<p>As previously mentioned, MTSU and Belmont both have excellent reputations in the country music industry. A hs classmate of my D completed an internship through his program at MTSU and landed permanent employment with the arts organization that way. He is both talented and outgoing. Both Dierks Bentley and Amy Grant attended Vanderbilt, btw. Vince Gill is a huge Vanderbilt basketball fan and good friends with Coach Kevin Stallings. He’s frequently spotted at the ballgames.</p>
<p>Belmont’s location at the end of Music Row, along with the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business gives a slight advantage to Belmont [Mike</a> Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business - Belmont University](<a href=“http://www.belmont.edu/cemb/]Mike”>Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business | Belmont University)</p>
<p>However, I have a neighbor who is at MTSU (mainly due to finances) who is having a wonderful experience there. Frankly, MTSU is close enough that if you wanted to do an internship in Nashville it wouldn’t be difficult at all.</p>
<p>Have you visited either yet? If you do come down to visit the schools, make sure you visit all three and ask a lot of questions of current students, especially at Belmont & MTSU to compare their experiences.</p>
<p>I have been to Vandy, but never been to either Belmont and Middle Tennessee, since honestly, I didn’t know much about them at the time. But I definitely want to visit now, if nothing just to talk to the students and see what their experiences are</p>
<p>Don’t get caught up in name-brands, either, for internships. D has worked for small firms and has had amazing internships - she opted not to do an internship at a more well known place this spring due to the quality of work and depth of relationships in the smaller firm. While YOU might not recognize the companies she has worked for, folks in the country music industry know the people she has worked for … and the people she has worked for know my D (and the quality of her work) very well … and that is what counts!</p>
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<p>Absolutely, I’m the least brand-name/prestige conscious person I know. What I meant was that working at one of those well-know companies would be a dream. Of course I wouldn’t mind start off working at a smaller company or recording label that has strong reputation within the country music industry</p>
<p>Too bad you didn’t know about Belmont when you visited Vandy; their campuses are just a block apart. MTSU is about 45 minutes down I-24 East (depending on traffic.)</p>
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<p>That is bad advice, in my opinion. I know a number of extremely talented young country artists (singer/songwriters) who are working with top agents and STILL are attending Belmont. It takes some time- if ever- to really make it, and for every Taylor Swift there are thousands of artists who strive for years to get that first hit. Get your education.</p>
<p>My daughter is interested in Vanderbilt. We visited in August. My husband’s partner has made mention of it being very formal. the guys come to escort the girls to football games. Is this a fraternity sorority thing? How do you characterize the school atmosphere?</p>
<p>That is very, very good advice. My D has met extremely talented musicians who may or may not ever make a living as performers. Some of these musicians are more talented than many of the singers who are “hot” today, but that makes no difference. There is so much more to it than talent. Following dreams is great, but getting an education is SMART. </p>
<p>By the way, Nashville is one talented town. :)</p>
<p>Downtoearth, it depends on your child. Some students want the experience your H describes, and it is there. I’m not sure if that is a fraternity/sorority thing, but even if it is … I don’t think all fraternity/sorority members are that formal. Others are not into that scene, and they find their own happy niche. My D is completely disinterested in the greek scene (although she has friends in sororities & fraternities). She is very involved in campus activities that interest her, and she has an active social life. She has never been to a Vandy football game (she has been to a couple UMich games, though!).</p>
<p>It is a big enough school that there is something for everyone.</p>
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<p>One of my co-workers is recently divorced & decided to go out with a group. She’s originally from the Northeast. They ended up at karaoke. When she started telling us the next day, we all groaned, because the last thing you want to do in Nashville is karaoke! EVERYONE is a world class performer. She had no idea; she thought it would just be like karaoke back home. </p>
<p>Going back to Belmont and the whole getting a degree vs. trying to sign a deal: if you are a performer, Belmont has lots of connections to help you find showcases. A friends son is a freshman at Belmont and he just performed with a few other students at the Bluebird Cafe (for those of you not familiar, it is a small club in Nashville where top of the game songwriters perform on a regular basis.) There was another thread on CC a few months ago about Belmont that mentioned how some students “who are into music” show up at Belmont and realize that it is far more intense than they expected, as many students already have demos done and have shopped them around.</p>
<p>downtoearth,
D was greek and never had a boy call for her for a football game. I think that stereotype is pretty old. Many greeks do dress up and tailgate prior to football games. Girls often wear nice dresses with cowboy boots. In fact, a TLC short series last year (takeoff on Boston Med/Hopkins shows on ABC) that featured the VU Medical Center showed a Vandy girl being treated for infected blisters from hard wearing of the cowboy boots during a football weekend! The resident treating the young woman commented that was a fairly common issue with young women at Vanderbilt (side note: medical care is quick and excellent!). While D never had a date for a football game, she did get her picture made with Taylor Swift at a tailgate about 4 years ago!</p>
<p>Does anyone have first hand experience w/ Lipscomb? I want to know how well liked it is by the students and the general atmosphere.</p>