Thornton Popular Music

<p>Hi, we are just starting to research colleges. USC Thornton School of Music only has 25 slots and over 500 applicants for the popular music major (vocal). Are there any applicants out there that can share where you decided to go, if you were not one of the 25? We need to research back ups.</p>

<p>Popular (or contemporary) programs are still harder to find. There’s Berklee College of Music, Belmont in Nashville, the Clive Davis program at NYU (also very selective, but I think USC has passed it in terms of percentages), and possibly… don’t quote me on this… Jacobs/Indiana now has a contemporary program? Also check out the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver and Miami/Frost.</p>

<p>And btw, USC’s program has about 25 spots TOTAL, not just for vocal. It includes all instruments (my son is guitarist there), singer-songwriter, vocalist, etc.</p>

<p>Thank you. We hope USC expands the program (D still has 3 years). I know of Miami and the new program at Columbia in Chicago. We are staying away from conservatories because she also wants a “full college experience” (greek life, sports, and research opportunities). </p>

<p>She also feels if she doesn’t get into a top school for vocal performance/song writing then she should pursue science and save music for her personal enjoyment rather than a career. A contemporary vocal performance program at a top university seems non-existant other than USC. </p>

<p>Haven’t checked out Denver…will do!</p>

<p>Still curious as to where some USC Thorton Popular Music applicants decided to go…Congrats to your son, btw!</p>

<p>“A contemporary vocal performance program at a top university seems non-existant other than USC.” – I have to agree with you. Except perhaps NYU, both Clive Davis and the musical theater and voice options there.</p>

<p>And she’s very smart to think the way she’s thinking regarding pursuing a non-music major and singing “on the side” if for no other reason than a contemporary music degree is by no means a pre-requesite for a career in music (and as my son loves to point out - a college degree isn’t either!) My son’s now a junior, but he’s always looking for a good reason (like a touring opportunity) to leave… and he may have one yet.</p>

<p>Also, there are opportunities within USC’s pop program for other students to take courses as electives, etc. There’re are a couple of film students I know of, too, who perform and hang with the pop music crowd. </p>

<p>But she should also check out the Clive Davis Recording Arts program at NYU (that’s a major university). It does have a “performance” track.</p>

<p>I think a lot of Thornton pop applicants (who don’t opt to purse another major) end up at Berklee and Belmont, to answer that question. But perhaps you’ll get other answers as well.</p>

<p>just a heads up Megansmom—don’t spell the name of a school incorrectly in your or your D’s correspondence with the school. It’s Thornton not Thorton. ;)</p>

<p>Thank you jazz/shreddermom and musicamusica!</p>

<p>I just tried to send you a private message…practically a book, lol. But, it said I can’t send private messages until I have at least 15 posts. I’ll work on posting more, later. Thank you so much and I will be messaging you. :o)</p>

<p>check your messages again, megansmom!</p>

<p>Sent…hope it works. :)</p>

<p>BTW, is there a way to correct the spelling in the title of the thread?</p>

<p>I think only moderators can change the titles of threads. Perhaps you could flag the post and request the change-- the thread will be easier for people to google it if the spelling is accurate.</p>

<p>I have looked into Boston univ and it has a great music department especially in more modern music, I’m guessing if your looking at popular music vocals it’s not opera.</p>

<p>Miami is a good option. I know quite a few contemporary music majors and they are all ridiculously talented.</p>

<p>Two USC Thornton popular music students were selected by Keith Urban to have solo parts with his group at the American Country Music Awards. Brandon Combs sang and Miss Devon Eisenbarger played guitar.</p>

<p>Rockr, I know you elected the straight engineering route when you chose to go to Miami, but I’m curious as to whether you’ve been able to access music production yet, formally or informally! Do give us an update ;)</p>

<p>Megansmom, I didn’t initially respond to your question because my son didnt proceed with his USC app after an early admit at his preferred program/location (that was in the first year of the program and his emphasis was more production and composition than performance) but many of the people we’d met on the interview circuit had applied to Clive Davis at NYU,
Miami Frost, Belmont, berklee, and Jacobs/indianna for bs recording (which attracts contemporary/pop musicians in part) and his cuurent Alma mater, university of mich PAT program.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t, however, call ANY of those programs a “backup” per se – none have a high
admit rate; even the largest programs only take about 20 students, and only four were admitted to the section of program he wanted at umich.</p>

<p>If you haven’t looked at Humber College in Toronto, you may want to check that out.</p>

<p>The way we handled having a “back up” was to find a few non-audition/different degree programs my son thought he might enjoy while still working on his portfolio with the intent to try again. Fortunately, didn’t need to go that route.</p>

<p>Although it has gotten tougher in recent years, Berklee’s admit rate is still considerably higher than the other programs kmcmom mentions. I understand your daughter wants more of a university experience, but I want to make sure nobody else is misinformed.</p>

<p>Echoing RoKr’s comment, the UM Frost School of music has a new program, the Bruce Hornsby Creative American Songwriting track. It basically combines pop and contemporary songwriting and composition with music business to make you into a recording star. Check out the band “Sins of the Loose Buttons”; they’re all in the program and make some pretty jammin music</p>

<p>Thank you. Yes, she likes opera, but is leaning toward more contemporary stuff.</p>

<p>Thank you. Miami is definitely a possibility!</p>

<p>Thanks kmcmom13, just to clarify for anyone thinking of replying to post - I didn’t mean back-up in the traditional sense of “easier to get into.” I simply meant that she has her heart set on USC, but needs to apply to other schools. My husband went to Northwestern and scoffed when I called it a back-up. Obviously it is one of the top schools in the nation. </p>

<p>Getting some good input here - thank you.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, there are no “back-up” or “safety schools” when applying to a contemporary music program because there are so few of them. When will some of these other SOM catch on and start creating programs similar to USC, Miami, etc. because there is such a need? When my S was applying he only had 4 schools on his list because of the limited number of schools offering such programs. He applied to USC, Berklee, Miami, and a LAC with a music program as a back up option. He didn’t apply to Belmont because he thought it was a little too conservative for him and we didn’t hear about U. of Denver until it was too late…@megansmom, good luck with the USC audition!</p>