<p>Hey, I was wondering what schools are good for things such as music production. I don't know if it's something I really want to do with my life, but I have a passion for music (been playing piano for 10 years now; I'm a freshman) and really enjoy it. What I mean is, where should I go to school to get a good, real degree in something like music production? Or music recording/mixing (soundboard stuff)? </p>
<p>Also, if I do something like this and have to audition (I know someone who is majoring in this, not performance, but still has to audition), of course I want to play two or three classical songs, but would it be a good idea to add in a "fun" song at the end, just to show versatility and that I'm different. It seems like they might be more open/lenient to that if I'm doing production or recording or whatever, but I'm not sure.</p>
<p>There are lots of different programs out there. Perhaps violadad will come along and point you to one of the many previous times that this has been discussed. If not, judicious use of the Search feature should get you started.</p>
<p>In terms of auditions, every school has its own requirements and it pays big time to know exactly what those requirements are and follow them to the letter. If you are planning any substitutions or “extras” it would be a good idea to verify the acceptability of such a change with each school where you intend to audition.</p>
<p>There are both audition and non-audition programs for audio production. Have a look at the list of schools on the Audio Engineering Society’s web page: aes dot org slash education slash directory.</p>
<p>I would suggest you look at Belmont University. I’m not sure there is any college that does more student-run music productions than Belmont. My S and I attended their Country Showcase a few weeks ago on his audition day. It was fantastic. Students did everything, from performing to lighting to sound, mixing, stage design, direction, and there was even a student MC. Very professional production. They do four Showcases and numerous other ensemble productions every year that are entirely student-run. Belmont also has its own nightclub on campus that is student-run. And of course, the university is in Nashville and offers wonderful internship opportunities with many Nashville recording studios and production companies.</p>
<p>Berklee College of Music, in Boston, has a notably good music production and engineering department. They’re not a classically oriented school at all, but they have some cross-registration agreement with Boston Conservatory (the classical music college up the street), so you could go to Berklee but take some classical piano stuff at a nearby school if that interests you.</p>
<p>(FYI: Boston is crazy expensive to live in, and music schools here often don’t have a lot to give in terms of financial aid. If $$$ is your major consideration, don’t set your heart on this one.)</p>
<p>Additional music production programs from the recording/producing standpoint include NYU’s Clive Davis (at Tisch) department of Recording Arts (you can specialize as a producer, producer performer etc.); Indiana U’s Jacob School of Music Recording Arts Bsc. degree – well regarded with recording/mixing/reinforcement emphasis. Miami Frost has a well regarded engineering program. If you like piano and would like to pursue a degree that is a performance and production mix, University of Michigan Performing Arts Technology degree has a BMUS stream where you still do piano studio but also pursue recording, composing, mixing, acoustical eng etc. </p>
<p>Those are a few places you can start looking. All the programs I mentioned select via portfolio and interview, with the only exception being UMich if you’re seeking curriculum A (performance with PAT) which has a live audition. However, I believe all those programs still require recorded submissions of your own music in the portfolio, with varying degrees of emphasis on your composition skill (eg. more emphasis on composition with Michigan, very little w Indiana).</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! That’s really helpful; I’ll look some more into it.</p>
<p>Two of my cousins are studying music production at American University, i guess it’s pretty good, I don’t know much about it.</p>