<p>bflogal, you might want to check out CalArts. While I don’t think there’s a music business program per se, there are two majors that might interest your son - Music Arts and Music Technology. Both probably require some sort of portfolio or audition, but you’ll have to check the website for specifics. Neither are jazz-based or classical based. It’s also, well, an actual college as opposed to Musicians Institute, which is a for-profit institution that’s basically a trade school. (They accept anyone, regardless if they have any playing skill whatsoever.)</p>
<p>Hopefully some others here will know about programs out of CA.</p>
<p>Wait, I can’t believe I forgot Cal State Northridge’s Music Industry program (the advantages to studying music business in/near the LA area cannot be overstated - in terms of internships, contacts, etc.):</p>
<p>Also check out Berklee College of Music, if you haven’t already. There are plenty of rockers there with no interest in jazz, and a full curriculum of production and music industry courses. An audition is required, but there is no bias against rock!</p>
<p>Thank you jazz/sm!! Checking CSUN right now. This might be the answer, since Cat Arts seems to do on-campus housing by lottery (and we couldn’t risk him not getting it).</p>
<p>If you consider MI, or Full Sail, investigate fully and realize you are comparing for profit institutions against the typical not for profit college/university program.</p>
<p>My S has gone through a similar progression - as a high school sophomore, he was only interested in rock guitar (and kept up with french horn is the school band because I made him), did the Paul Green School of Rock for two years, then started his own band. Berklee was the only place he wanted to apply to a year ago. Then he started writing songs for his band, and was good at that, and decided he wanted to do the songwriting program at Belmont. Then he took a music technology class, and I got him Finale for Christmas and he started playing around with writing some small classical pieces. His music tech teacher raved about the piece he did for his class project, so he decided to write a bigger piece for his senior graduation project. He just finished his project a few weeks ago - a three-part suite for string orchestra - and got top marks for it. That led him to decide that he wants to study composition and eventually go into film scoring. He is now writing music like crazy and is the happiest he has ever been. He is even looking at some composition programs that are strictly classical. He figures he can still find a rock band to play with and write for once he gets to college, or just do gigs as a singer/guitarist. </p>
<p>We have visited a few schools that seem to have really good music business-type programs that offer both more appeal for contemporary/rock musicians and probably better career opportunities Belmont’s Commercial Music program in particular is one I would recommend to any parent whose child seems dead-set against doing jazz or classical performance or composition in college.</p>