<p>This is my first post on the forum. Anyway, I'm a drummer and a 15 year-old freshman at a private school in Massachusetts. I know it's early, but I've already been looking at some colleges, especially the auditions. Here are some facts that you may want to know when recommending schools:</p>
<p>Student Wise:
-Solid B Student
-Projected 3.0 (ish) when graduating
-Hard worker
-Not a "traditional" learner - loves thinking and talking about politics, the world, etc..
-To add on to that above, head of my schools "Political Discussion Group" :-)
-Much stronger in humanities - going to A Level History and English next year
-In low math, and regular spanish and science classes</p>
<p>Music Wise:
-Started with piano in first grade
-Been taking lessons for a solid nine years
-Started playing drums in 7th grade - I kind of got it naturally (I have a good sense of rhythm)
-Currently take lessons at Berklee College of Music, play in school jazz band, and teach drums to beginners
-Next year, going to be doing year-long Saturday jazz program at the New England Conservatory as well as a jazz theory class. </p>
<p>I love music and am looking for a program/school that is as contemporary as can be, yet, I want to stay away from all music schools just because I want to explore other academic fields in my minor. I love jazz and enjoy playing with groups, but also really love funk, rock, pop, latin, etc. and want to be able to do some of that at school. </p>
<p>There are a bunch of good "Jazz Studies" programs which would be great, but I think a "Jazz and Contemporary Music" or "Contemporary Music" degree would be better for the kind of player I am. </p>
<p>Could you give me an example of a school that fits the mold you’re looking for? I’d love to help you out, but I’m not quite sure what to look for exactly :)</p>
<p>Sure. I think Belmont University down in Nashville is a good example. It has a degree in Commercial Music with a performance emphasis. They also have some amazing drum set instructors.</p>
<p>I was also just checking out USC’s Thorton School of Music. They have a Popular Music degree as well as a jazz degree, plus, Peter Erskine works there.</p>
<p>My son just finished his freshman year in the popular music program. He is a singer/songwriter so, not a drummer, but did take drumming from Peter Erskine although the TA did a lot of it I think. Son is very happy with the program overall. Exposure and access to music industry folks is significant in LA. It is an exceptional program if it fits what you are looking for. USC grade expectations are very high, but if your musical skill set is high enough they pull for you with admissions. It is a BM so you will take music theory, ear training, etc, not just drumming courses, but also performance courses and others geared toward the popular music industry. We applied not knowing how son would stack up with others and he was admitted. If you are interested, do some research into the program. Nothing to lose by submitting an application for audition when it is time. Berklee is something you should look at also since you are taking lessons there and they probably have the most similar programs to USC’s at this point, just not in a broader academic setting. USC rate of admission in popular music is ~10% and admission rates at Berklee are a lot higher than at USC so son and peers think the average ability at USC is probably higher, but the best at Berklee are probably similar to the best at USC. There is a summer grammy camp that has been held at USC and the director of the popular music program has been significantly involved I think. If you went to that and are taking lessons at Berklee, you would have a great sense of what the two programs can offer and also have some connections that could be helpful if you have done well in those programs. </p>
<p>Thanks so much Raddad. How much do grades play a factor for music students. Obviously you can’t go in there with a D average, but is a solid 3.0 not good enough? </p>
<p>Does anyone know about the Frost School of Music’s (miami) degree in “Studio Music and Jazz” or UDenver’s “Jazz and Commercial Music” degrees? </p>
<p>I don’t think there is a hard and fast rule with USC on musician grades and admittance. For the audition they only listen to or look at your pre-screen audition materials and if they like what they see, they invite you for an audition. The Dean of the music school gave a talk the day my son auditioned and this was for all the music students (classical, jazz, etc.). He said that the more they want you musically the more flexible they are with the grades. This is probably true of many schools. I think the short version from me would be to do as well as you can on the grades (it can never hurt) and really study for the SAT or ACT and do well on that (again it can’t hurt, just a little less video game time ). That way you have the most and best choices in the end and you can pick among them. </p>
<p>The other thing that is helpful for popular music is to be in a few garage bands and develop some original music. Having played some of your better local venues or won battle of the bands competitions looks good on your resume and provides some excellent experience coming into the program. It is also very good to have a wide exposure and appreciation of some of the more unique and innovative musicians that other musicians admire (not much of what is on the radio these days) because they take the art of music very seriously. Radiohead, Flaming Lips, John Coltrane, Nick Drake, are a few that my son and his friends are exposing each other to and the key thing about each of these is they were doing unique things. I know these last two suggestions will be a little easier to follow than the ones on academics :)</p>
<p>Perhaps isolated incidents, but for what it’s worth, we know of at least three stellar musicians (one guitarist, one drummer, one bass) who were not accepted to USC and feel it was due to unweighted GPA’s in the low to low-mid 3’s. All believed they had great auditions, all had stellar recommendations from noted private teachers (one even on the faculty at USC), etc. </p>
<p>Another mere anecdote, so take it with a grain of salt: friends who took the USC Thornton tour this past admissions cycle were told by the Thornton Admissions rep that a minimum 3.5 was “recommended.” I’m sure stellar test scores could balance a lower GPA though. And of course, an absolutely incredible audition might do the same, but our sense is it can only do so much if the Admissions staff, who have the final say, think the candidate will not succeed academically at USC.</p>
<p>My own son was worried about his unweighted 3.65 from a rigorous private school (and a relatively stronger SAT), but luckily he was admitted with a (small, IMHO) music merit scholarship.</p>
<p>ETA: My son knows a drummer at the University of Denver in the jazz/commercial program, and he loves it (got a nice scholarship, too). We’ve also heard great things about the Miami Frost program. My son plays rock and jazz, so while he wanted the training and discipline that jazz education provides, he didn’t want a strictly jazz program.</p>
<p>Just a thought – what would it take to hone in on your academic performance and boost your GPA as much as possible before you’re applying? You’re young enough and have time enough to make that happen. That will give you greatest access to fine programs AND help you win merit scholarships. </p>
<p>I only throw it out there b/c at my son’s school of music (University of Michigan) they’d commented that while the minimum for academic clearance was 3.0, the reality was that students who were admitted actually had a much higher GPA, more consistent with UMich’s overall 3.8 range GPA. The 50th percentile of ACT is 31 or 32. And they’re an example of a school with the kind of flexibility you’re seeking. But there is a reason they want students who can achieve high grades.</p>
<p>The reasoning is that at a rigorous school (and USC is considered rigorous, slightly slower stats than UMich though) you have to be able to perform well academically in the curriculum prereqs, and SUPER well if you’re intending to dual degree with the rest of the university. The prereq courses, such as music theory, are not for the faint of heart, nor are the musicology courses, which can have a very very high reading/essay/analysis workload.</p>
<p>A higher GPA could entitle you to automatic scholarship money at Belmont too. So I guess what I’m saying is you’re 15, you sound very talented, you sound like you’re at a rigorous enough school – if you really want to keep your music options open, don’t settle for a low B – aim to crack the 3.5 at least if possible.</p>
<p>You do sound like you’re very much on the right track. Good luck in your search.</p>
<p>OP, lest I give you the wrong impression, USC is VERY rigorous and based on average admit last year is actually 3.8 GPA with a higher requirement for SATs and ACT scores (Umich last year was 3.75 average). I had been working with old information or a wrong impression that the freshman profile was less rigorous than UMich. Some might argue it is more (based on higher overall SAT and ACT ranges and a much lower admit rate.)</p>
<p>This info only supports the importance of developing a very strong GPA to have the most freedom to choose.</p>
). That way you have the most and best choices in the end and you can pick among them. </p>