<p>If she went to Steinhardt or Tisch she would not be studying contemporary music exclusively, but could have some opportunity if the musical theatre repertoire she was studying or performing was contemporary. She would get a foundation in either classical or music theatre at Steinhardt and music theatre at Tisch. But music theatre is going in a contemporary direction reflecting pop music taste, so she would probably be exposed to all kinds of music. But to me, classical training is the foundation to good singing and she could take advantage of all the other opportunities that NYU could offer on an extra-curricular level and all the opportunities that the clubs and bars in NYC offers. (Read up on Lady Gagaâs early career.) Or she could do Music business at Steinhardt or Tisch and take voice lessons. D is a studio art major and has been taking voice lessons for the past 2 years at NYU. If she chooses to major in performance, the open arts and EMT minor will give her a good business background and allow for internship opportunities in music and entertainment through out the year.</p>
<p>Unfortunately she wasnât selected for the NYU Future Music Moguls program. Good learning opportunity for interviewing and collaboration and to understand that at times things wonât go her way. Sheâs taking it in stride and preparing for her show after Christmas.</p>
<p>Every experience gives her more information and feedback. Good for her for trying.</p>
<p>@PopPrincessPop - too bad. My S has really enjoyed Belmont and believe me, he is a âyankeeâ through and through (we live in the Philly area). He applied at NYU, Temple, and Berklee - rejected by NYU, deferred at Berklee, accepted at Temple but not to their composition program. So Belmont was the only music program he got into for the fall. At first he was not enthused about going there, but we told him if he hated it we would let him transfer to Berklee. Heâs been very happy at Belmont and itâs half the price of Berklee. He LOVES Nashville, I mean loves it. It is full of opportunities to perform, record, make connections with other musicians, form bands, get internships, etc. Last summer he didnât even take an internship because he already had gotten paid work writing a score for an independent film and doing arrangements for an aspiring singer-songwriter who he met through some friends. He was happy to get out of the dorm after the first year because theyâre pretty strict about hours, visitations, etc. But housing in Nashville is cheap and plentiful, certainly much much cheaper than New York, Boston, or Philly. He has been able to pay for all of his own rent and food and gas on a part-time job. </p>
<p>One of my Sâs high school friends transferred to Belmont for vocal performance last year after two years at CC and is killing it, she already has formed a signing duo with another young lady and they have gotten gigs all over Nashville. It really is âMusic City.â But there is a pretty strong delineation at Belmont between the BM music majors and the music business majors - completely different schools and curricula. Music students can take some business classes as electives but thatâs about it. But there are tons of performing opportunities for the music business students. </p>
<p>You might also want to look at the University of the Arts in Philly - another student there was the runner-up on âThe Voiceâ last night. He spoke very very highly of the teachers there. </p>
<p>Hey guys! She got in!! She is BEYOND excited! <em>Releasing the breath Iâve been holding since auditions</em> Only problem isâŠthis was her 1st choice and dream school so now that sheâs been accepted, she doesnât want to look anywhere else. But Iâm so happy for her and super proud! 
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<p>Awesome @AmbitionsMomâ ! Congrats to your daughter⊠Berklee?</p>
<p>@PopPrincessPopâ YES! LolâŠshe still canât believe it.</p>
<p>Congrats to your D, @AmbitionsMomâ ! My D was the same way ⊠Once she got the accept, some scholarship info came 24 hours later and she never finished applying to her other schools. Best of luck to your D!</p>
<p>Thanks @SnowflakeVTâ! Glad to know sheâs not the only kid who felt this way. This is her first and only choice so I am absolutely behind her decision. Iâve never been through this before but everyone is saying she should try more schools and âohhhh going out of state is so expensiveâ. We received scholarship info at the same time as the acceptance. You make me feel better!</p>
<p>I look forward to hearing about your Dâs experience at Berklee. </p>
<p>Super excited for you and your daughter @ambitionsmom - hoping my daughter will have the same good news from Berklee at this time next year. What will she be studying? Anything you can share about her scholarship?</p>
<p>Congrats! My son was accepted also on guitar with a scholarship. He only applied to one other school. If this is her dream, then donât worry about what others say. Betklee is one of the best in the world! And Berklee costs the same no matter where you live. Most likely anyone studying music will be leaving their state. People who donât have musicians in their family often times donât get it. Love this website where we can connect with each other and understand what each other is going through. </p>
Happy New Year everyone, time to start 2015 off with the next chapter in the college search. Weâll be attending an Open House at Drexel in early March to check out their Music Business program and am planning an April Spring Break trip to New Orleans and Tennessee to check out Loyola, University of New Orleans, Memphis, Middle Tennessee and possibly Belmont. Iâve also emailed New Jersey City University and the New School in New York to get more info and arrange visits next month.
My daughterâs been doing her own research too and is becoming more interested in McNally Smith and looking forward to the opportunity to participate in University of Colorado - Denverâs Summer program. Hoping to also check out the University of Denverâs Lamont school of music over the summer as well.
Though I had thought of skipping Berklee because its a known quantity and still the clear front runner, weâll schedule a visit there as well. It looks like weâre starting to have some connections, one of my family members who works in academia knows people in the admissions and financial aid office and my daughter performed with one of the Voice Professors this past fall.
Weâve got a bit of work to do on SAT / ACT scores based on her PSATâs but performance-wise things are going pretty well this Junior year. She participates in Regional Choir and will be singing a number of classical pieces and will be taking Musical Theater next semester.
She performed her James Bond Medley (Golden Eye, Diamonds are Forever, and SkyFall) at her Vocal Coachâs student showcase in NYC right after Xmas and did a great job.
Good luck on all your college visits PopPrincessPop! They can be super exciting. I recently visited Middle Tennessee State University and Belmont. Love both Audio Production/Music business programs and the schools looked great! Iâve been accepted at MTSU but still waiting to hear back from Belmont. If Iâm accepted Iâll have to decided between the two 
Anyone have any insight or know anyone who has went there and if they liked it?
Happy New Year! @popprincesspop - Sounds like you have a lot of stuff planned! Good luck with the Berklee connections. Thatâs awesome! I have a lot of interaction with people in the Chicago theatre / musical theatre scene and it is no secret that who you know can bring opportunities and while there is a TON of capable talent, it is the people getting the opportunities that get noticed and get the jobs! Oh, how I wish my D was into acting. lol
McNally Smith has a (short) summer program, too. We are considering that or the UC Denver one. It will depend on how busy my D is with her band this summer and whether she has another job or not.
We are planning a second visit to Belmont along with a first visit to MTSU. My D is a little turned off by the overwhelming âcountryâ presence in Nashville, but canât deny the opportunities for all music there. Belmontâs campus is so pretty and they were straightforward with what you can expect as far as scholarships / financial aid which is really helpful. We toured the main school, the school of music and the Curb college. Then we visited Belmont Mansion (for a fee) which is on campus and was pretty cool if you like that kind of thing. But we visited in the summer, so now we want to go back when school is in session. Just FYI @popprincesspop the commercial music program does have some classical requirements and the only way to minor in vocal performance (for example as a Music Business major) is in classical vp.
Right now we are in the process of printing out all the course requirements for all the programs at all the schools D may apply to, so she can take a good long look at what she will really be studying. Itâs overwhelming. Sometimes I wonder if we should just send her to community college (free) for 1 year and throw the college $ we would not be spending into artist development and songwriting coach - which is what 2 different voice teachers have suggested to us. Ugh. Itâs hard to know what to do.
@selftitledlife - I have a good friend whose son graduated from MTSUâs audio production program a few years ago, and had a job when he graduated. He loved it. I would say that program is probably stronger than Belmontâs. MTSU is a bigger school too.
@dbandmom - we are not country music people either and my son has loved Belmont and loves Nashville. Only 40% of the music produced there is country. Jack White, Kings of Leon, and other well known rock artists are based in Nashville now. There are many great venues for non-country artists to perform and to go to shows.
@honestmomâ thank you for the insight! 
I canât decide between the 2 schools! I love MTSU because it does have a football team, itâs not religious affliated, and itâs size. Belmont has a super awesome location though. Hopefully I can go back and visit soon.
@PopPrincessPopâ wow this is crazy! I just so happen to be a junior from connecticut with a similar gpa (3.65) who is interested in a music industry/music business/vocal preformance major as well! I am also going to the Drexel open house next month (which Iâm very exited about since Drexel is in my top 2 favorite schools) Have you and your daughter looked into American University that have a business and entertainment major?
Small world @intervention98 ! American University hasnât been on our radar, weâll have to do some research. Maybe weâll see you at Drexel in a couple weeks!
Just back from University of the Arts Open House in Philadelphia and looks like it will make the short list. She looked at the Vocal Performance major and can take classes or minor in Music Business Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET). Urban campus is a plus though she thought the dorms were a little old feeling but were apartment style with private bathrooms. Outside of that she said âI could see myself hereâ.
We both really liked the flexibility of taking classes in all disciplines, Art, Dance, Film, Music, Business etc within the large elective pool. Theyâve got study abroad opportunities and it seems the students are very involved with promotion and faculty wants to stay up with the changing business and technology landscape. We were treated to many student performances during the music department presentation and had a nice Q&A with students and faculty. The performances were good and a few really stood out as excellent including a Senior vocalist who won the Montruex Jazz Festival Performerâs Award last fall in Switzerland.
We missed Drexelâs Open House a few weeks due to some scheduling conflicts but drove by and looked at the neighborhood. Will have to try their Fall Open House later this year.
Gearing up for spring break in a couple weeks and have lined up tours, classes and faculty / admissions discussions at Loyola, Memphis, Middle Tennessee and Tennessee State.