Ask Questions about Pursuing Music Major Here

College Majors Music Major
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As Director of Admissions and faculty member at Berklee College of Music for 40 years, engaging with passionate students and parents about music education has been my life’s work, and I was delighted to find this forum as a place to do just that! Having taught music at the highest levels, and served as Director of Admissions at Berklee for decades, I’d be glad to offer an insider’s perspective on some of the common questions and concerns for the next generation of college and conservatory applicants. Open to engage here with parents and students with questions about all things music education.

Would folks here find an “Ask Me Anything” forum useful, where we can chat about pursuing a degree in music, and I’ll offer insight as a longtime music educator and admissions professional?

Following years teaching harmony, ear training, and ensembles at Berklee, I led Berklee’s offices of admissions, financial aid, scholarships, and built the Berklee International Network of affiliated music schools across the world. In addition, I’ve worked with the GRAMMY in the Schools’ High School All-Star Ensembles, consulted on the creation of the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) and a range of other music education initiatives. I received a B.M. in Music Education from Berklee, after attending New York College of Music with a concentration in classical clarinet. I’m a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Massachusetts Educators Association, and Jazz Educators Network, was an Association for Popular Music Education founding board member, and served on the advisory boards of the Chapman Music Institute and Lagond Music School.

Now I’d love to hear some of your stories! Best of luck to all at the start of a new academic year, and in your college admissions journeys!

  • Steve Lipman

MODERATOR’S NOTE: Anyone is free to ask or answer questions in this thread.

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Hello, How receptive is Berklee to transfer credits? Or allow placements? I am a junior in music performance in another conservatory. I am very interested in multiple genres and already developed in classical, jazz and folk. I sing and would like to develop my voice more in addition to the instrument. It would be awesome to transfer next year to a more challenging school without losing my credits in both music and non-music credits. I have maintained 4.0 GPA in my college years, aced high school, and study my instrument for 13 years, also have performance experience since a young age. I attend my current school on a merit based scholarship.

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Thank you Mr. Lipman for your time and advice offering to the CC community. My D is starting her junior year at Oberlin Conservatory pursuing a BM in vocal performance. She discovered her passionate love with music very early in age and spent twelve years as a member of the San Juan Children’s Choir.

My question to you, during your faculty years and as a director of admissions, did you find or learn of other outside school philanthropies and endowments that were available for music students that surprised you or might want to share? These passionate and talented students in many cases need additional funding from what the school can provide.

Please stay around. This forum is a wonderful resource for music students and families and most posters are extremely respectful, and in many cases it’s their only resource and guideline affordable and available for them through their crazy and stressful audition process.

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@JingleBellLalala Berklee absolutely welcomes well qualified and passionate transfer students with open arms. They have credit-transfer agreements in place with certain schools around the world. Even if you’re not enrolled in one of those schools, you can still submit your transcript for a credit transfer evaluation for liberal arts/general elective courses. Berklee does not generally award transfer credits for music classes at another school (with some limited exceptions), unless it is one of the schools with a transfer credit agreement in place. Also you should consider courses from Berklee Online, many of which can be used for on campus credit if you are admitted to attend in person. More details can be found here: https://www.berklee.edu/admissions/undergraduate/transfer-credit
Best of luck!

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Thanks so much for your question and kind note, @coloraturadad! Your D sounds like a wonderful young musician and she’s at a great school…congratulations, proud poppa!

You are certainly right: many passionate and talented music students need financial assistance to pursue serious study in the field. Talent and financial need are both key considerations when schools and outside organizations weigh scholarship decisions. There are many different kinds of scholarships to investigate:

  • Music Scholarships (which always require an audition and interview), require lots of preparation, and are highly competitive.
  • School-Issued Scholarships like at Oberlin College and Conservatory, which offers the Conservatory Dean’s Scholarship.
  • Music Department Scholarships at large universities (e.g., the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Herb Alpert School of Music offers the John Audino Memorial Scholarship.).
  • State Organization Scholarships. Every state has a “music educators association” offering financial awards for students who want to study music in college. While these awards are typically on the smaller side, you and I both know that every penny counts.
  • National music organization scholarships. There are many of these awards available, but you’ll have to do some digging to find one which pertains to you. The requirements for national music scholarships are almost as diverse as their goals. For instance, the John Lennon Scholarship offers $20,000 total for three songwriters – part of the application process is submitting your own original song for consideration.
  • Discipline-specific Scholarships for specific instruments and disciplines. Instrument manufacturers and performer associations offer many different scholarships. For example, the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society offers scholarships for vocalists and instrumentalists that can reach up to $12,000 a year.
  • Background-specific Scholarships. For instance, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Performing Arts Scholarship awards African-American and black students with money to study the performing arts – music and otherwise.
  • Academic Scholarships are offered by many universities based on academic merit. Your grade point average (GPA) is the most important factor.

Just like any industry, there are tons of charitable entities related to companies and associations that serve musicians. Some of these scholarships are instrument-specific, while others are industry-wide. A couple of examples:

  • The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP)
    ASCAP is one of those industry associations that seeks to protect the copyrights obtained by artists to help them get paid for their work. As one of the largest industry associations for music professionals, they have loads of offerings they support in terms of student aid .
  • Broadcast Music, Inc (BMI) is another organization that seeks to protect the intellectual property of composers in the industry. The BMI Foundation gives financial aid awards for students in various disciplines, genres, and more.

The sheer amount of scholarships available are numerous, diverse, and sometimes overwhelming. What’s important to understand is that not every scholarship is for every student. Stay focused, stay positive, do your homework, keep the faith, and your passion and perseverance will be rewarded!

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Slipman2,
Thank you very much!

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For composers, this site can be helpful with awards etc. (Including ASCAP and BMI) https://composerssite.com/

This is a really comprehensive list of residencies, which are often funded https://www.artistcommunities.org/residencies

Master’s degrees can be expensive. Some students go directly to a doctorate and get a funded masters. After the bachelor’s level, it take some research but if you find the right school, further study can be funded.

Many musicians, composers and other artists can apply for grants for funding for specific projects. There are data bases online that list these, and you can use a filter to find the right ones to apply to.

Of course, once 24, students are independent and financial aid is based on their income and assets :slight_smile:

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Mr @slipman2 Thank you for being here. My son is a clarinet player who is more interested in jazz and contemporary music, rather than classical. He wants to be as diverse a musician as he can. But many conservatories would funnel a clarinet player into the classical program, or require him to be a primarily saxophone player if he went into the Jazz program. (He does play sax also now). Do you have any advice on how to navigate this? Is it even a good idea to try to buck the trend like that? Any schools that you think might be more amenable? (Berklee does seem like it might be…) Any audition advice if he wants to show that he can play several instruments, though might not have as many years on sax as on clarinet? Thank you. Your insights are greatly appreciated.

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Oh yes, this is just what I need! My daughter is a junior and is seriously considering majoring in music ed, with a voice concentration. I can tell you that we are largely a non-musical family, in that while we love music and the arts, our daughter is the only one with any talent (lol) and the only one pursuing the arts. I feel so intimidated by this whole process, and so uninformed as to how to guide her. She has been doing musical theater in her school district since Junior High, before that she did a community type theater group for kids from grades 1-6. She is currently a member of her high school’s select choir and was recently made junior choir manager. she has been taking private voice lessons since she was 9 or 10. I of course think she is wildly talented, lol. She also has alot of experience working with kids, as she logs approximately 70 hours per year in volunteer work exclusively mentoring children, in musical and athletic activities. Music Ed seems like a natural marriage of her two most passionate pursuits.
She is a very strong student, with a 4.0 non-weighted GPA of, no official SAT yet, but scored within national merit range on her 10th grade PSAT, so we are hopeful for high stats.
How do we begin her search for a college? I am clueless about pre-screens, auditions, etc. is this info readily available on each school’s website? are these necessary for music ed, or just performance majors? is there a way to see acceptance rates for music ed applicants? is there a way to see job placement info for recent graduates? ugh, so many questions and I really don’t know where to start! Any insight anyone can give would be so very appreciated. thank you!

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I just started looking up jazz programs for a clarinetist and you really have to look closely at each school . He can audition on clarinet for many jazz programs, top ones and otherwise. He can ask about how to show he can also play sax, but honestly that could also be an informal addition to what he does once at school.

Some schools will let him audition on sax and then also on clarinet as a “doubling instrument.” Some schools may not list clarinet but who knows, it may be possible.

Just because clarinet faculty for clarinet is not listed, there may be another way to have lessons and participate in a program.

I think it is very important to call and ask or visit. You may miss opportunities if you just go by the website.

Here are some positives for jazz clarinet:

https://www.msmnyc.edu/programs/jazz-arts/ (see clarinet audition info)
https://necmusic.edu/jazz (see audition info “for any instrument”)

USC Thornton has jazz for “reed players” https://music.usc.edu/admission/appreqs/jazz/
and is of course a leading school for contemporary as well so this could be a top choice

Lawrence has an audition for clarinet allowed along with sax, which is primary
https://www.lawrence.edu/conservatory/ensembles/jazz-audition
SAXOPHONES: José Encarnación
4. Play a short excerpt on any doubling instrument (s) you play. (flute, clarinet, etc.) Clarinet excerpt.pdf, Flute excerpt.pdf

NYU Steinhardt doesnt’ specify instruments https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/programs/jazz-studies

Check out Ithaca https://www.ithaca.edu/academics/majors-minors/jazz-studies-bm
There is a note in the audition section: Students who play instruments not typically found in a big band/jazz ensemble should contact Mike Titlebaum at mtitlebaum@ithaca.edu to discuss the possibility of playing in an ensemble this year

Here are some negatives but ASK:

However, Juilliard does not list clarinet as a jazz specialization https://www.juilliard.edu/music/jazz-studies
https://www.juilliard.edu/music/jazz-studies#arm

New School doesn’t either https://www.ithaca.edu/academics/majors-minors/jazz-studies-bm

Again, you will just have to look at each school.

Miami Frost only lists clarinet in classical, not jazz or contemporary
https://www.frost.miami.edu/faculty/by-instrument/index.html

Hartt has auditions in jazz for “melodic instruments” but don’t see faculty for clarinet

Loyola New Orleans has popular and commercial music, as does Belmont in Nashville
but Belmont does not list clarinet http://www.belmont.edu/cmpa/music/undergrad/commercial-music/index.html

Oberlin does not list a jazz clarinet teacher but ASK them because it is a fantastic program https://www.oberlin.edu/conservatory/divisions/jazz-studies/faculty-list

Ditto Bard https://music.bard.edu/faculty/ ASK

SUNY Purchase has these instruments for jazz: Please note that we offer the following instruments as part of the jazz studies program: saxophone, trombone, trumpet, piano, bass, guitar, drums, voice. But, yes, classical clarinet.

I think there are many ways to go about this. But investigate any school he would be interested in with a call or visit. Some liberal arts schools and universities without a BM might work too if he can tolerate the gen eds, particularly depending on location. I know a jazz sax player at Tufts who has been happy, but he majors in STEM.

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Oh and Berklee has professional performance https://www.berklee.edu/professional-performance/major and jazz composition. Have you talked with them about what you want to do?

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jgmama I would encourage you to post your own thread, and you will get more answers. Music ed does include auditions for admission. Many state universities have good music ed departments.

Has your daughter- or you- read the Double Degree Dilemma essay near the top of this forum? It discusses different ways to study music. Does your daughter want a freestanding conservatory like Berklee? A conservatory/school of music within a college or university? Ithaca, BU, SUNY Potsdan, U. of Vermont, the possibilities are endless.

Does she want large or small, city or rural or suburban. Vibe is important too. And of course the faculty/teacher.

She can also major in voice and do music ed for grad. Or get a BA, take lessons, and sing in aextracurriculars.

A BM is 2/3-3/4 music classes and a BA is 1/4-1/3 music classes. There are gen eds to contend with in either case.

Does she want choral? St. Olaf is great for that and also has music ed I believe.

Does she want classical, jazz, contemporary? Musical theater?

A student with many interests can apply to several options and decide in late senior year.

A BM means auditions. That can be a great experience and clarifying.

Most BA programs won’t have auditions for admission but will have them once on campus. She can submit a music supplement with recording or video, music/theater resume and letters of recommendation from music/theater to enhance her chances. If she did want a BA, her high stats plus talent/experience in music might allow her to shoot high.

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@jgmama - In my opinion, the best place to start is by reading the so-called “Journey” threads. (Sorry I’m not great with links, but look for “Class of 2023…” and “Class of 2024…”) These offer a LONG but very detailed/helpful account of the school selection process, prescreens, auditions, decision making, etc. I think there is no better master class in understanding this process. I promise you they are worth the time it takes to read them!

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@jgmama If your D takes private voice lessons, her teacher is likely to have information on the process. My D, her private teacher, and her dad and I met March or so of her junior year to talk about what was ahead and where he thought she should apply. That gave her enough time to get a rep list together and for us to plan school visits/sample lessons in the spring and summer before senior year. The public high school was clueless about the process, but a private teacher should have been there done that, and will have had other students who went through the process too. Good luck.

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I think it is more efficient to post your own thread, since every situation is individual. Some of the parents from the journey threads are very helpful to individual posters.

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Get thou to an experienced private teacher…for an assessment.

I know some choir teachers at high schools are clueless…however ours was not. My D’s large public schools sent kids to music and theater programs yearly. Her choir teacher helped suggest a few schools that she saw other talented musicians get into. Then we asked the private teacher…and we got more. Then we started visiting and seeing choirs etc to determine if she felt her talent was at the right level (she could tell). So it’s a process. But a good starting point is someone who has heard your D sing and knows other kids who have gone on to music school. If the choir and/or private teacher can not help with that (not enough experience, and you can ask about their experience)…you may want to reach out to a local college music professor for an assessment. After that…you can start worrying about auditions etc.

Of course reading the many great threads here and other information is also good. But if you don’t know her true talent level (and I didn’t for my D) you need to get an experienced professional to give you an unbiased opinion on school levels. And then you need to trust it!

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Glad bridgenailand songbirdmama responded since they know about voice. If you do post a thread, make sure to mention music ed too (and music theater?). Maybe bridgenail knows how to combine music ed and voice-?

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thank you @compmom that’s a great list of schools. And I think you’re right we just have to call and talk to every school. Thanks for taking the time to write that out for me.

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@slipman2 Thank you so much for your willingness to serve as a resource!

My daughter (vocal performance) is wrapping up her applications and our thoughts are now turning to auditions. From your experience over the years, what advice do you have?

Here are some specific questions:

– Of course, most applicants have spent at least a few years preparing for that moment, and are showing up well-rehearsed – so what sets apart the great or memorable auditions from those that are good, but maybe not outstanding?

– Is it better to nail a relatively simple piece that you’ve mastered, or tackle something complicated and miss a note or two?

– Do faculty get tired of hearing some of the same “standards” performed over and over again – is it better to try and make your selections unusual? (This is an issue my daughter worries about – “everybody does that piece, and I think people may be sick of hearing it!”)

– Is musical ability all that matters, or are auditions also intended to identify more intangible qualities (maturity, intellect, charisma, etc.)?

– How important is the conversation or interview that surrounds the audition performance?

– What are the best ways to handle a mistake or nerves during the audition, or a last-minute illness that affects your ability to perform?

– What is the deliberation process following the auditions? (Are there some clear “yes” and “no” decisions right away, and what are the factors involved? For any “maybe” candidates, what deciding factors lead to an eventual yes or no?)

If you can recall a story or two about auditions that were really impressive (and are memorable to this day) – and also perhaps a story or two where something went awry that could provide a lesson in what not to do or how not to handle a situation, that would be great!

And one last question: How important is it at any point in the process to follow up an application or audition with updates about any new honors or awards or milestones? Do admissions committees care if you got invited to All-State or to Young Arts? Or once your application and prescreens have cleared some basic hurdles, is it really all about the live audition?

Thank you!!

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I’m also tagging @MaineLonghorn here about my October 30 post.

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