<p>Anyone have thoughts on the Capital University Music Technology (BM or BA) & Indiana University Recording Arts (BS) programs? My child is looking at these 2 schools in addition to several other but I want to hear about these 2 programs. Though Capital is a smaller school their music technology program is much larger than Indiana University's program. Is anyone else comparing these 2 programs? Comments please.</p>
<p>I’m not familiar with Capital’s program.</p>
<p>I am familiar with Indiana/Jacobs, though my son ultimately chose a different program that had more emphasis on composition (at University of Michigan; a hybrid degree that involves music engineering and composition and performance/programming/tech).</p>
<p>We met with faculty, toured, met with students in the program; son sat in on classes a few years ago. The program is very well regarded, and most of the interviewees there were basically running similar circuits in terms of interviews: Umich, USC popular, UMiami, NYU Clive Davis and IU. The program is known internationally and attracts talent from all over. Faculty seems to maintain good industry connections.</p>
<p>There is possibly more of an emphasis on sound reinforcement than some other programs, and possibly less emphasis on traditional composition, and no emphasis on electroacoustic composition or digital performance IMHO. But there is absolutely top notch production instruction. About half the kids seemed to hail from contemporary-only style musical backgrounds; while the other half had the kind of western symphonic and or jazz ensemble experience that McSon possessed. </p>
<p>I guess I’d need to know more about what elements interest your child the most. IU is an excellent fit for many, and a pretty selective program to which to be admitted. </p>
<p>I find their Out of State tuition rates and automatic academic scholarships to make the school a very competitive fiscal option as well compared with some others (eg NYU).</p>
<p>And the campus is beautiful; the town is tres hip in terms of local band scene; and of course, the large SOM means there’s no shortage of musical or theatrical pursuits – in other words, LOTS of RECORDING & PRODUCTION experience.</p>
<p>The vibe I got when I visited IU was that in contrast to some other broader “Music Technology” programs, Recording Arts at IU is very, very focused. While other programs have many aspects to their program (electrical engineering/computer science, performance study, extensive music theory, composition, etc), IU does not. They are completely focused on recording and live sound reinforcement. Now, this could be a good thing or a bad thing: if your child is determined to be a recording engineer, producer, live sound engineer, etc, I would say there’s hardly a better place he/she could go. The amount of practical experience offered there is truly astounding. However, if he/she wants to branch out and explore different areas of music technology, there doesn’t seem to be a ton of room for that.</p>
<p>Now of course, you can concentrate your Recording Arts degree in one of various areas (performance, composition, informatics, computer science, telecommunications, business) but there concentrations are only something like 15 credit hours. The bulk of the coursework there is recording based. </p>
<p>Overall I’d agree with with kmcmom that it will be a great fit for some and a not-so-great fit for others, and it really depends on your child’s interests. One little tidbit I’d like to add to kmcmom’s post: IU actually has added a new concentration in Electronic Music, which includes some electroacoustic composition. So that is now something of an option.</p>