<p>I've asked a similar question in the past - but that thread has long ago died out, and now my S's college thoughts are becoming a bit more serious and focused - so thanks in advance for any new information you may have to share.</p>
<p>My son is a guitar player (not classical, rock, ska, contemporary music) who is very interested in music production - has built his own "recording studio" in the basement and does audio recording for himself, his band and some friends. His plan for college, however, is to major in biology, not music. He would love to be able to continue with his music and the recording work he's been doing either as a minor in college or outside of the classroom.</p>
<p>He's hunting for schools where he might be able to make this happen. Schools with music programs that allow non-majors to take classes (possibly to minor) ideally with at least a few classes in music production/industry/recording. The alternative would be a school in a city with a great music scene that he could get involved with outside of the classroom, or a campus with a great music scene that he could be involved in. A school with a great music department where he could work in the department doing recording and learning on the job (for pay or not) would be great too. </p>
<p>He realizes that a biology major (with the labs required) and music classes will mean a very hectic 4 years - but that's the way he tends to function. We're just having a hard time finding schools that have what he's looking for. </p>
<p>Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>Oberlin has many of the ingredients he is looking for, although you would have to find out if it is possible to put them all together in one curriculum there. Their TIMARA (Technology in Music and Related Arts) courses would probably interest him and I found a statement that says "Students may pursue Seconday Private TIMARA study only with the recommendation of the department and approval of the Office of the Associate Dean. This course is available to non-TIMARA majors in either the Conservatory of Music or the College of Arts and Sciences. " Note that this is an auditioned program with emphasis on the compositional use of technology, rather than courses for training sound engineers or music techs. The music scene on campus is amazing, both in the Conservatory and outside of it, with a lot of non-Classical music going on. Check out the TIMARA site at [TIMARA=Technology</a> in Music and Related Arts](<a href=“http://www.timara.oberlin.edu/]TIMARA=Technology”>http://www.timara.oberlin.edu/)</p>
<p>My older son did a full audio engineering program at IU-Jacobs. I know that their program is very small and does not allow non-majors to take the classes. This may be true of a lot of these courses since the degree (a BS) is very structured and rigorous. It is much like an engineering degree. The kids do all the sound work for the music school events (e.g., archival and commercial recordings, podcasts, live sound, etc) and they work as a tight team which wouldn’t easily accommodate non-majors. This is likely to be true in a lot of these programs. But it sounds like you might be able to do something at Oberlin.</p>
<p>You could look into U. Michigan to see if there is more flexibility there. If you don’t find a program he can do alongside his biology major, perhaps he could go to one of the institutes that teaches sound technology after he graduates - I don’t think they are full 4-year programs requiring music theory, ear training, etc. like the music school programs do.</p>
<p>My son is waiting to hear from the IU Recording Arts program (we should hear today or tomorrow, I think). The program looks great; and in addition to the rigorous RA coursework you “concentrate” in an aspect of music, business, communicaitons, computers, etc. My kid (if he is one of the lucky 15 kids accepted–out of 120 applicants) will concentrate either in music (jazz guitar) or composition.</p>
<p>He’s gotten into the excellent Drexel program (technology track) at their Westphall school of art and design. Even though Drexel has no formal music program, the kids in the music industry program study music, compose soundtrack, produce and run the student record label Mad Dragon, which is a very good indie label (the group the Redwalls left a big commercial company to record at Mad Dragon). UT Austin has just started a program as well.</p>
<p>Hi there. Re Stringfollies mentioned of U of Michigan – like IU, the “Performing Arts Technology (PAT)” program is fairly specialized, intensive and admission is talent-based and tough. HOWEVER we did learn that is is possible as an undergrad to take a few of the first and second year courses (although they are in high demand) if you were not a major. Apparently, some students subsequently switch and apply in their sophomore year (using the early coursework to build the portfolio.) The program has several streams of concentration, including more engineering-intensive and more music- intensive curriculums, with degrees ranging from BS, BFA, and BM. It is also possible to (if in the BFA stream in particular) to dual degree with another concentration from the school of Literature Art and Science (LSA). So biology/PAT would be viable over 5 years. Like Jacobs, it is a small group (16 apx). You would want your son to visit and sit in on classes at each of U of M and Jacobs in this field – there are different flavors (eg. seemingly more music composition in the U of M curriculum…more sound reinforcement opportunities at IU…although you can make your own sound reinforcement opportunities at U of M…the latter of which seems to me a more flexible curriculum to accommodate particular skill sets across multimedia…while IU has an intense industry-specific focus…That said, that was our “sense” of flavor and could be wrong since s. has not yet sat in the chair : ) My S. loved U of M overall and the program in particular (is instate school for him…he was also very impressed with Jacobs but not as interested in the regular IU or in being that far from home initially) and is attending Uof M this fall after acceptance in each program (LSA and PAT Curriculum B. )</p>
<p>Trust me that an in-depth visit to these programs is completely worth it. U of M is also very very strong in bio, from what I understand.
Hope this assists.
Cheers,
K</p>