<p>I'm probably one of the most indecisive people you will ever meet. A year ago I wanted to be a Director for theater... then it turned into Obstetrician Gynecology... Then it turned into general communications studies. I've looked at NYU, Yale, Brown (my top choices as of now). I was thinking of Brown ED but their Modern Culture and Media program might be too film based. So I looked into NYU's Clive Davis dept. and it seems incredible for producing music (I'm very interested in music - whether it be composition, theory, performance, vocal technique etc. It's always been a passion of mine, and whether I major in it or not, music and performing will always be something I plan on doing). I was just nervous about NYU because it's very much like a conservatory, with limited ability to take courses elsewhere. That's why Brown appealed to me with the open curriculum, but as I said, it may not be exactly what I want to study. SO..</p>
<p>****What's the best college for an aspiring record producer - someone who wants to manage a recording company, be able to share music and compose and use technology to produce new singing/music artists. I want to be able to take other courses just in case of course... to get a good liberal arts background. I'm not sure if I want a city or a campus, but I do want a sense of campus-life and community. So - what's the college to apply to?</p>
<p>"The Department of Music Industry offers programs for those who seek a career in artist management, the record industry, music publishing, radio, music instrument manufacture and distribution, live promotion and production, arts management, and other areas of the music industry."</p>
<p>That sound's like you've hit the bulls-eye. Except... is there a program like that somewhere on the East-coast that won't involve me taking a 6 hour plane ride? Thanks so much for that though!</p>
<p>Hey Matt....I still think a BA program is best for you based on things you have shared before. The fact that you are indecisive (nothing wrong with that...you are seventeen! it is normal!) is one reason to go the BA route and not be locked into a BFA type of program. </p>
<p>I just want to point out with regard to NYU/Tisch however, that if you were to do the Clive Davis program which is in Tisch which IS a conservatory, it is NOT like other conservatory programs where you are mostly just doing conservatory stuff. Rather, there is a significant liberal arts component at Tisch. There are distribution requirements for starters. Then you also could minor in something else or even do a double major, though more difficult There is room to explore other interests. NYU/Tisch is a conservatory, true, but one that allows for some liberal arts. That was one appeal that NYU/Tisch had for my own daughter who is about to enter it. </p>
<p>Still, I think based on what you have shared, that a BA is your best bet. A BFA type program is really for someone who feels certain and wants to make that commitment to that specfic field at this juncture. I think Brown is good for you because there are so many possibilities there....lots of chances to even do independent studies or create what you want to study. Plus the arts are abundant on campus....you could really do alot and see what you want to focus on when there. The open curriculum gives you no boundaries. I hope if you return to visit there, you get in touch and my D who is a Brown student can show you around and also connect you with theater kids on campus. You could study anything you want and merely do performing arts as an extracurricular there, too. </p>
<p>"The Department of Recording Industry is within the College of Mass Communication, one of the largest and best equipped in the country. Housed in the $15,500,000 John Bragg Mass Communication complex, technology available to students includes two audio recording studios, a post-production lab, a MIDI lab, 21st century classrooms and more! In addition, the building is home for the School of Journalism and Department of Electronic Media Communication.</p>
<p>"The faculty is impressive and first rate..The program is excellent...The students and faculty are enthusiastic."
- Society of Professional Audio Recording Services (SPARS)"</p>
<p>"The Department of Recording Industry is the only school to be a TEC nominee for all eight years of school competition."</p>
<p>The Mike Curb School of Music Business at Belmont University in Nashville, Berkelee College in Boston, and possibly Loyola University New Orleans.</p>
<p>Berkelee is the only one I know of. check out Emerson - they are part of a consortium with Berkelee, Mass College of Art and a couple others. You might be able to go to Emerson for some related major and take production classes at Berkelee. Emerson has a great radio station.</p>
<p>As you look at colleges, consider internship possibilities. You will want to be in an area, and at a school where you will get the help you will need to break into a very difficult field. Nashville and LA are the two places that seem to have alot still going on, followed by NYC. The music industry has always been tough but the past few years have not been especially kind - lower record sales, consolidations in radio and concert venues/producers, artists getting dropped and production budgets being slashed. Carolyn mentioned Belmont - don't overlook it. They have great success in placing people in the music industry. They have a semester-long program in LA, and Australia, I believe. It is a very unique program.</p>
<p>music management
Berklee (MA)
Northeastern (MA)
SUNY Fredonia (NY)
Hofstra (NY)
Syracuse (NY)
Grove City (PA)
U of Hartford (CT)
U of New Haven (CT)
De Paul (IL)
De Pauw (IN)
U of Indiana Purdue
U of Missouri St Louis
Franklin Pierce (NH)</p>
<p>There are others listed in the College Board Index of Majors</p>
<p>Most music producers just start doing it somehow. They don't go to college to study it. Frequently they have learned audio engineering at an audio engineering school or a specialized music business place, and then interned, or started to record friends' songs or groups. I suppose a few have studied music production in college but typically not at a top school, and nobody in the business is going to care where you went, with the possible exception of Belmont in Nashville, where there is a good Belmont network.</p>
<p>....concerning the recent (8/11) Rolling Stone article which included a brief listing a the best music programs, including production. Berklee' mentioned above, was listed, as well as USC & a funky school (I guess its a school don't recognize it: "Full Sail" something) out of Orlando. You may want to get the 8/11 edition of Rolling Stone if you don't already have it.</p>