<p>Just to flesh out a bit some info SpirirManager brings forth in post#16, the thread here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/411188-how-teacher-recommendations-used.html?highlight=teacher[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/411188-how-teacher-recommendations-used.html?highlight=teacher</a> may be helpful.</p>
<p>In our school, almost every kid who truly loves music has left band by senior year. Earlier than that, they certainly want to, but stay in order to be a contributor, so to speak, rather than just take care of themselves. My own daughter did absolutely no music at school for her last year.</p>
<p>I shudder at the thought of the band director doing a recommendation. He had no idea…</p>
<p>Much better to have someone write a rec. who knows your son in a multi-faceted way, and/or in the areas which most interest him.</p>
<p>Berklee, NYU, USC, are the ones I have read about most on here, but some other colleges w/out BM programs might work too. I also would add Bennington ( and Sarah Lawrence). We met quite a few songwriters at Bennington when we visited, who were quite happy there.</p>