What are some of the top music schools in the country?

<p>I am going to be a junior this next school year and have heard many different things about colleges and am just very unsure about things. I know i want to pursure a bassoon performance major and am not sure whether i also want to go a composition route or education route also. I have more interest in a university than a conservatory. I have done research and know that UMich, Northwestern, and such have good programs but have not heard as much about the University of North Texas. Does anyone have opnions on how good of a school that is? I am also just open to any opnions on good schools/teachers!!
I just need a place to start!</p>

<p>Given that you have more interest in a university than a conservatory and that your interest seems to be in those with solid academics (given your listing of UMich & Northwester), here are a few other universities to consider for music that have strong academics and strong music programs: Indiana University (Bloomington); Univ. of Southern California; and Rice University. As far as academics goes, if one includes your original two as well, Indiana is probably the least prestigious and Rice the most. As far as music goes, all five of these are strong, but the Shepherd School at Rice is probably the most selective, mostly because it has a very small undergrad music population. </p>

<p>U of North Texas: This has a huge music school (largest in the US with Indiana a very close second). The school is well-known for jazz and music ed, but has a good comprehensive music program covering almost everything. The university as a whole is not known as being an academic powerhouse (i.e. it is in a different league from USC, Indiana, Northwestern, Rice, and UMich). I think that U of North Texas often gets overlooked by music applicants because of its location (i.e. not in a major center and in Texas–a long distance from most people other than Texans!). </p>

<p>You will want to do specific research on where the good bassoon instructors are and ideally only apply to institutions that have bassoon teachers that you would be happy working with.</p>

<p>The three titled threads:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/368702-what-schools-bassoon-performance-study.html?highlight=bassoon[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/368702-what-schools-bassoon-performance-study.html?highlight=bassoon&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/437421-mannes-hartt-bassoon.html?highlight=bassoon[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/437421-mannes-hartt-bassoon.html?highlight=bassoon&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/155885-about-majoring-bassoon.html?highlight=bassoon[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/155885-about-majoring-bassoon.html?highlight=bassoon&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Be sure to look at the links with teacher affiliations. You might also want to pm Marjecat if she doesn’t respomd within this thread.</p>

<p>Do you have any suggestions on how to look for professors you would be happy working with?</p>

<p>I suggest you start here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html&lt;/a&gt; if you haven’t already read it.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/901390-2010-collective-experience.html?highlight=2010[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/901390-2010-collective-experience.html?highlight=2010&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/892168-search-tips-other-insights.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/892168-search-tips-other-insights.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Just a sampling:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/391801-importance-master-teacher.html?highlight=teacher[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/391801-importance-master-teacher.html?highlight=teacher&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/390796-does-phenomenal-applied-teacher-really-trump-everything.html?highlight=teacher[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/390796-does-phenomenal-applied-teacher-really-trump-everything.html?highlight=teacher&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/507857-trying-find-new-teacher.html?highlight=teacher[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/507857-trying-find-new-teacher.html?highlight=teacher&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/850220-contacting-teachers-sample-lessons.html?highlight=lessons[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/850220-contacting-teachers-sample-lessons.html?highlight=lessons&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/856129-more-questions-about-sample-lessons.html?highlight=lessons[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/856129-more-questions-about-sample-lessons.html?highlight=lessons&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/64609-arranging-sample-faculty-lessons-music-performance-majors.html?highlight=lessons[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/64609-arranging-sample-faculty-lessons-music-performance-majors.html?highlight=lessons&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/334339-taking-practice-preview-lessons-before-applying-conservatories.html?highlight=lessons[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/334339-taking-practice-preview-lessons-before-applying-conservatories.html?highlight=lessons&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/341209-critical-have-lessons-before-auditions.html?highlight=lessons[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/341209-critical-have-lessons-before-auditions.html?highlight=lessons&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;