<p>I am a Junior in High School and am very knowledgeable of more than 8 instruments. I have my own little at home studio and I am constantly making my own songs and helping others make there own. I have been studying music for about 5 years now and I want to become a Music Producer or at least study that for my major. I've looked constantly but cannot find a specific music major for music production. It would be really helpful if anyone knew what Cal States or UC's who have this program or if they have it under a different name.
(I dont know if this is where i'm supposed to post this :( ) </p>
<p>USC has a new major starting in Fall 2015 in Music Production. We sort of found out about it by accident, and my son applied for the first class. It’s under Music Technology now on the website, check it out. It’s really the only one like it in the country. CSU Northridge and Cal Poly Pomona have music industry majors but they are very different from the USC program, but could also be a good bet for you. Otherwise, most of the other programs are back east - NYU, Northeastern, Syracuse, American, U of Miami, Belmont. Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Can you afford the California schools?</p>
<p>SC, what aspect of production interests you the most? If you want to delve deeper into signal processing etc. and are interested at all in electronic music, for example, UCIrvine has this program: <a href=“UCI Music Department - COMPUTER MUSIC”>http://music.arts.uci.edu/dobrian/UCIMusicDepartment/ComputerMusic.htm</a></p>
<p>Some of the names of production degrees will range from “music technology” to audio engineering. Music “industry” programs sometimes have less emphasis on production/signal processing.</p>
<p>The fit for you will depend both on what you’re looking for and the mix of the curriculum.
Another element is whether you work primarily in popular music, or whether you have experience/interest and training in classical and jazz.</p>
<p>My son was poly-instrumental with serious interest in production, composition and something of a home studio. He had a fairly accomplished background in classical and jazz, plus wrote a lot of different styles of music. When he went looking a few years back, he was most interested in the University of Michigan’s PAT program at the music school, NYU’s Clive Davis Recording program, and Indianna Jacobs Recording degree. USC, Belmont, and Miami were also on his radar.</p>
<p>That doesn’t help you with the UCs, but if you can define the area you want to develop most and then look at the music technology programs, you might be able to find more options.</p>
<p>You are going to run into a lot of confusion because everyone seems to use the words “electronic” and “technoloy” differently. Some electronic (“electroacoustic”) work is done by high level contemporary classical composers. These fields have become very interdisciplinary as well, with the study of sound falling into areas as diverse as music, neuroscience, architecture, math, computer science and engineering.
Here is an example in CA: <a href=“http://music.berkeley.edu/about-us/resources-and-facilities/cnmat/”>http://music.berkeley.edu/about-us/resources-and-facilities/cnmat/</a> They have a summer program you can look into.</p>
<p>Further confusion occurs with terms like “music industry,” “music production,” “music technology” and “music business.” I have been on this site for years and am not even sure what you are looking for when you say you want to be a “music producer”! Maybe you can explain your specific interests and goals.</p>
<p>Another area of confusion would be “popular” versus “commercial” versus “contemporary” music.</p>
<p>You really need to go onto websites for a variety of schools and read them deeply.</p>
<p>Cal Arts is not a public school but would be a place to look if it is possible financially.</p>
<p>Hartt School in CT (U. of Hartford) is a possibility for you; here is their music production program: <a href=“The Hartt School - University of Hartford”>The Hartt School - University of Hartford; UMass Lowell is an affordable option as well:
<a href=“http://www.uml.edu/FAHSS/music/Programs/Undergraduate/SRT/Sound-Recording-Technology.aspx”>http://www.uml.edu/FAHSS/music/Programs/Undergraduate/SRT/Sound-Recording-Technology.aspx</a></p>
<p>The schools for popular music that are often mentioned are Berklee, Belmont, USC Thornton, and Miami. </p>
<p>If you really want to stay in California, look at every state school’s music department and look at “majors and programs.” You can also look at actual courses. You can also check out privates if you would qualify for financial aid (Cal Arts, Mills, others). Community colleges might have offerings too.</p>
<p>It seems that the program you want is more career oriented, though grad study is available in production as well. But production is more career-oriented than, say, the use of technology for advanced electroacoustic composition. Try to learn about all this in a general way so you can understand the websites.</p>
<p>p.s.if you google music production schools CA a bunch of possibilities come up…for instance, <a href=“http://www.educationnews.org/career-index/music-production-schools-in-california/”>http://www.educationnews.org/career-index/music-production-schools-in-california/</a> I have no idea if this list is legitimate but you can check out whatever google gives you by going to the websites of each school</p>
<p>Had a few more minutes:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.educationnews.org/career-index/music-production-schools-in-california/”>http://www.educationnews.org/career-index/music-production-schools-in-california/</a>
<a href=“http://www.music-universities.com/california/”>http://www.music-universities.com/california/</a> (not so sure about some of these. Be careful of for profit and online programs in this field)
<a href=“http://www.hackcollege.com/school-finder/schools/music-production/”>http://www.hackcollege.com/school-finder/schools/music-production/</a> (This is a good list, some details below.)</p>
<p>After checking out these sites, I found the following:</p>
<p>Looks like CSU Northridge has options: <a href=“http://www.csun.edu/mike-curb-arts-media-communication/music/about-degrees-offered”>http://www.csun.edu/mike-curb-arts-media-communication/music/about-degrees-offered</a> (music industry and commercial writing)
American River College <a href=“http://web.arc.losrios.edu/~music/degrees2.html”>http://web.arc.losrios.edu/~music/degrees2.html</a> has production/technology
Santa Ana has a certificate and a degree: <a href=“Programs - Music Department - Santa Ana College”>http://sac.edu/music/Pages/Programs.aspx</a>
San Diego Mesa College has music production <a href=“http://www.sdmesa.edu/students/academic-programs/music/electronic-music-program/”>http://www.sdmesa.edu/students/academic-programs/music/electronic-music-program/</a>
Fresno City College has an AA and certificate program <a href=“http://www.fresnocitycollege.edu/index.aspx?page=189”>http://www.fresnocitycollege.edu/index.aspx?page=189</a>
Orange Coast College <a href=“http://www.orangecoastcollege.edu/academics/divisions/visual_arts/Music/Pages/Music-Programs.aspx”>http://www.orangecoastcollege.edu/academics/divisions/visual_arts/Music/Pages/Music-Programs.aspx</a>
Fullerton College has an AA and certificate.</p>
<p>There are others but this is certainly a start. You can do a 4 year, 2 year or certificate program to get started. Figure out if you want songwriting versus production or if they can be combined- I have no idea.</p>