<p>Back to the topic of up and coming music programs... Another one worth looking at is the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt. </p>
<p>It is difficult for a college or university to make a move in the music world without A LOT of money. Music schools are so much more expensive to run than regular programs. A studio music professor will have 18-20 students each year. That is the sum of their teaching responsibilities. Music students pay the same tuition as everyone else. An English teacher will likely teach 2 classes a semester with a class size of 20-30 students, possibly many more if it is a large lecture. An English teacher needs an office. The music teacher needs a reasonably sized studio with a grand piano. Yes, all the science folks need much more space and equipment, but they usually get grants to cover all of this. </p>
<p>That is why you won't find a lot of LACs with performing arts programs. It is just too expensive for them to absorb. Rice had a boat load of money from donors to pour into its programs. (The university itself was built from Texas oil money.) </p>
<p>I guess my point is that even though there may be an increase in talent and demand for performance based programs, it is not likely that you will see an increase in spaces available in the near future. Besides, there are many in the business who beleive there are too many people being trained already because many of them will never end up being employed in music.</p>