<p>I'm big on electronic music, I'm really happy producing it. I've seen USC Thornton's music programs and they seem...awesome. I know some piano (though I'll be learning more through my senior year of HS, I'm 17 atm), but I'm more skilled in operating analog synthesizers, creating sounds and what not. What I know now is what I've taught myself mostly. </p>
<p>However, from the programs at USC Thornton, it seems like you either need to know an instrument (or more than one) really well or just go completely into the business aspect of it (at least, that's the impression I got from the description of the Music Industry B.S. on the site). The programs I'm primarily interested in are Popular Music and the B.M. or the B.S. in Music Industry. </p>
<p>For an example of some of my music, check this (it's unmastered): Primal</a> - Marathon (Original Mix) PREVIEW by Primal on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free</p>
<p>Is there any place for someone like me in these majors at USC Thornton? Ideally I'd do Popular Music or get the B.M. in Music Industry, since they provide a lot of education in music technology and composition, but if I could get something similar with the B.S., that'd be cool too. I just would like something where I'm versed in the creation of music, but in a manner that's translatable to what I'm interested in.</p>
<p>EDIT: Thought I'd supplement this with an explanation of how I'd do the audition. I'd likely bring in my MIDI keyboard and my Moog Little Phatty (it's in the mail now!), playing some things live and then looping them and creating drum loops live to essentially perform a full electronic track live. It's not that difficult for me, I've done it before, so that wouldn't be a worry. I just don't know if they would find that...acceptable, like tweaking the synths live for the sound or what not.</p>
<p>EDIT 2: Did a little googling for other schools, turns out UW and Oberlin have cool electronic music programs. How would I fare at those schools? I'd already been looking at UW and USC for computer engineering</p>
<p>Hi there. I am not sure how tough an admit some of the music tech programs would be without a formal instrument/ensemble work b/c my own son did play trumpet (and many other instruments) to a pretty high level. However, he and I listened to your electronic music, and he said he could picture you enjoying the Performing Arts Technology at the University of Michigan School of Music, which blends electronic music composition, sound recording, digital music performance, multimedia and engineering/programming.</p>
<p>If you’re applying to USC, I am assuming you have great marks academically (?). For the PAT program, your computer programming interest and your current synth exposure would be beneficial. (They do recommend pre-college experience with traditional AND technologically enhanced performance, though.) You still would need to play on an “instrument” for the portfolio, plus submit a score, etc., but here’s a link to go find out more if you’re interested. You could really concentrate on the electronic composition and computer programming aspects if you got into the program – this is the curriculum my son said you’d have the least difficulty with in terms of not having a deep/formal background on an instrument (but look at engineering as well):</p>
<p>[UM</a> School of Music, Theatre & Dance - Department of Performing Arts Technology - Degree Programs](<a href=“http://www.music.umich.edu/departments/pat/bfa_curr_b.htm]UM”>http://www.music.umich.edu/departments/pat/bfa_curr_b.htm)</p>
<p>Correction -l- I meant look at Curriculum C, which is more more multimedia and doesn’t require as much traditional performance experience. Engineering is the opposite – high level of proficiency on an acoustical instrument.</p>
<p>Have you looked at Tisch?</p>
<p>[Recorded</a> Music: Tisch School of the Arts at NYU](<a href=“http://remu.tisch.nyu.edu/page/home.html]Recorded”>http://remu.tisch.nyu.edu/page/home.html)</p>
<p>Peri from Filo & Peri attended Tisch.</p>
<p>^That’s a good program too but there really aren’t many actually COMPOSITION courses in the curriculum…but there is arranging, songwriting, and lots of production courses. UMich offers more actual electronic music composition courses, but fewer contemporary/producer/songwriter courses (but they do have music business, etc. as well.) </p>
<p>So the best fit might depend on just how much electronic composing the OP wants to do (versus sequencing…)</p>
<p>The Peabody conservatory at Johns Hopkins also has computer music with emphasis on either performance or composition.</p>
<p>atomica, I suggest you call and ask Thornton Admissions directly which program suits you best and how. Ask for one of the Admissions directors (don’t just ask a student who answers the phone): PJ Woolston, Philip Placenti or Tara Bailey are all people who could answer you or direct you to the right person (and each is extremely friendly). Perhaps you might even get an email response from Chris Sampson, the director of the popular music program at USC.</p>
<p>I hope you have looked at Cal Arts. Fantastic, creative work coming out of there.
[Music</a> Technology | The Herb Alpert School of Music at CalArts](<a href=“http://music.calarts.edu/programs/music-technology]Music”>http://music.calarts.edu/programs/music-technology)</p>
<p><a href=“http://mtiid.calarts.edu/[/url]”>http://mtiid.calarts.edu/</a></p>
<p>I’ll definitely have to make sure I check out the deal with USC, I’ll probably call when I get a chance.</p>
<p>@Lauren – I have to say, I REALLY like the way that the NYU Tisch ReMu program looks. It’s like everything I want, they even set you up with internships at places like Sony Music. Awesome! I might even apply ED, since it’'d be cool to go but not really a necessity. </p>
<p>@KMC I really like the way UMich has their programming. I guess what I am interested is sequencing too - though I really like the idea of using it all live, doing the synthwork live but via MIDI. The only problem I’d have is that UMich is in well…Michigan! Not that I have a problem with Michigan, it’s great out there, but I feel like I need a city that would nurture my music (a place where I could DJ and play out, like I can/do in NYC) as opposed to only studying in school. If I studied in NYC, there are a ton of places I could DJ while working on my music in school and getting my name out there as I get better and better. Same for LA. </p>
<p>CalArts looks awesome too!</p>
<p>REAAALLLLY liking NYU Tisch though. And it’s convenient because I already am from Manhattan…</p>
<p>Atomica, both of those locations make sense for the line/style of work you’re interested in. Both of those programs have a 10-% or less (think USC might be 7%) admit rate, just so you know. So you might want to check out additional places to apply. Why not try SEAMUS (Society for Electro Acoustic Music) to get a read on where their most active profs/members come from. [Seamus</a> Online](<a href=“http://www.seamusonline.org/]Seamus”>http://www.seamusonline.org/)</p>
<p>As well, there is a poster here named Kathie (I think) who is with her husband attending Mills College in San Francisco - her husband was accepted to the Masters in Electronic Music program (and I’ve seen/heard his stuff – very nice). Mills is a private college and is all-girls undergrad. But the masters program is world-renowned and mixed or male dominated. (Eg. David Brubek, etc.) SF is a good scene for electronic composition, sequencing etc. I believe he went to Stetson in FL. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>PS A lot of the kids at Michigan play/dj in nearby Detroit</p>