<p>I think we found a safety school in popular vocal music/songwriting! USC is still the obvious 1st choice (followed by: Bellmont, Miami/Frost, and NYU) OR Northwestern dual degree and Oberlin dual degree if she decided to do both music/science. But, what if D doesn’t get one of the few slots at USC, decides to keep the commercial music major, and wants to stay closer to home? We found a commercial music BM program at Azusa Pacific University. </p>
<p>Has anyone attended this program and care to share? I think this is the only other commercial vocal program in California.</p>
<p>megansmom, it’s not called “commercial music,” but there is a non-classical vocal major at UCLA (it used to be in ethnomusicology or music arts, but I believe they have changed this what it falls under). Sorry I can’t be more specific, but if she’s still around Smithanan’s D (who is at USC as a singer/songwriter, same year as my son) was accepted to this program. And University of the Pacific has a great music school (or so I hear), so there may be a program there as well (but there may not - sorry!), if you’re looking for California-specific.</p>
<p>Thanks. 
Yes, the “safety” schools are just in case she doesn’t get into USC but decides she needs to be close to home. Any info on Azusa Pacific?</p>
<p>I don’t know it, sorry. Hopefully someone else does?</p>
<p>Slightly off topic - my daughter just attended Interlochen summer camp, 2 weeks of singer-songwriter immersion in that craft with high school kids (mostly Juniors & Seniors) from all over the country & a few foreign countries. She loved the experience, and realizes from her interaction with her peers that this is her passion and that she is good at it. I’m happy that we pushed her to go - it was good for her, but also for us - because we now know that she’s competitive, and we have a direction for her. </p>
<p>I also found out that Interlochen Academy, the boarding high school, offers a fifth year for high school graduates, so that they can prepare for a highly competitive college. Probably more appropriate for the classical musician/vocal performer, but the extra year could provide a valuable edge for a singer-songwriter. The Academy has two full-time instructors in that ‘major’.</p>