Music Industry, Music Business, Performance

College Majors Music Major
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<p>What is the difference between majoring in Music Industry and Music Business? And are there any programs either in Music Industry or Business heavy on performance, in case DD chose that tract in the end?</p>

<p>Is SUNY Oneonta in contention as a school with a decent Music Industry program and decent performance opportunities, although really not thought of as a Music Performance school? </p>

<p>DD is an Oboist and the biography of their Oboe Professor seems pretty good, although we'd need to meet him and she has a few years before she graduates and he seems to perhaps be reaching retirement age.</p>

<p>SUNY Potsdam has a Music Business program. But back to my first question-- what is Music Industry vs Music Business? (I feel so dumb!) </p>

<p>What about Ithaca, Fredonia, or Syracuse? </p>

<p>Without Merit Aid we're looking at a SUNY because we'll be full pay. Although daughter, I believe, will be in the running for some merit aid.</p>

<p>I originally asked about Oneonta because daughter was in Cooperstown last year as a finalist in the state wide history day competition and loved the area. Rural, yes, but serene and beautiful. I almost went to Oneonta for a history master's, years ago. It's about 3.5 hours from our home which would be great in her opinion (not to close not to far.)</p>

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<p>She could always transfer if deciding on performance. She definitely wants to keep up with quality lessons and performance opportunities.</p>

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<p>Music business and music industry are pretty much interchangeable terms. You get some music training, some business training and some recording training.</p>

<p>What you will find is that Ithaca and Fredonia will have a classical music orientation. As I heard one kid say, Fredonia doesn’t know that the electric bass has been invented. Both have sound recording technology which is more technical than music industry. My son visited Syracuse but just didn’t like the feel of the university as a whole so I never checked into their program.</p>

<p>One program that looked particularly strong on the east coast was at Drexel, but it is extremely competitive (I believe they get 800 applications for 54 spots). Their programs are music industry business and music industry technology. No audition is required so performance is not stressed.</p>

<p>Another program that had a good feel was College of Saint Rose in Albany. An audition is required and they do have a performance major. They have a beautiful new facility and the students love the head of the music industry program (and in my brief interactions with her, I can see why). My son went to a more technical program recording program, sound recording technology (UMass Lowell), but I would have been happy had he ended up at Saint Rose. Another good thing about Saint Rose is they do have a generous financial aid package. Click on guranteed academic scholarships.</p>

<p>[Financial</a> Aid, Scholarships & Costs | The College of Saint Rose](<a href=“http://www.strose.edu/undergraduateadmissions/financingandcosts]Financial”>Undergraduate Tuition & Financial Aid | The College of Saint Rose)</p>

<p>That’s what I have for now. I come from a business and engineering background, so all I can say is keep exploring.</p>

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<p>I second the recommendation that you look at the College of St. Rose. They give both talent and academic merit mony. My son got a very generous package there. while he was intrigued by the music industry program there, they had only a jazz performance minor, and he thought that he would not be challenged enough as a jazz player. </p>

<p>He is going to be attending the Hartt School this fall as music management major.</p>

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<p>The most accurate way for you to discern the difference between Music Industry and Music Business is to look at the curriculums for both programs and contrast and compare.</p>

<p>My best guess is that a program entitled “music industry” would have two or three less business programs (than “music business”) and a few more technically oriented classes like recording or arranging or producing, but otherwise I think they would be similar.</p>

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<p>Does anyone know how tough an audition is going to be for a Music Industry major? Are they held to just as high a standard as an audition for Performance major?</p>

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<p>In the schools to which my son applied, the auditions were the same as those for the performance majors. But there are some school that don’t require an audition, e.g. Drexel. Just review the requirements for each school. They are generally pretty clear on their websites. If you have any questions, call the school.</p>

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<p>A Billboard magazine roundup of “Schools that Rock” in March 2011 was pretty complimentary of SUNY Oneonta. My daughter, who will attend Drexel’s music industry program this fall, did not look at Oneonta because she wanted a city location but I have to say it sounds very interesting:</p>

<p>SUNY Oneonta
Location: Oneonta, N.Y.
Tuition: In-state, $6,185/year; out-of-state, $14,085/year
Program Chair: Orlando Leganme
Courses of Interest: “Music Marketing and Merchandising,” “Legal Issues of the Music Industry”
Average Class Size: Ranges from 60 to 80
Relevant Extracurricular Activities: Orpheus Music Club, Songwriters’ Club
Admission Rate: 39% </p>

<p>The State University of New York (SUNY) in Oneonta is one of a few schools that have been recognized by the National Assn. of Music Merchants (NAMM) as a front-runner in training students to enter the music products industry. For those interested in live music there are opportunities to book shows at local downtown venues as well as on campus. SUNY Oneonta is in the process of adding 8,000 square feet of extra rehearsal and recording space, which is scheduled to be useable for the spring 2011 semester.</p>

<p>This is the Billboard article [Schools</a> Of Rock: Music Business College Guide | Billboard.com](<a href=“Schools Of Rock: Music Business College Guide – Billboard”>Schools Of Rock: Music Business College Guide – Billboard)</p>

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<p>Since your daughter is an oboist, she might be happier with the classical performance opportunities at Ithaca, Fredonia, or Potsdam because they have larger music programs than St Rose or Oneonta. In addition, they also offer performance degrees if she decides to lean towards performance along with music business/industry. (I’m not familiar with Syracuse’s program so I will leave that to others to comment.) For merit scholarships, we found Potsdam, Fredonia and St Rose to be the most generous. Oneonta will be the most difficult academically for admission. Definitely visit the schools, sit in on some music business classes and schedule a sample lesson with the oboe teacher at each school. Inquire about the internship opportunities. Each of the schools has a slightly different atmosphere and she will get a feel for which ones fit her best while visiting. Also, check out the Hartt school in Hartford, Ct. if you are willing to look outside of NY. They do offer music merit scholarships. Enjoy traveling around NY with your DD!</p>

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<p>Times have changed! 25 years ago Oneonta was one of my “super safeties” it was so easy to get into! (Not for anything music related). Even Geneseo wasn’t like it is today. I had a friend that got a 980 --yes a 980 on her SAT’s and was either EA or ED (whatever they had back then) to Geneseo!</p>

<p>Hope this isn’t a dumb question, but if your HS doesn’t offer it, where do you get music technology/ arranging / production experience outside of school?</p>

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<p>My daughter is an oboist at UNH (New Hampshire) studying music ed - going into her sophomore year. My son will be a freshman next year at Hartt - music production & technology and composition - 5 year double major. Mix them together and you get redeye’s D…</p>

<p>Merit aid is certainly there for oboe. There were different amounts from the schools, and not what we expected at all. It depends upon what that particular school’s oboe needs are, how much money they have for merit aid, and how much the school values the instrument. So my suggestion would be to apply to the schools that interest your D and don’t expect anything based upon what other people have received in the past.</p>

<p>Music technology is a totally different beast. When my son auditioned at Hartt, he had an interview with the chair of the department. He really did not have a lot of experience in the field, but he has an obvious interest and aptitude. He has done some recording for a summer concert series in town - but minimal. I did not know what to expect from that interview, but he obviously did well since they accepted him. (And I guess it is a selective program, since that was said a couple times on the audition day.) </p>

<p>So, to get her feet wet, maybe she can volunteer for a local company that does sound recording. The middle school band teacher had my son come and help set up the PA systems for a couple concerts so he got some early exposure. As far as arranging…she has to just do it. Maybe she can arrange some music for a wind quintet, and hopefully the high school band teacher would help support this type of endeavor. My son just arranged a dixieland version of “Oh When the Saints Go Marching In” for a Mardi Gras lap at Relay for Life - friends asked him to do it. Once your daughter gets in that mode people might start looking for her to do some arranging.</p>

<p>What a long, strange trip its been…</p>

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<p>I should add one more thing…many schools will require an instrument audition for a music technology/business program, but there are many that do not. My son is studying the piano at Hartt, but in his 5 year program he only has 2 years (I believe) of private piano lessons. And he is not playing in any of their main ensembles - he is playing in a composer’s ensemble. So whereas the instrument is important, it is not his piano playing ability (alone) that got him accepted or won him any scholarships. But I do believe that he would not have been accepted if his piano was substandard. </p>

<p>My reason for mentioning this is to point out that oboe scholarships might not be as lucrative for a music business student because the ensemble requirements might not be the same.</p>

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<p>Now, assuming at this point you’re referring to music tech and production programs, which are typically a different flavor than music business programs…</p>

<p>Not a dumb question at all – and it <em>can</em> be important for really competitive music tech/production programs.</p>

<p>With our son, who is now at UMich PAT (sort of a music tech and composition hybrid with some multimedia thrown in) he/we did the following:</p>

<p>a) ensured he had capture device/software to practice multitrack production at home throughout high school + providing other gear, live mixing board, pa etc. That way he could record for other people in his “makeshift” basement studio. And btw, there are ALWAYS people who need to be recorded :wink: – also ensuring he had a midi-interface (or several) at his disposal, and some korg-type synth stuff avail</p>

<p>b) enrolled him in music recording course offered by local college as dual enrolled student – he was able to take it as a private studio (just as if it were an instrument) by special permission based on his work to date as a junior – and the bonus was the prof was a very experienced sound engineer who had worked at a local studio</p>

<p>c) since he also made a lot of videos, he also volunteered to make and compose soundtrack for a series of PSAs for the school’s environmental club</p>

<p>d) being in bands is highly valuable on several fronts. In addition to wind ensemble and big jazz band, he also belonged to a small indie jazz band where they could jam out some of his arrangements, perform live, record, etc. On the indie front, performing frequently, whether solo or with pals, helped him hone his contemporary compositions</p>

<p>e) school music programs generally love to perform original works and arrangements IME. You should have a good resource there.</p>

<p>f) in our case, our son was fortunate to have feedback and tips from a local university composition professor who shared his wide range of interests. You could see if you have a local comp prof available for private lessons.</p>

<p>g) Summer camps usually offer composition “mini-minors” where students can progress or at least get feedback</p>

<p>h) Both University of Michigan and Oberlin host in-depth summer music tech camps (PAT and TIAMARA) where admission is by portfolio. If your D has some work she can show, these would be worthwhile pursuits to help establish “fit” in terms of “type” of music tech and production program.</p>

<p>Hope that gives you somewhere to start!</p>