Music Technology / Sound Recording

<p>Can anyone please give me leads into schools with a good music tech and/or sound recording program and your opinion on the programs.</p>

<p>S has a friend due to graduate from Middle Tennesse next year. The school is quite easy to get into academically, but it apparently has an amazing music tech program. Friend is an accomplished musician and bright kid, who looked long and hard at programs.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.mtsu.edu/%7Erecord/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.mtsu.edu/~record/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
Middle Tennessee State University has the right majors for you! As the largest recording program in the nation, the Department of Recording Industry offers unique opportunities for anyone wanting to be part of the action!</p>

<p>The Department of Recording Industry is within the College of Mass Communication, one of the largest and best equipped in the country. Undergraduate recording industry students choose between two concentrations: Music Business or Production and Technology. The department also offers a graduate program in Recording Arts and Technologies.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Duquesne University in Pittsburgh has a terrific music technology program. It is one of the oldest with accredidation. They have a masters program as well. It's a small program, but extremely well equiped. You might also look into the Hartt School's program. Both of these schools will require an audition into their music program.</p>

<p>DS has a friend in the Recording Arts program at Peabody. That is a very competitive program; I think they only take 10 kids a year or something, and they have to fulfill the requirements in Science and math for Johns Hopkins, but it looks like the students place well, job-wise, upon completion.</p>

<p>The Peabody/JHU program is outstanding. It is a double major Music/engineering and it is HIGHLY competitive. I believe only a handful of students are accepted each year (five or six). I also believe it is a five year program. There is a similar program with New England Conservatory and Tufts. In both cases...highly competitive. Student must meet the audition requirements of the conservatory and be a top candidate for admission to the college in question.</p>

<p>Ive searched around and found info on the following schools:</p>

<p>NYU
Northwestern
McGill
Indiana U
U Mass Lowell
Ithaca College</p>

<p>Anyone got experience or opinions with the recording arts / music tech programs there.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>You need to select and judge the programs based on your specific job goals. There are a lot of different programs and you have listed some of the major ones. Many of the jobs in recording and music technology are being filled by people who got their training on the job and sometimes through 2 year tech school programs. Training and employment can range from doctoral level acoustical engineering to operating a board in a local recording studio.</p>

<p>At Northwestern, you apply after a year or two to the sound recording certificate program. You need to submit samples of your work. This year only two students -- both I believe in Film -- received the certificates. My son specialized in sound by taking sound courses and doing the sound on student plays, student films, and finding related internships. At Northwestern, the program is what you make of it.</p>

<p>thanks 3boynjmom for the response.
anyone got opinions on how the program is specifically at Indiana U, NYU and UMass Lowell. those three seem very recording oriented rather than music tech.</p>

<p>The NYU program is very good. You should also consider the program at Berklee. </p>

<p>I know a few friends who are interested in the field and I also several people who are currently working in the field. The older folks mostly learned everything through experience as this stuff was just starting up when they were students. </p>

<p>Some of my friends are going through 1/2 year certificate programs at places like The Institute of Audio Research. Perhaps you should also think about getting a general music education first and then attend one of these specialized programs after you gradaute from undergrad.</p>

<p>the mcgill program is excellent, it's facilities for music tech are amazing too. check it out.</p>

<p>Thanks for the replies. Anyone got info on the Indiana Recording Arts program?</p>

<p>I've done some research on the Indiana program and you get a Bachelor of Science in Recording Arts, rather than the typical Bachelor of Music in Recording (What is offered at Ithaca, NYU, Northwestern). However, the classes required for all the schools are the same, even at Indiana where its a BS degree rather than a BM. </p>

<p>To those with experience in the music industry and even classical music world, would there be a big difference in employment given not having a BM degree and a BS degree instead.</p>

<p>Should I look at a school offering a BM degree instead of a BS. What are the pro/cons of the BM vs BS, in the music industry.</p>

<p>Sorry, to bother you guys, but would really appreciate an answer on comment above, as it has been lingering on my mind for a while.</p>

<p>Can't comment from a musical perspective, but in my line of work I see many BS or BA job applicants in medical related fields, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, etc.</p>

<p>I really don't care if they have a BS or a BA. I focus on their accomplishments, their skills, their potential and their enthusiasm. I would speculate that the same can be said in the music industry, but that is speculation.</p>

<p>I would agree. It is the skills which are important, not whether the degree was BM or BA. If you want to prepare for a job in recording arts, I think it is very important to consider the type of employment you are looking to perform. If you anticipate operating a sound board and recording, you may not want to bother with a 4 year degree. Most of the people in the field entered with 2 yr degrees and/or OJT.</p>

<p>Most of the studio owners I have known wouldn't care a rat's tuchas about the subtle differences between two degrees. If they are considering hiring you, they want to know that you will be careful and efficient with their equipment, that you will not try to steal anything, that you are reliable and sober enough to show up for work when you are supposed to, that you are willing to work long hours late at night, that you are willing to do the scut work until another newbie comes along, and that you are not going to pull an attitude until you have proven that you have the chops to back it up. If you are smart, reliable, dedicated and willing to learn, then you can pick up whatever else you need on the job. One way that you can demonstrate these things to someone is to look for programs that include internships and summer job placements.</p>

<p>There are a lot of titles to describe training programs and jobs: sound technician, recording arts, music technology, audio engineer, recording/music technician, etc, etc. Most of the employment opportunities are at radio and TV stations. A 4 year degree is not required and the most appropriate training is at community colleges or 2 year technical schools. Salaries are not high and the supply-demand ratio is not good. Most of the jobs do not pay well and are at radio stations outside of urban areas, working nights and weekends. <a href="http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos109.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos109.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>For students interested in music, this field offers an alternative to music performance. There are lots of training programs, including 4 year and masters level training. <a href="http://www.aes.org/education/geoinst.cfm?GeoID=1%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.aes.org/education/geoinst.cfm?GeoID=1&lt;/a> The proliferation of programs seems to reflect the demand by students and does not reflect the availability of employment. Before entering this field, I suggest you research the career outlook and decide if the possibilities are appropriate for your goals.</p>