Opinion on Music Management schools

<p>Hello!,
I have posted on this topic before but I now have more knowledge on which schools in California offer this program. However I wanted to get a few opinions on some schools that offers it.
Cal State Northridge
Cal Poly Pomona</p>

<p>Also at Fullerton they have a Entertainment and Tourism management. With this being said would you recommend getting this degree over a Music Management Degree? </p>

<p>My job goal is to be a Tour Manager. </p>

<p>If you have any information on any programs or other suggestions please let me know! </p>

<p>Thank you!,
Sarah</p>

<p>It appears to me that CSUN and CPP offer music industry studies in the music department. The CSUF program is in the business department. So the question becomes do you want to augment the industry studies with business classes or with music classes. CSUN would require an audition.</p>

<p>USC has a music industry program.</p>

<p>To really give you advice, I would need to know more about your music background and interests. Will you be able to pass an audition? Are you interested in some music theory and lesson? Also, when you look at the respective curricula, what appeals to you about them?</p>

<p>Have you had any experience in this area? One of my kids is a music major, and is doing an internship at a booking agency. I wonder if you would want to do something like that. She has learned a lot about the business in just a few months. It might help clarify your goals.</p>

<p>Otherwise, I agree: people here need more information on your background etc.</p>

<p>Thanks for the replies! </p>

<p>I believe that I would be able to pass an audition and basically my main interest for the school is to find the best internships to help me get to the job that I hope to get. </p>

<p>I am definitely for having music classes I’ve seen offered with the music management degrees at Cal Poly and CSUN. However I am also okay with it being more business base since my main goal in a job is to be the business side of the industry! As for Music Theory I don’t know much about it. </p>

<p>Compmom, so your daughter is at music related booking agent or more general? </p>

<p>Thanks again!,
Sarah</p>

<p>The best way to find out about internships is to view the websites and to visit the school and talk to the students in the programs. </p>

<p>As for the music versus business, remember you are going to be talking to music people. The music department programs will give you a well-rounded view of the music history, some lessons, and music technology (which you won’t get in the business program). Also, the music programs will put you around musicians and that’s who you want to represent.</p>

<p>Just to make a point, look at the Cal Poly program, specifically the subplan on page 1 and sub-area B on page 2.
<a href=“http://www.class.csupomona.edu/mu/curriculum/curriculumsheets/industrystudcurriculum11.pdf[/url]”>http://www.class.csupomona.edu/mu/curriculum/curriculumsheets/industrystudcurriculum11.pdf&lt;/a&gt;
It appears that anything you would get in the business program, you will get there. Having said that, keep your options open. It is important to visit the schools and ask these same questions. Ultimately, wherever you go, you can succeed. Music and entertainment management will ultimately be what you make it. When my son and I visited Drexel, the head of the industry was talking about internships. So I said to him (re internships) what you are saying is that these students will have to make their own way and he responded in the affirmative.</p>

<p>What year are you in at school?</p>

<p>I am now a senior in High School! </p>

<p>At Cal Poly Pomona I’ve heard that it is a very small program which I am unsure if that is a good or bad thing. Based on internships I looked on the site and CSUN seems to have the most broad but that just be that the other two do not list all of their internships.</p>

<p>My daughter is working for a jazz/world music booking agency and also a small orchestra (overlapping and at the moment simultaneous internships). As I said, she is a music major and hasn’t done any business courses or anything like that. The skill that is the most useful in these internships is writing, to be honest: website, e-mail, marketing materials etc. all require good writing.</p>

<p>The school didn’t find or provide these internships. She found one on an online site for non-profit jobs and internships, and then wrote the orchestra directly. I honestly think it was an advantage to have studied so much music. It means more interesting chores, like looking through scores, helping with recordings, that kind of thing.</p>

<p>Since you are a senior, I am just suggesting that you consider doing a broader kind of education and gaining those narrower vocational skills through internships, but after you look at the programs more closely, you may decide that you enjoy the focus on music business. Either way, just playing devil’s advocate a bit.</p>

<p>What instrument do you play?Have you considered conservatory at all, or are you definite about college?</p>

<p>I play the drums! However I have not been playing for an extremely long amount of time probably a year and a half which I’m also kind f worried about auditions in that aspect. </p>

<p>As you were saying for more broad that’s what I was thinking when looking in to Fullerton’s Entertainment/Tourism degree because it is a lot more broad than focusing on just music and it has other classes such as stage management which I haven’t seen in other programs. I most definitely want to work in the music aspect of the entertainment business that’s why I’m not sure if it would be wiser to go for complete emphasis on music management!</p>

<p>Do you have a teacher to help you prepare for an audition?</p>

<p>I do like that you are considering a range of programs. I tend to like the programs in the music department mainly because I have enjoyed watching my son make his choice (plus I have degrees in business). compmom appropriately played devil’s advocate and it is good for you to keep your options open. As you go through the process, visit the schools. Talk to the teachers. Talk to the students. The students will give you the nitty gritty details.</p>

<p>Back to the comment about big versus small. There will be pros and cons to each. Any way you go, you will be required to find your way. Also, where you get accepted will obviously have an effect on your decision. What will happen though is as you make your visits and gather your information, things will become clearer. You’re off to a good start.</p>

<p>I do have a teacher to help me with my audition! Looking through the programs I believe only Northridge requires an audition! </p>

<p>Is your son in a music business related program or just music in general? And what made you like the music programs more? </p>

<p>Thank you so much for all the help!</p>

<p>You’re welcome. My son is going to school for sound recording technology at UMass Lowell in the music department. He looked at that and some less technical music industry programs. The industry programs were mostly in the music departments. Also, he readily dismissed the non-music departments because the students weren’t as focused on performance. He decided that the more technical route was right for him. I liked the music departments because he would learn theory, history, and broaden his performance abilities through lessons and ensembles. Also, as I mentioned, I was a business major (actually accounting) and found the music curriculum more intersting. I don’t remember anything from my organization behavior class, but still remember my piano lessons when I was 6 years old. Having said that, the main thing for you is to find the situation that is right for you.</p>