Been touring music schools all summer...

College Majors Music Major
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<p>And just wanted to get some response/experiences etc. on the schools I'm interested in. I'm a guitarist (jazz, but i've always played metal/rock as well) and have been looking for good contemporary programs that i can also have opportunity to sing, I sing Opera/Classical and Choral music as well. I live in Portland, Oregon and i do NOT want to stay in Oregon...i want to be on the east coast/midwest for sure and I love the snow and cold! I'm looking for a program that can integrate Jazz/Production/Business etc. and ample opportunity for continuing my vocal "career". I find both a small town and a big city environment to be exciting and whatever happens i'll be happy in either setting. </p>

<p>Berklee College of Music</p>

<p>In Feb. I visited Berklee, obviously a stellar choice for jazz and especially guitar, and I fell in love and it seems to still be my top choice. But as I've thought and seen other schools i've gotten my doubts about the fact there are so many guitarists and the lack of housing could be very bad if i don't get a bed. I'm definitely interested in the film composing and music production and engineering programs, I was interested in the performance degree but figured it would be a bit competitive and i want to be apart of the "business" seeing as my dad is a film producer. I loved the city, Boston was amazing and it was the first time i had been to the east coast..and the farthest place i had ever gone. it was so enriched with history and i just felt at home. i saw as many live performances as i could and the talent was awesome, i would definitely fit in there</p>

<p>Musicians Institute, LA, CA</p>

<p>I actually totally forgot I went here, but I remember it was pretty cool and had some nice programs but I've realized that it would be riddled with shredder guitarists and I really can't stand other metal/rock guitarists, and my mom doesnt want me in LA although my Dad has lived/worked there forever</p>

<p>Schools i've seen this summer</p>

<p>Blair School of Music @ Vanderbilt, Nashville TN</p>

<p>It's classical only guitarwise but I had met one of the two guitar professors at a college fair and I liked him a lot and I met with the two of them again when I visited and they were extremely nice and it seemed with my extensive musical background I could have a chance by just working on standard classical repertoire. the campus was great and nashville was awesome</p>

<p>also as a side note I found a school by accident in Nashville called the Belmont University, I couldn't take a tour but they had a promising commercial music program which seemed really cool and even listed metal as an acceptable choice of genre for an audition piece! I love finding little gems like that</p>

<p>College Conservatory of Music @ Cincinnati Uni, Cincinnati OH</p>

<p>Really cool campus, but it's an interesting city, some parts are extremely seedy and unsafe and others just a few blocks away are urban and cool. Anyways, the Jazz program looks promising but actually I learned about it from an operatic Baritone I met who got his masters there and the vocal program looks great but it's really really hard to get in with voice and i'd have a better chance with guitar</p>

<p>Ohio State University School of Music, Columbus OH</p>

<p>This is where I'm staying as a home base to visit all these other places, my mom owns a duplex right near the school so she comes here once a year anyways. COLLEGE TOWN, big 10 atmosphere haha...but the facilities are great but its so freaking big, 2nd biggest uni in the states. I met with the music admissions and it seems that jazz studies performance major and a minor in Music Media and Enterprise which entails classes in business, comm etc. which all is right up my alley. also i would have lots of options with my voice and could join various choirs</p>

<p>Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Oberlin Ohio</p>

<p>Well talk about a day and night difference between OSU and Oberlin...Oberlin is really out in the middle of nowhere and this is where the whole urban city environment vs small town experience comes in...honestly i love both and they both have strengths and weaknesses, but the little town was just so quaint and fun, the conservatory was awesome and the new jazz building was SO cool, architecture was really modern at some places but then 19th century in others, really liked it and the program seems great. Obviously some downsides/concerns for me was just the performing opportunity in such a small town but with over 1000 performances associated with the school i wouldn't have a problem with that, and it seems like a really supportive community which i like, definitely my 2nd choice next to Berklee so far</p>

<p>Now I'm in Bloomington Indiana and i'm going to tour the Jacobs School of Music, I just got in today but i love the vibe and it seems like a big campus. hate the fact there is a ton of greek life stuff but whatever. It seems really cool so far and i found an awesome record shop with tons of old jazz/classical/opera LP's and a nice cd selection. will report more when i tour it tomorrow morning. and the last tour i have is the Capitol Conservatory of Music just near OSU in Bexley, Ohio (like 10 minutes from the columbus area), another gem i found and i have heard good things about it...</p>

<p>All in all (sorry for the novel), I'm really excited/grateful to have had this experience and I have seen so much I'm having information overload haha. once i get back home i'll make some sort of spreadsheet or chart to list every schools strengths/weaknesses and line up all the application dates/audition dates etc. etc. I feel like no matter where i get in i'll have a great experience and education. Au Revoir for now! And sorry in advance if i should have done a search for similar threads or any other grievances i've put upon you all :p</p>

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<p>If you were in LA, you should have looked at USC!</p>

<p>Anyway, nice reviews. A bunch of schools I’ve been looking at, so very helpful. </p>

<p>Make sure to keep us posted on IU as well as Capitol. Jacobs School of Music is one of the best in the country so I’d like to here how it is.</p>

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<p>I recommend taking the time to see the “typical” freshman dorm on campuses, and the dining halls. It is important to get a picture of what it will be like to live on campus. It may help you narrow down the list schools where you will audition.</p>

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<p>18karat, I have no way of knowing how much background reading you’ve done here, so I’ll just throw these on the table:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/892168-search-tips-other-insights.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/892168-search-tips-other-insights.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/558178-music-school-visits.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/558178-music-school-visits.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/901390-2010-collective-experience.html?highlight=2010[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/901390-2010-collective-experience.html?highlight=2010&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/154774-best-university-jazz-programs.html?highlight=jazz[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/154774-best-university-jazz-programs.html?highlight=jazz&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Hm, I fail to see an edit post button…so i’ll just continue here.</p>

<p>So I just got back from the Jacobs info sesh/tour, it was really cool and seemed up my alley. I think i’ve got my top three choices,</p>

<p>Berklee
Oberlin
Jacbos</p>

<p>berklee is the biggest, Oberlin is the smallest and Jacobs is in the middle…</p>

<p>Jacobs @ IU, Bloomington Indiana
Jacobs had nice facilities, lots of practice rooms that were actually really nicely sized with full steinways in them, the various performance halls were great and the opera house was phenomenal, it was modeled after the Met. theres lot of opportunity for jazz ensembles as well as choirs for me, and auditions for Operas are all open so i could try out if wanted too. Also I could choose recording arts as a minor which was really nice to hear so i could go with the performance major/recording minor that i’ve been sort of looking for. all in all cool school and great little town</p>

<p>Yeah most of the schools havn’t shown dorms…which is a let down because i’m already a bit trepidatious about the whole dorm situation, but Oberlin probably had the best living situation, lots and lots of options, not too sure about Jacobs they really didn’t go into it at all actually, only talked about it when someone asked a question, and all the music kids are in the same halls which some people like and some don’t.</p>

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<p>The ability to edit a post is limited to a (I believe) ten minute window. After that, the edit button goes “poof”.</p>

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<p>Thanks for posting 18karat! Great posts, very valuable to S who is a year behind you :)</p>

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<p>Thanks for the report 18karat. Did you meet with a jazz guitar teacher at Indiana? Do you sense that jazz guitar is an important part of the ensembles?</p>

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<p>I didn’t get a chance to meet with a guitar teacher but I have heard it is an amazing amazing school for jazz guitar from a current student. Now to finish up my report</p>

<p>A little more info about IU</p>

<p>I got to see a free jazz concert on top of the art museum, three of the five members were jacobs music staff and they were all phenomenal, played some great tunes, standards and originals, i talked to the saxaphonist who is one of the lead professors and he was a cool guy and told me to get in contact with the jazz guitar guy who is really good apparently. </p>

<p>Last college tour/review!</p>

<p>Capitol University:</p>

<p>I just got done with this one and I didn’t really know what to expect but it started with a nice personal meeting with an admissions/counselor form the conservatory and she was real nice and went over everything i was interested in, she also told me about the music tech program which is basically recording/engineering etc. and took the time to show me the main studio which isn’t covered in the regular tour. it seemed really nice and it looks like i could double major or focus on both jazz performance and the music tech. Anyways it was only me and another girl on the tour and it was just a tour of the whole place not just the conservatory, but it looked like a nice small environment with the available resources from Bexley and also the big city feel of Columbus just 10 minutes away, I enjoyed it and it had really nice dining facilities and other things that pertain to all the students. and of course the biggest plus was that the counselor said they accept about 75-80% of the kids who audition for the conservatory, which is awesome and she said the kids who know how to read music and are really focused have no problem, it’s the “garage” band kids that have a tough time who can’t read music etc. so basically I would have an exceptional chance with my background at getting in. All in all, it’s a great little gem and someone sent me a message saying their son didn’t like the dorms but i personally thought they were fine and it looked just like any other one.</p>

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<p>18karat, if you apply early action (or decision, whichever one isn’t binding) to Berklee and are accepted, you don’t have to worry about not getting a dorm. </p>

<p>Here’s why: Once you’re accepted, you can make a fully refundable deposit (I think it’s $500, I forget - but if you let them know you’re not coming by May 1, you get it back). That deposit guarantees your spot there (EVEN THOUGH you may not go!) and puts you on the list to get the dorm reservation form early, before the regular acceptance decisions have even gone out. The letter that comes with that form says that they expect all early admits to get dorm spaces. It’s a non-refundable $300 to reserve a spot in the dorms, so if you’re really considering Berklee, you can look at it as insurance.</p>

<p>We did all of the above, but my son ended up choosing another school. Cost us $300 to reserve the dorm, and I was fine with that.</p>

<p>And by the way, he wanted to kill me for having “shredder” in my username. I never realized it was a bad thing. I was just trying to convey that he’s a rock and a jazz guitarist.</p>

<p>Best of luck to you!</p>

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<p>Yeah that’s what i’m planning and that’s the gist of what i learned from my visit there, i’ll be do early action and auditioning in early december in seattle, really stoked. and also it’ll be my first audition and it’s the “biggest” one for me and i’m glad to be able to get it out of the way and just await my next auditions and not be so scared about them (hopefully), but yeah early action is essential because of the housing, thanks for the tips</p>

<p>oh, well shredder seems to apply to 14 year old kids who really only care about speed and technical facilities with their playing, lots of kids go in that phase, me included but you realize it’s silly when you look back on it :p</p>

<p>oh and what school did your son choose?</p>

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<p>He’ll be going to Thornton School of Music at USC as a studio/jazz guitar major.</p>

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<p>18Karat and others,</p>

<p>Your posts are helpful! My daughter is the lead singer in a rock band and plays bass, has toured the Northeast and released two CDs. She is ONLY interested in contemporary music. (Of course, she wants to know more about jazz, etc., but her career interests are in rock music.)</p>

<p>She has attended some short summer programs at Berklee and LOVES it and we also did a Saturday open house (fabulous), but I am also encouraging her to look at other schools as well. (Choosing a major at this point is also a real hassle due to ignorance on our part. Performance, business? Some other aspect that she doesn’t even know about yet?)</p>

<p>I’m taking her to visit Belmont at the end of this month and we have an admissions appt, a music school overview and a College of Entertainment and Music Business overview. Been reading other threads and saw that you could potentially get a voice lesson as well at the school? That sounds interesting…</p>

<p>I “think” Belmont has a more traditional campus than Berklee does, but I also think it has a lot more girls. I like the fact that Berklee has more guys than girls since it is my daughter that is applying. On the other hand a typical campus and Nashville sound great too.</p>

<p>The only other schools on our radar right now are Ithaca (seems similar to Belmont, but in the North?) and some state schools. “Might” take a look at Syracuse. USC seems like it has a fabulous program, but it is so far!</p>

<p>She has had private vocal instruction but not with a classically trained teacher, and she has been so busy gigging that she hasn’t had that in a year and a half. I have NO idea what an audition process would be like except for the Berklee audition. Two years of classical piano, but when she was in 2nd and 3rd grade, and bass lessons when she can fit them into the schedule.</p>

<p>Any other suggestions, hints, appreciated!</p>

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<p>Take a look at UDenver’s Lamont School of Music. They offer a jazz/commercial music major. Also Columbia College Chicago (Contemporary, Urban, and Popular Music Major) and possibly UMiami and UArts. </p>

<p>Musicians Institute is also another option in LA. It’s another contemporary music school like Berklee, but is for-profit and has, from what I heard, a fairly poor college experience.</p>

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<p>Take a look at UDenver’s Lamont School of Music. They offer a jazz/commercial music major. Also Columbia College Chicago (Contemporary, Urban, and Popular Music Major) and possibly UMiami and UArts. </p>

<p>Musicians Institute is also another option in LA. It’s another contemporary music school like Berklee, but is for-profit and has, from what I heard, a fairly poor college experience.</p>

<p>FYI, Ithaca has a music school, but is strictly jazz and classical, not contemporary. Syracuse also has no jazz program. </p>

<p>Also, you’re right. USC’s Thorton School is fabulous and has a “Popular Music” major.</p>

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<p>Belmont is a very traditional campus, albeit small, but it’s nice. and two blocks away from studio row…i think that’s what they call it. but it’s a row of like 3 streets where all the houses are converted studios/music managements/publishing etc. lots of salons and stuff too :stuck_out_tongue: and it may have more girls but belmont isn’t the music part. </p>

<p>and honestly you should really see what she wants to get out of college, in terms of major and what she wants to learn about etc. if she’s already toured and has cd’s out etc. than there’s really no point in getting a “performance” degree, i don’t find that to be really practical, although it may help you, people just want to know if you can play, not if you have a degree i performance. so i’d suggest her getting into the business side because it’s good to know about all that with what she does</p>

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<p>18karat,</p>

<p>At this point, I’m just trying to broaden her horizons and give her more information so she can figure out what she wants out of college. :wink: If I didn’t, she would probably only apply to Berklee and the state schools, because she can’t just apply to one school. And then there is the choice of what to study. I don’t know if she knows enough yet about careers/options yet either. I don’t come from a music background so I’m just trying to get her all the info I can. </p>

<p>Keep us up to date on what you are doing!</p>

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<p>RockBandMom, my Son is flying out tomorrow for his sophomore year in the Thornton Popular Music performance program. He is very excited and feels he grew significantly as a musician last year. We live half way across the country not all the way, but my experience with our other kids who went to school an hour or two away from home was that you saw them on breaks and holidays. If they are busy and enjoying school, parents aren’t a real frequent thought. With a musician we do miss out on the performances with the distance, but he would probably limit our attendance if we were closer. 50 year olds hanging around aren’t probably too great for the rocker image :slight_smile: </p>

<p>18karat makes some good points, but I have a different view on some others. It is good to see what she really wants to get out of college. If she doesn’t know and wants to be in a band for a year or two that can be better than going to school just because. </p>

<p>I disagree that there isn’t value in a performance degree. The point of a performance based program is to develop you to a level that you wouldn’t probably achieve on your own. Like any other music performance degree. It also provides you with industry experienced professionals who can give you insight and also develop your musical skills. If the goal is to be in a head banger band with a narrow set of music skills but lots of energy, then it is not a good use of $. If your daughter would like to improve her voice, her instrumentation, her songwriting and her performance technique, then there is a lot to be learned. I don’t mean the above to sound critical of the head bangers, but the type of music is relevant to whether there is value in the formal schooling. The unique music, creativity etc that are typically required to make it big as a band probably can’t be taught. But being around other similarly minded and talented musicians will likely result in better bands developing better music. </p>

<p>USC and Berklee are probably the most advanced popular music programs. Berklee has more history, but USC has impressed me. My son auditioned with Lamont Dozier (huge number of Motown hits as a songwriter), Patrice Rushen gave master classes, Peter Erskine (drummer for Weather Report among others) was his drumming instructor, and that was a required course for non-drummers. He also got to be part of an opening act for a Steve Miller Band concert on campus last year. Also it is rumored Steve Miller is becoming a part of the faculty in some capacity this year. I suspect Berklee has similarly impressive instructors and industry connections. Son told me Berklee has higher acceptance rates (maybe around 30% vs ~10% at Thornton). USC is part of a larger college with the requirements that brings and Berklee is exclusively a music school. There are pros and cons to each. </p>

<p>USC also has crossover opportunities with Music Industry majors and Cinema programs and the industry connections in LA are very large. I suspect Berklee has much of this also, and these can help in career development.</p>

<p>Releasing cd’s and gigging are good to do, but there are literally thousands of bands doing that. If your daughter is serious about popular music and is accepted into a program that you can afford and she thinks will help her I think it is worth a shot. </p>

<p>I plan to ask a few questions each year like<br>
Do you still think this is the right path?
Are you making progress and getting value and is there evidence of that progress in your music and performances?
Do you want the lifestyle that comes with this?</p>

<p>If the answers are yes, I suspect he will stay this path.</p>

<p>Best Wishes!</p>

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<p>Raddad,</p>

<p>Thanks for the insights! One of the reasons she gigged all over the Northeast was to make sure that she really understood what it took to be a working musician! I wanted her to experience it BEFORE she made a decision on what school to go to! :wink: (A lot of this music stuff doesn’t transfer well across schools.)</p>

<p>This is their second summer really touring a lot and her whole band still says that this is what they want to do. (Parents were van drivers, etc. In our state, while one band member has a license, he still can’t drive other kids for another few months. My daughter still only has her permit. Parents were required! Plus, the band knows (I don’t know if it is the right way… because none of us are musicians) an adult way to tour.</p>

<p>She definitely wants to improve her skills. The whole band has won music scholarships, and they won a big contest with one of their songs and got to make a very nice music video. The band’s songs have been played on the local programs of the commercial rock stations in New England and they can hold their head up while playing with older bands, but she is the one that wants a college degree right away. At least at this point. I’d be more open to holding off or stopping after she started than she seems to be right now. </p>

<p>So, how best to improve her skills and what skills to focus on, that is the question. Oh, and where.</p>

<p>I actually had a campus tour lined up with USC for last February, but I canceled it. For lots of reasons. Distance. Potential earthquakes (ok, this is a stupid reason, but us east coasters DO think about it.) It is a HUGE school. Their popular music program is VERY new.</p>

<p>Do you mind my asking what your son is studying at USC?</p>

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<p>His official designation is singer/songwriter in the popular music performance program. Basically vocals, keyboard and guitar. Probably most talented as a songwriter. You are right that the program is very new. I was hesitant a little at first and even held out hope he would double major and go on to grad school in something I understand a little better. 1 year in I am very impressed with the gentleman who runs the program, his guidance and counsel regarding my son, the quality of his classmates as musicians and great people, the unique opportunities USC and LA offer and my son is enthused about his growth as a musician and has solidified his decision to pursue a career in music. He told me the the students in the program talk about how amazing the experience is and how lucky they are to be in the program. He is still only 19, so a lot of changes yet to come, but 1 year into the program, he is very happy, excited and motivated. He mentioned only one kid out of his class of ~25 is leaving the program and I think that is to go into Music Industry program or something along those lines. Feel free to PM me if you have additional questions. I worry I sound like an advertisement and have reached my limit :)</p>