<p>Does anybody have advice/experience with USC Thornton Music school, NYU Clive Davis Recorded Music program/ Berklee School of Music (all in U.S.) or Institute of Contemporary Music, Academy of Contemporary Music, or LIPA ( all in U.K.) My daughter is a junior, IB student in Europe and is a singer/songwriter wanting to pursue this. The places listed above are some options we have identified - would appreciate any information anyone can give. Have read mixed feedback about if students are happy at the above listed places.</p>
<p>Our daughter has EU & American citizenship so everything is possible - U.K. being cheaper than U.S. But the goal would be the best program to get her off to a good start in this field. For the music industry, would you say London, NY & LA are the best places to study?</p>
<p>My S applied to 2 of the schools that you have mentioned last year and is now a Freshman at Thornton. To be quite honest with you, I haven’t heard any negative feedback from anyone who attends USC’s Pop program and my S is quite happy. However, the school is fairly new and will only be graduating it’s first class this spring. It will be interesting to see what they all end up doing with their talents. One of the benefits of going to USC is that it is in LA, the mecca of the music industry so it may help in making the right connections.</p>
<p>Correction…I meant to say that the Pop Program is fairly new, not the music school.</p>
<p>poprockmom, thanks for that information. I am glad to hear that your son is happy at Thornton, it sounds like it was the right choice for him. I have so many questions for you, please feel free to answer or ignore as you see fit, but I really do appreciate your help so much. After sending in video, was he required to do a live audition in L.A.? Did they give you an idea of how selective it is? Is he happy with the kind of students who are in the program, is it supportive rather than cut throat? Are there opportunities for them to form bands, groups, and perform gigs around campus or L.A.? Are the professors/teachers also working in the music industry? Are the pop music kids well-integrated into the rest of campus- was it easy to make friends? It was interesting to hear how new it is, and as you say, what the students will end up doing with their talents. Thanks again for your help.</p>
<p>@musicmutti…Yes, he was required to go to USC and audition live. I do not believe that they have regional auditions for the pop program. Going there allowed us to tour the music school and get a feel for what the program was all about. It was a great visit!..During the audition day, they had a informational question and answer session. They told us that the program was very selective. They informed us that there were over 500 applicants and 120 were invited to audition. From that group they planned on taking 25 Freshman…My S is very happy with the students in the program. They are all very talented. It is a mixed group with instrumentalists, vocalists, and singer/songwriters…They are extremely supportive of one another and not at all cut throat…There are opportunities to form bands and most do. My S is in a newly formed band and has already played on campus and in clubs in LA. Jazz/Shreddermom’s S is in several bands and I believe they get all kinds of gigs…Yes, the professors work in the music industry in LA and some with very well known musicians…The pop kids are well integrated in to the rest of campus. They live in dorms with students from lots of majors and they take general ed classes with them as well. However, most of my S’s friends are from the music school, some in Jazz and some in the classical programs, too…These are all great questions. Feel free to PM me anytime!</p>
<p>Hi musicmutti, I have a D at Berklee and she has 2 semesters to go as a Contemporary Writing and Production major (CWP). In this major she performs, writes, and produces her own projects, and as a vocalist she gets the opportunity to participate in many ensembles, recitals, and paid gigs around Boston. I would say she is extremely happy there, feels very supported and her teachers are a mix of performers that traveled the world to professionals in the fields that they teach. When I’ve read professor bios they seem to come from many places, and in the US they come from NYU, NEC, New School, UCLA, New Orleans etc.</p>
<p>You are looking at the right list of schools, and you are doing it early enough to be ready for Fall applications. I learned a lot from this forum and you will find many experienced people here that are willing to point you in the right direction. Best of luck and success to your musician!</p>
<p>@poprockmom…thank you for that information, it is extremely helpful. Your son must be very talented to have made it in but it sounds like an amazing program with great kids and lots of potential for practical experience. I guess my daughter will just apply and see what happens. We live in Germany so I don’t know what they would propose for live audition if she would get that far, but perhaps she just has to see if they are even interested in the first place. She has been songwriting since she was 10, has a laptop full of songs and has performed at various venues, etc. but I think there are many talented kids out there (like your son) and stiff competition. London may also be a possibility, so maybe she will just have to send in tapes and apply everywhere and see what happens. My feeling was the academics mattered more at USC Thornton than in London where we visited, and this would be a good thing for her (working on her IB), although I am guessing at Thornton, they first look at the auditions and then the academics. Thanks again for the info. It is really helpful to know Thornton is a place where kids are happy. Having lived in LA some years ago, the area worries me, but maybe the students learn how to deal with their environment, and just soak up the amazing program.</p>
<p>@snowflakeVT…thanks for the information, it does indeed sound much better than student reviews I have read. It sounds like your daughter is having a terrific experience and taking advantage of all Berklee has to offer, I wish her much luck. I think as parents we take a leap of faith because our kids are so passionate about the music they are creating, we want to give them a chance to succeed in something they love. I do wonder, however what will be the job possibilities when they are done. Record companies no longer invest in artist development, they want a finished package, preferably one which has already proven success on tour. Let’s see how it goes on. But certainly the training and practical experience they receive is a first step and an important one. Picking the right place is key. Thanks again for your help.</p>
<p>Hi musicmutti, my son is a junior in the pop program at Thornton (guitarist). Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions. Poprockmom has done a pretty good job, though! As for academics vs. audition, both are important. It is possible to get into USC “undeclared” if not admitted to Thornton, and a stellar audition can get a student admitted to USC who might not otherwise have quite made the academic cut (but they must be in the "ballpark - USC needs to know the student can succeed there academically). Stellar academics can also help get a music admit an academic scholarship.</p>
<p>@jazz/shreddermom…I am new at this so I don’t know how to PM you but will try to figure it out. From all that I have read here and elsewhere, Thornton does seem like the best fit for our daughter if she decides on the U.S. Academically and musically, I would think she is on par but realize the chances are only 25 in 500 or 5 percent so we have to be realistic. Do you know if most kids are playing both guitar and keyboards?<br>
Also, does your son ever leave campus or do they pretty much stay on campus for safety reasons?
Thanks again for your help.</p>
<p>My son is from LA (grew up here and was already entrenched in the music scene before college), and he leaves campus nearly every day for rehearsals, gigs, sessions, you name it. One of his non-USC bands rehearses in Silverlake (20 mins away) several days a week. You really can’t be a musician and never leave campus, although I suppose freshman year it is common for those not from here.</p>
<p>Most kids in the program play several instruments, as does my son (although guitar is his main one). He’s actually also a really good bass player and just came “this close” to leaving school to go on tour as a fill-in bassist opening for an iconic nationally known band. It could still happen, but over the summer, which would be nice.</p>
<p>The singer-songerwriter kids in the program tend to have that as their strength, but most play a couple of instruments fairly well, although perhaps not at the level of the instrumental admits (like my son). I hope that makes sense. I have to say, those kids are my favorites (we go to all their shows, living so close). They can’t all sing perfectly or necessarily belt like a vocal-only applicant, but you can really tell why USC chose them a songwriter/artists. It’s also my belief (and that of many others) that they have the best chance in this ever-changing business of actually making a living. My son has become much more of a songwriter (than just an instrumentalist) since he got to USC, and I’m so glad.</p>
<p>If there is any way your daughter can do a Grammy Camp session while in HS, I believe that really helps. Although it’s not USC affiliated, the program is run by the man who created and heads up the popular music program at USC. And it’s at USC. So it gets every acquainted, if you will! </p>
<p>Don’t be scared of the numbers. If you’re daughter has a “voice” as an artist/songwriter, she’ll have an audition. Of course, from that point on, anything can happen at any of these schools. But you’re looking at the right places.</p>
<p>ETA: I think you can’t PM until you have a few more posts.</p>
<p>@jazzshreddermom. Thanks so much for that information, it is really useful. Your point about needing to leave campus as a musician is a good one, and I am really happy for you and your son that he is doing so well finding his footing in the big music world. It is encouraging what you write about the songwriters/artists. I also have to look at the Grammy Camp you mention. Would I be able to e-mail you privately? I have some more questions but am not so keen on posting everything in the open forum? Thanks again for all your help, you are a great source of information.</p>
<p>thank you, I have mailed you.</p>
<p>Hello musicmutti, I am very interested to hear how your daughter’s plans are progressing. We live near London and my guitarist son is also American/British. We are starting to look into contemporary music schools. One of his instructors attended LIPA and one attended IPCM and they both felt that the level of instruction and contacts made were higher at LIPA. There is also the Brighton Institute of Modern Music. We have a few years to go, so we thought he may attend one or two of the summer schools as a way of getting a better feel for the differences. I’d love to hear what further information you have gathered since March.</p>
<p>Hello Roadie Mom, sorry to have not responded sooner. It’s interesting what you say about IPCM vs. LIPA. Our daughter enjoyed her visit to IPCM, it is small but they were very welcoming and seemed to have a good technical standard. It’s good to have the feedback about LIPA from the instructor, of course this means living in Liverpool as opposed to London. Our D did the summer program at SOCAPA in NY and loved it, would highly recommend it. In the U.K., we saw a number of Universities offering popular music so this can be an option. We are just not sure about the quality. Your idea of summer music camps is a great one!</p>
<p>PopRock MOM… you have great insights, and have been there/done that… and are so kind to share. If your Son inherited that awesome trait… do you think my son could chat with him briefly… Either email or live on tele?? My son is doing the USC live audition in a month…and he’d really like to hear what the actual audition, inside the room…with what sort of panel etc, was like… AND I personally wonder just how well a loud rock band can come off in a small room with maybe NOT so willing sound techs and equipment etc. Anyway Mom, if he’d be so kind… could you PLEASE ping me at <a href="mailto:jeffb@icorpamerica.com…and">jeffb@icorpamerica.com…and</a> we could get them in touch. Anyone on this thread as well… if they know someone who has HAD the experience… please connect. My son will happily post and share his experice too afterwards. Thank you all.</p>
<p>Hi barrecuda, </p>
<p>My son is a senior in the Pop program at USC. </p>
<p>I’m wondering why your son is auditioning with an entire rock band. Is the entire band applying? Is your son auditioning as an instrumentalist, a singer/songwriter, a vocalist or something else? If it’s as a singer/songwriter, the panel is looking for artists who stand out, who have a “voice,” not necessarily the very best singers, but the best artists, as much as that’s possible. If he has anything extra special to add or show them, or give them (like music he’s written or something out of the ordinary he’s done), that’s good, too (but not necessary). </p>
<p>They are very nice and welcoming, and I’m sure they’ll be set up for the best sound possible, given the setting. Many have had accompaniment (and I believe my son has even provided accompaniment for others), although I’m not sure about an entire rock band. I could easily be wrong and I’ll ask! Or maybe poprockmom knows?</p>
<p>There are many “rock” type artists in the program, but I don’t believe they all (if any) had an entire band with them. I doubt it’s necessary to showcase one’s talents. In fact it might even detract. Just my two cents.</p>
<p>to jazz/shreddermom and poprock mom, I wanted to say thank you for all your advice. My daughter got into Clive Davis this year, and it is the perfect fit for her. I know the Grammy Camp summer program was recommended, and I would also recommend SOCAPA Summer programs for kids who are interested in developing their popular music talents. Thanks again!</p>
<p>RoadieMom, you may want to follow IPCM, LCCM on Facebook as they post often what is going on there and it kind of gives you a feel for how they operate(not sure about LIPA). Of course one has to keep in mind that there are no student dorms there like you find stateside, students are forced to be more self-reliant from the start (finding apt., cooking, grocery shopping, cleaning, etc). which can be great for some but not for other Freshmen.</p>
<p>Congrats to your daughter’s acceptance to the Clive Davis program! Tell us what she decides and hi wit goes with all her auditions.</p>