<p>Which liberal arts colleges have vibrant student music scenes? By "vibrant student music scene" I mean student bands, student performances, and opportunities for students to see and hear professional bands. I don't mean formal music training.</p>
<p>Look into Wesleyan and Bard</p>
<p>I know that Loyola New Orleans has a good music business program, and is in a great music city. Reed offers proximity to Portland’s hipster community. Rhodes is in Memphis, with a rich musical heritage. Eugene Lang/New School is affiliated with a college of Jazz Studies, and is in Manhattan. NYC might not be as ideal for launching a career, though, given the cost of rehearsal space. Some colleges like Bennington and Bard have always attracted musically-inclined students, even though they are not in urban areas. Emerson, in Boston, is not a traditional liberal arts college, but has a lot of students involved in performance and music production. Vanderbilt and Belmont have Nashville’s music industry. Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and - of course - LA, are all musical meccas, but most college towns have thriving small venues and clubs. </p>
<p>This may be of interest:
<a href=“http://grinnellconcerts.com”>http://grinnellconcerts.com</a></p>
<p>That was one thing my D really appreciated about Lewis and Clark (also in hipster Portland OR). The students regularly play at their coffee bar.</p>
<p>St. Lawrence University, perhaps? I think that it has a venue for student musical performances.</p>