I am the mother of a Junior. We are searching high and low for schools that my D can get a degree in Popular Vocal Performance and hopefully a dual or minor or even some classes towards a graduate degree in Music Therapy. She already knows about USC, Berkelee School or Music and Miami’s Frost and possibly Loyloa in New Orlean’s but we’re hoping to have a bigger list. We woudl actually love to hear about those school experiences as well. Even just a Popular Vocal Performance list would be good. She like’s Jazz as well but can’t seem to find a flexible Jazz vocals degree that isn’t all Jazz. She also sings Cabaret and Chorale but not Opera or Classical. Any advice appreciated. I’m hearing through the grapevine schools thinking of adding this degree (Northwestern and University of Michigan) have you heard anything?
I can’t help you with popular music, but a music therapy minor would seem sketchy even if it’s offered because MT is a heath service profession overseen by an accreditation body and involves licensing/certification. That would be like minoring in nursing.
I think a student interested in majoring MT with voice and popular music interests would do very well. But always choose a strong, accredited program.
My daughter is interested in double majoring in oboe performance and music therapy. Two of the schools she has applied to have MT majors, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, and UGA. If she goes to one of the other two schools she’s applied to she plans on getting a second major (or minor) in psychology, and then getting a masters in MT. Michigan is one of the schools my daughter has applied to and we haven’t heard anything about their adding MT. Look at the list of accredit programs for schools that currently offer MT. Good luck!
We just returned from a Performing Arts college Fair and looks like University of Miami has a popular Vocal performance track AND an accredited Music Therapy Degree AND they highly encouraged my D to apply and told her it would be fantastic to do a dual degree. Is there anyone out there who goes to University of Miami and could speak to your experience or anyone heard good or bad about their program? It sounds amazing…
@MACmiracle any concerns you see?
The MT program I am familiar with was a very regimented program. There was a very specific progression and a lot of requirements, which translated into zero true electives over four years and even the courses needed to satisfy the general ed requirements were specified so that they would also satisfy an MT requirements. Unrelated double majors would seem impossible.
However, a music performance double major is a different situation, because in MT each student chooses a major instrument (voice) that should be studied to the level of a performance major.
In the program I know, when students did not complete the MT program for whatever reason, it seemed possible to switch over to a performance major and finish on time. It’s almost as though the performance major was included in the MT degree already.
I should note it would be very hard and maybe impossible to transfer into a strong MT program and finish on time.
I’m sure all programs vary. My D has met MT students whose preparation was very different, and I would say that a good program is very intense but worthwhile. Look for accreditation but also how early MT students are in clinics and if they are doing research.
My D was in clinics from freshman year, and moved from observing to assisting to co-leading to running her own sessions under a certified MT’s supervision over the course of four years in a variety of settings with different populations. Also, students attended regional conferences from frrshman year and presented their research at conferences their senior years.
The college is not known for being extremely selective but MT was certainly rigorous and prepared them well.
About half the students she started with did not complete the program. Not to exaggerate but in that respect, it wasn’t too different from the engineering or premed stories you sometimes hear about. It really required aptitude and commitment.