Hi! I’m looking into the Clive Davis program at NYU and I was hoping someone could answer if it’s the right program for musicians. I’m a bassist with no producing background and I’ve heard there’s an artist/performer track but I’m not sure if a production background is required. Thanks in advance!!
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My nephew graduated from Clive Davis a couple of years ago.
He is a musician who was interested in production. I believe the program is great for those who want to become producers. Many of his friends have their own recordings and still play ( all styles of music) I thought all in the program were already musicians. It’s very competitive. I think it was 800 applicants and 50 slots. There are multiple tryouts. The in person is likely not happening this year.
Graduates have excellent access to the music industry. I think many go into this program so they aren’t starving musicians and understand how the industry works. Many graduates produce other graduates work.
My nephew loved the program. Seems to open lots of doors also.
I haven’t been on this site for quite some time and am on again because my daughter is looking into transferring into Clive. She is a musician and is also interested and working on production. One of the musicians she knows from the college they both attended just got in as a transfer. Unless they have changed something which I don’t believe they have, there are no “tryouts” as another member had mentioned. You submit a creative sample of your work. My D is also friends with 2 recent graduates from the program as well. I think it’s a much better fit for what she wants to do versus where she had been her first 2 years. I do think if you can show what you can do from a production perspective you will have a much better chance of getting in.
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@SpartanDrew Well, there may not be “tryouts” now in times of Covid. But when my nephew applied about 7 years ago, he submitted videos of his performances and was later invited to an auditon/which I’ve referred to as a tryout. From this group, they picked the final applicants. He mentioned there were people from all over the world and many he saw/heard were very talented. Certainly might have changed but seems logical that they would want to see performers perform. The tryout was in NYC as I remember.
My nephew had zero production background or classes. He just knew he was interested in the field and he went in as a Freshman. He was very successful in the program and met lots of people who are now in the “industry”.
Hi thanks for the info. As far as I’m aware there haven’t been auditions for years. When we first looked at Clive for my daughter about 4 years ago, the only audition per say was the 3-4 minute “creative sample”. That was it so it better be a great representation of your work. Very possible they did it differently 7 years ago but it’s not how it’s been done for at least 4 years and Covid has nothing to do with that. We visited Clive as well as looked at the application online and that’s what they told us there right from the admissions guy for Clive.
I will say my D submitted prescreen audition videos of her performances for all of the other schools she applied to 3 years ago and then was invited for a live audition. NYU/Clive is the only program that hasn’t worked like that because it’s not a performance focused based program, far more production so auditions wouldn’t really fit with what the program is about.
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Again, it may have changed. But it IS performance based for many ( who are musicians). And it was a call back type of thing. Did your child get accepted? Because it was an elimination type thing. So not applicants would have gotten to participate.
Certainly might have changed but it would be useful to hear from others who were accepted to the program what they did as last steps. It does say online that they use a streaming service for videos (not sure about the technology). Or perhaps your child doesn’t play an instrument or sing so there was nothing to see?
Perhaps there are different also tracks? My nephews friends @ Clive Davis were and are ALL musicians. None were non performers. Some play an instrument or three and some sing and most did both. My nephew sings and plays multiple instruments. He sang and played the piano in his audition.
I wonder if maybe he was at NYU/Steinhardt? Are you certain he was at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music? Yes there are performers there but it is by and large a recorded music/production program which is why initially my daughter decided not to apply. She is a musician, singer/songwriter and plays piano. We have several friends who’s kids applied, all by video creative sample, never a live audition. I know one who got in with scholarship. Steinhardt on the other hand is absolutely a performance based program that holds live auditions.
Many Clive students are not performers at all, they produce music and that is their career goal; production. Which is why the OP asked how important having any production experience is. In my opinion it’s relatively important. The advisor at Clive said when we visited 4 years ago “If you are interested in just being a performing artist and only doing that here this may not be the program for you”. That being said yes many students there are performing artists but want to broaden their knowledge by learning about music industry and production as my daughter hopes to do.
In any case it’s a rigorous application and takes quite some time to complete well. There are many youtube examples online that the OP can find showing examples of creative samples of students who were admitted. Here are the requirements as stated on the website:
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He attended and graduated from the Clive Davis Program. He and all his friends were and are musicians. I’m not sure where you got the idea that people in the program aren’t musicians who want to be producers as most music producers start out as musicians.
I think it’s likely best for potential students to check what the current application process is rather than hearing from an Aunt whose nephew graduated several years ago and someone whose child never even attended or made it to the finals. Or someone who transferred in. In any case, it’s always a good idea to check what’s currently going on since things have changed so much for all schools in 2020.
I think it’s most likely there aren’t any in person tryouts but would definitely be best to check if you are interested.
Also, please review the program. As I mentioned kids in this program are musicians who want to be musical producers.
I never said that students in this program aren’t musicians. As I said, we have visited and spoken with admissions there. My daughter is a musician and currently working on her transfer application there. We have 2 friends who were admitted, both musicians, both admitted from an application with a video creative portfolio. There are no “tryouts” as you say or auditions or call backs and “making it to the finals”. You’re right, people should rely on what the application process is and people who have direct experience with the process which we do since we have been looking at this program and speaking to those who have done it this year and the past 4 years. I don’t know why you keep referencing “in person tryouts” since it has not been done that way for easily 4-5 years or more. If you look at the link I sent you will see exactly what is asked for: A creative portfolio which is a 5 minute video. This has been how it’s done for at least 5 years, NEVER in person auditions for the past 5 years. Also, “transferring in” as you had mentioned in your post is the exact same application and just as rigorous since far fewer transfers are accepted. My daughter’s musician friend from the college they both attended transferred in this fall.
Again, perhaps that’s how they did it when your nephew applied 7 years ago but it is not useful information now as it’s not at all current or relevant or even accurate. I posted the link from the Clive application which has all of the current information.