If I hate country music should I avoid Vanderbilt?

I want to be a musician, and I want to be a music & math double major in college. I was looking at Vanderbilt, but I remembered that Nashville is very country, which I am not fond of. Is the country music scene actually as strong as the stigma?

You’re joking, right? Tennessee might be the South, but it’s not like they’re going to have Miranda Lambert or something blasting from the school’s loudspeakers.

I’ve just always heard that Nashville in particular is super country. Is this not the case?

Well, it might well be, but if it is a regular college, than it’s not like your only class options for music are going to be “Honky Tonk Guitar,” “Backroads Drumming,” or “Fiddling for Corn Husking.” I’m sure there’s plenty of people that like pop, rock, rap, classical, etc.

(But why on earth don’t you like country? It’s great!) :wink:

Music City? Check out the list of upcoming concerts:

http://www.visitmusiccity.com/music/events/upcomingconcerts

A sample from from late April:

Primus & The Chocolate Factory April 15
Rites of Spring ft. Young the Giant, Chance the Rapper, T-Pain, Portugal the Man, and more
Vanderbilt University April 16-18
Guerrero Conducts Beethoven April 17-18
Diana Krall April 21
Halestorm April 22
Ten out of Tenn April 24
Joan Armatrading April 25
Ryan Adams April 27-28
Bob Dylan April 27
Death Cab for Cutie April 29
Godsmack April 29
Tchaikovsky’s ‘Pathetique’ April 30-May 2

http://www.cheatsheet.com/stocks/5-bands-that-prove-nashville-isnt-just-about-country-music.html/

You should do a search for the Rites of Spring line ups for this year and for the last few years and also for the Commodore Quake concerts (homecoming). I think you’ll find a wide variety of musical offerings.

I would think that being in Nashville would be a draw for any music major, just like being close to Hollywood eould be for a film major, or close to Broadway for a Musical Theatre major etc.

Ludacris & Iggy Azalea were at last year’s Commodore Quake.

And one of the best music business schools in the country is right across the street from Vandy at Belmont.

I think it’s a HUGE misconception that Nashville is all country all the time.

Nashville does has a strong country music influence but it does not influence Vanderbilt. Music interests here are as diverse as any other school. The only country songs I ever hear around campus are the really big hits/classics.