<p>Just to throw out another option that never gets mentioned, probably because it is such a local school: Five Towns College on Long Island. They are an arts college that offers a wide variety of music styles. I know of a very good jazz musician from Manhattan School of Music's precollege faculty who teaches there. And you can pursue contemporary guitar for sure.</p>
<p>Apply to Berklee for sure! That's where I wanna go. I sing and play guitar and applied for the songwriting program. I find out if I'm in on March 31st.. and my auditions in two weeks. So nervous... But its an amazing school, seriously. Youtube some stuff on it.</p>
<p>Good luck kristenbrie!! Sounds like you have a lot of talent. My son just got his EA decision yesterday (he's in! we are waiting to hear about scholarships). If you work hard and prepare for it you will do fine. Are you auditioning regionally or flying to Boston?</p>
<p>Just popped back on the site and SO glad to see so many Berklee-bound folks and happy parents ... last year at this time my D was the only one headed there. And now a year later she is the happiest she has ever been in her life ... it has turned out to be a fantastic match for her in every way. </p>
<p>So it looks like most of your questions have been answered by the current applying parents but if ANY of you have other questions about the school (nb: my D is a singer/songwriter, not a guitarist), please feel free to ask and I'll try to check in more regularly just in case :)</p>
<p>so right know the two colleges that I have in mind, are berklee a and the new school for jazz.</p>
<p>obviously, i know i should have more options, but really, these two are the only real options i have.</p>
<p>any more suggestions?</p>
<p>you know, more like bluesy and rock stuff</p>
<p>oh yeah, and is the fact that im a international student is a big advantage??</p>
<p>"oh yeah, and is the fact that im a international student is a big advantage??"</p>
<p>Nope.</p>
<p>USC Thornton has a new BM program in Popular Music. You might check that out.</p>
<p>Being an international student probably is not going to be much of an advantage at programs that base most of their decision on the audition. It can be a decided disadvantage if you are looking for financial aid, because many schools have only limited sources of funding for providing aid to international students.</p>
<p>suny new paltz has an contemporary music studies both with or without an music therapy track which i think is awesome, it will def be cheaper than berklee or new school..which i might consider going to if either i dont like new paltz or dont get accepted (my audition isthis weekend)...oh and the degree at new paltz is a bachelor of science instead of music..but i was told both were better than a b.a.</p>
<p>good luck to you!</p>
<p>hi zappamom, where did your son end up attending and how does he like/dislike it? my nephew is now going thru the process of looking for the right school. thanks,</p>
<p>UMass Lowell might be a possibility. I have not checked the site but know some students who went there for guitar. That would be a BM program.</p>
<p>I agree with someone else who posted saying that a college BA program is another possibility. You could continue to study privately, and get a good all-round music education that way.</p>
<p>Another suggestion is Columbia College in Chicago.</p>
<p>This thread is two years old. There are now newer threads which discuss programs in popular music which may be more helpful.</p>