal arts classes. The rest of your curriculum will be music-focused. You will likely take general education classes alongside other majors at a university, and the class content might be more challenging.

Dual Major

If a double major or a minor is an option, it will likely be in music areas. However, a few conservatories might have the option of a minor in an academic area. Check carefully if that is important to you.

You are more likely to have access to options and to expand your studies at a university. The option for minors, concentrations, or double majors outside of music is possible at some institutions.

Ensembles

Ensembles are a vital part of any college music student’s experience. Whether you specialize in classical music, opera, jazz, or contemporary pop, you want to check out the number of ensembles offered and the genre and styles available to you. Also, pay attention to how many student performances there are each year.

Ensembles are included in the curriculum for virtually all music students. Options at music schools within a university are similar to what you’ll find at a conservatory and include classical, jazz, opera, and contemporary/pop. You will have requirements you must follow, and it might also be possible to select other ensembles that interest you.

Tours / Campus Visits

Tours should be arranged through the admissions office either directly or online. Confirm your exact date, time and length of tour, and where it begins. Tours may be conducted by staff or student tour guides. Remember to ask questions during your tour!

When you are ready to schedule campus visits, contact the music school. Many university tours do NOT include the music facilities or any information about what goes on in the music school. By scheduling a tour and/or meeting with an admissions representative from the music school, you can get all the information specific to your area of interest.

Application Process / Requirements

Music conservatories generally have their own application form and do not use the Common App. They might have their own essay questions as well. Be sure to follow ALL the requirements exactly as requested. Typically, depending on the program and major you are applying for, requirements might include: application form, essays, pre-screening video, official (translated) school transcripts, artistic resume, personal statement, letters of recommendation, portfolio, and live audition.

Music schools within universities will typically have additional steps and requirements in the application process that specifically relate to the university admissions review. In addition to the music requirements (pre-screening video, portfolio, live audition, etc.), you can expect to fill out an application for the university and possibly a separate one for the music schools. You will also need to submit all the university requirements, which might include transcripts, test scores (if required), letters of recommendation from a core subject teacher, essays, and an activity list, among other items.

Pre-screening Video

If requested, a pre-screening video is a representation of the student’s level of skill and repertoire. The school will detail what they wish to see and hear on the video. Provide them with exactly what they ask for: no more and no less. The pre-screening video will determine if the conservatory will invite you for a live audition or not.

Pre-screening videos are the initial step in the audition process, typically submitted at the time of application. Each school has requirements on its website, which applicants should follow. The pre-screening video will determine whether you get invited to a live audition.

Scholarships

Scholarships at conservatories are almost entirely talent or merit-based. Decisions usually involve admissions and the faculty. Much of it depends on: what instrument/voice you play, how well you play it, and how badly the school needs it. Fewer scholarships may also be offered for composition, songwriting, or other needed majors.

Most universities offer academic scholarships, and in some cases, music schools may have music scholarships. Both of these are based on merit, not need. It varies by school; for some, you can be considered for both academic and music merit scholarships, and for others, you may only be eligible for music merit.

Determining the Best Music College and College Experience for You

Most musicians are quite driven, so at conservatories as well as universities and liberal arts colleges, you’ll find an energetic and competitive atmosphere that represents in microcosm what the greater music industry holds in store. Think seriously about your goals and the type of music career you are aiming for as well as a suitable learning environment. Determine which situation will be most comfortable and beneficial for your personal needs as you reach for your dreams.
Close your eyes and picture your ideal school environment. Does it more closely match a conservatory or a university environment? Reflect on your learning style and career goals. When visiting campuses, come prepared with questions and an outline of what you want to see (dorms, music rooms, performance spaces). This will help you make an informed decision. Finally, consider working with an admissions consultant to help you narrow down your options and choose the best music program for you.

Knowledgeable, Experienced College Music Admissions Consultants

As former music school admissions directors, we have the inside track to guide students through each step of the admissions process, including choosing the most appropriate school and program. Our in-depth knowledge of universities, conservatories, their faculty, and music programs allows us to improve students’ probability of success. Learn more about our College Music Admissions Consulting services, or contact us today to get started on your admissions journey.