<p>Looking for some help targeting College Music programs for my soon to be High School Junior daughter. She's got dreams of being a "rock / pop star" and I support her but also want her to have a realistic outlook and practical approach to the music business. I'm her biggest cheerleader and she's got some talent but I know many times success in music is "who you know", "what's hot at the moment", and "do you have the right look", more than talent. So I'd like a program that will give her the business side of the business to promote her music or help her get an industry job if she doesn't get her "big break".</p>
<p>We've got some time but wanted to research programs that are equally weighted in vocal performance AND music business. We live in Connecticut and are open to programs anywhere but her preferences are big cities on the east or west coast - open to UK or Canada too. </p>
<p>So far she's an honor roll student (3.5 GPA) and will be taking a couple AP courses this fall. She's been accepted and will be attending a Performing Arts Magnet program next year, has taken some guitar and begun vocal coaching. She's attended summer workshops at Berklee, SUNY Purchase and Hartford Stage over the past 2 summers. We're looking to start visiting schools this year.</p>
<p>I'm being an optimist about finding the best school for her regardless of cost but am worried about that. Doubtful we'll qualify for need-based aid and as her Dad - fighting for visitation and custody to get her on this path to support her dream has eaten eaten away my savings.</p>
<p>Dream schools are:
- Berklee
- NYU
- USC - Thorton
- Miami
- Drexel
- Yale - on Dad's list just because...</p>
<p>Looking into:
- College of Saint Rose
- Full Sail - really like the success their graduates have had but not sure about vocal performance aspect or the real world reputation (read stories about accreditation issues)
- Memphis
- Cal State Northridge
- University of Hartford
- Georgia State
- Belmont
- Kennesaw State</p>
<p>If she’s willing to go as far as Georgia or Belmont, I’d also strongly research and consider Middle Tennessee State. The Music Industry professor is Cedric Dent who is/was/is with Take 6 a hugely popular vocal group. He is amazingly talented and he does no doubt have good advice and connections. My son will be double majoring in jazz and music industry there and is very much looking forward to learning from him and all the rest of the very talented and dedicated profs. And S was accepted to Berklee (guitar in the Professional Music program) , so the fact that he chose MTSU to me says a lot… alllllll he talked about for yyyyeeeeeaaaars (lol) was Berklee. But he loved MTSU and in the end chose it. @jeannemar’s son is also going there to major in Recording Industry, which has 2 tracks. It has been mentioned in several industry mags as one of the top programs for recording and music industry. </p>
<p>To add, we looked at Full Sail. Be very careful of for-profit schools. And also know they have no dorms… don’t know if that is a consideration for you, but… I didn’t like that aspect. But if you consider them, you may also consider Five Towns. We really liked many things about it and even though Son’s interest was guitar (and 2 of his gurus went there!) I know they have a good voice program in our opinion. (But that might be just us)</p>
<p>My son, who works as a sound engineer, always warns against Full Sail…apparently they have a pretty bad reputation in the industry. He’s an audio grad from Columbia Chicago, btw.</p>
<p>Thanks so much @shellybean , The location could be a hurdle, but we’ll have to give Middle Tennessee a closer look. Since she’s attended summer workshops at Berklee, its by far her top choice. My parents (her grandparents) live in the Atlanta area so its familiar and has an awesome music scene. Five Towns popped up as well and they have a few notable alumni (Wycleff, Adam Levine, Chrissette Michelle) and I like that its close to NYC. I didn’t know it was a for profit school. Hampton University is also on the more affordable roadmap along with Cal State Northridge which has the benefit of being near L.A.</p>
<p>Planning to visit Univ of Hartford early this fall since its close by. Didn’t realize they had such a good Broadway reputation though she’s not huge into musical theater.</p>
<p>@stradmom - will have to check out Columbia College</p>
<p>Speaking of Atlanta, many folks down here have asked my son why he didn’t consider Atlanta Institute of Music… I really have no answer! lol. Tosin Abasi is an alum, as well as a few others. </p>
<p>Belmont is known for its Music Business program and the campus borders one end of Music Row. It is well known in music circles. She may run into Vince Gill at basketball games. </p>
<p>We’ll have to look into Northeastern and UMass Lowell @compmom, they could be good back ups if Berklee doesn’t work out. @shellybean I haven’t come across the Atlanta Institute of Music. What do you know about it? @prezbucky - Belmont is on the list, a little concerned about the rumors I’ve seen regarding strict policies and curfews as well as diversity but they’ve got a good industry reputation.</p>
<p>I don’t know all that much. I know that Tosin Abasi (guitar phenom) went there. And many of the recording and guitar folks my son runs into asks him why he isn’t going there. You should request some info from them and see what they have to say.</p>
<p>My son goes to the Hartt School at the University of Hartford as a music business major, and studies jazz bass. He really likes it there. He says that Western Connecticut has a good music program, so that might be worth a look.</p>
<p>We looked long and hard at St. Rose. They have beautiful facilities, and they are trying increase the level of their music program, so they give good $$ for students they are interested in. </p>
<p>You might also want to have a look at the Frost School at the University of Miami. </p>
<p>Thanks for the info on the Hartt School @electricbassmom we’re looking forward to checking it out this fall. </p>
<p>I like how St. Rose is described as well and like the Senior project of recording and marketing your own album and it does look like they offer scholarship $$. </p>
<p>You asked about U. Cin… My son applied to Cincinnati and I’d give it a try. We had a good friend who went there for dance (and musical theatre I bevlieve) and loved it. We messed up his application to there, so I can’t really say much else. Their pop. music program seems awesome.
Son also looked at and was accepted to (with good scholarship) Un. of Southern Maine. We loved everything about there except it was so far away from us and he ended up falling even more in love with MTSU. </p>
<p>Visit to the Hartt School revealed that their definition of contemporary music means jazz and not pop so admissions felt its not the right school for her. We did New Haven a few days ago and she liked the program and will keep it on her list to apply but not top choice. We’re going to Saint Rose’s open house next month and registered for Columbia College of Chicago’s NYC open house as well.</p>
<p>Thanks @shellybean for the tip on Cinicinnati, we’ll look into that one. Hoping to head to Tennessee and Georgia for Spring Break to visit MTSU, Belmont, Memphis, Georgia State, and Kennesaw, perhaps UGA as well.</p>
<p>Heard good things locally about Western Connecticut and will check them out too (they’re the most affordable option).</p>
<p>She will need jazz or classical music as her base for learning music theory and composition core classes, so don’t avoid a school completely because they have jazz. Is she trying to be a performer, a songwriter or just involved in the music industry or music business?</p>
<p>Keep us posted as you visit schools. My D just graduated from Berklee and just moved to Los Angeles.</p>
<p>My son went for sound recording rather than music business. But if he went business it would have been Saint Rose. Try and chat with Sister Mary Anne when you visit. Terrific woman. Also, the scholarship money (at different amounts) is guaranteed upon admissions if you reach certain standards.</p>
<p>@snowflakeVT - thanks for the insight, she’s taking music theory now at performing arts high school and learning classical and jazz. She has to pass a jury evaluation each semester so I’m hoping this prepares her well for college. She wants to be a performer and songwriter in pop/rock/r&b. We’re not ruling out schools because they have jazz but absolutely are looking for schools that have contemporary pop/rock/r&b etc and the Hartt School didn’t have any of that.</p>
<p>What did your D study at Berklee and what are her plans in LA?</p>
<p>Thanks for the tip @geo1113 - I like what I’ve read so far about Saint Rose and am looking forward to our open house. They seem to have good scholarships and a great music program in line with what my daughter is looking for, I especially like the internships, business courses and senior album project.</p>
<p>How’s your son doing in sound recording and where does he study?</p>