My junior will be applying to music technology programs next fall. She has several issues including parents who don’t know much about music, so we are thinking to hire a college consultant. We realize that a typical cc would not be able to advise on portfolio, competitiveness, or programs, so we want one that specializes in music/music technology cases. Any advice?
Maybe find a teacher/professor in this area. Has she done summer programs? She still has time to apply. She could connect with someone there, and also talk to peers.
Music technology means many things. Be aware of that. Is she interested in studio production or creative composition or both?
I will PM you.
There are many threads on this using different terminology. There was a good one recently but I can’t find it. These two were in the last couple of weeks:
And here are some things to look at: but be aware there are BM and BA options with this, meaning conservatory and college. Read the Double Degree Dilemma essay posted at the top of this forum for info on general options for music study.
http://www.berklee.edu/majors includes contemporary writing/production, production/design, film etc.
http://online.berklee.edu/music-production online only, of course they also have on campus
http://www.uml.edu/FAHSS/music/Programs/Undergraduate/SRT/Sound-Recording-Technology.aspx UMass Lowell, includes internships-very well regarded nationally
http://www.northeastern.edu/camd/music/academic-programs/bs-in-music-industry/ includes coop
http://www.emerson.edu/academics/departments/visual-media-arts/undergraduate-programs/audiosound-design
http://harttweb.hartford.edu/undergraduate/music/production.aspx excellent conservatory w/music production, affordable
http://www.purchase.edu/departments/AcademicPrograms/Arts/music/programs.aspx excellent conservatory w/studio composition and studio production, just outside NYC, very affordable
http://www.clarku.edu/departments/clarkarts/music/ Clark has production elements and scoring etc. but NO AUDITION- the advantage of a college / university versus conservatory/music school (but you can submit work as an arts supplement)
Ithaca College and Conservatory
Columbia College Chicago
UC Denver
College of St. Rose
Michigan’s PAT (top program)
Also look at Brown’s MEME and Oberlin’s TIMARA for examples of creative use of technology.
Here’s another one: https://sfcm.edu/departments/technology-and-applied-composition
Thank you so much. I think I would prefer her to be in a city with lots of music production. My guess is this would be NYC, LA and Nashville. Also I would prefer her to go to an accredited university, although if there is a program that is just right, then I would be willing to fund a music focused school.
I will look into these programs and further consider. If anyone else has experience with music-specific college consultants I would be keen to hear, because my husband and I both work over full time so would appreciate to leverage the services of an expert 
Accredited colleges and universities often have schools of music/conservatories on campus. So by “music schools” you seem to be referring to freestanding conservatories. BM programs tend to be similar whether in a freestanding conservatory or a school of music on a larger campus, but of course there are other differences.
@mrlcpa - I know McGill has a music technology program and Montreal is a great urban environment with an international flair: https://www.mcgill.ca/music/people-research/areas/music-technology
As for a college consultant being music focused, we hired one that is just local to us and that we liked. She did not really specialize in music, per se, and for my kid, percussion is a whole different animal (need to find programs with more than one professor and other criteria). She was invaluable in ensuring kid got his applications in on time, reviewing his essays etc. I basically say that I ‘outsourced the nagging’. Well worth the $$.
Yeah, I guess I am not sure if all music-focused schools are freestanding conservatories. Perhaps some are part of an arts school, like CalArts. This ignorance on my part is a reason for hiring a professional, if I can get a good one.
No there are schools of music that are part of universities, and some colleges have conservatories on campus. I think you would benefit from reading the Double Degree Dilemma essay that is posted closer to the top of the forum. It really explains a lot about studying music, and that applies to the areas you are asking about as well.
People hire consultants because they don’t have the time and energy with a job that takes a lot of attention, or sometimes to preserve the relationship with their kid and avoid nagging, arguments etc. If you can afford it, fine, but for this particular kid, it would seem to me you need someone in the particular field- someone on faculty or someone from a summer program perhaps.
It isn’t rocket science though and you can get up to speed like the rest of us Start by reading the essay and looking at some of those schools’ curricula, course descriptions and admissions requirements.
And come back here.
As you note, most standard college consultants don’t really understand the application for music students. Read the Double Degree Dilemma and start researching on your own. If you do hire someone, make sure they understand that this is not a typical student applying to colleges – they need to really understand the process for music. Does your daughter have a music teacher?
Look at USC – major university in a large city (Los Angeles) great music tech program within the Thornton Music School, but the students can also major/minor in other non-music areas as well. (I’m biased, my son is a performance major there!)
Consultants don’t understand music applications, as astute12said, but even with a consultant good with music applications, music technology might be an area they do not know. In fact, the terminology is so confusing, I am not sure anyone really knows what “music technology” is!
“Music technology” is now a standard part of an academic BA major in music, at one end of the spectrum. At the other end it can mean an applied BM focused on studio work. There are composers doing electroacoustic or computer work, and then there are students spending time on recording arts technology. There are applied, commercial and career-oriented programs, and high end academic and/or creative programs geared to eventual study at the doctoral level and lots in between.
Electronics, music technology, studio production, audio production, audio engineering, audio technology, sonic arts. electroacoustic composition, acousmatic composition, EDM, computer music, music production, multimedia work…and all may have a different twist, and each school may as well.
The only way to really get educated on this is to read a lot of websites, honestly, and read them with some depth. If you yourself are not knowledgeable, perhaps your son can help you understand the distinctions and the various offerings at each school.
This is a pretty good overview of the field with all its aspects: (USC Thornton tries to cover it all)
https://music.usc.edu/departments/music-technology/
Here is McGill’s, https://mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/musical-science-and-technology which is more applied and commercial. McGill also has a renowned composition program which includes electroacoustic work in a studio.
Thank you!