So a little about myself without being too long winded. I’m currently enrolled in a local cc acquiring general credits and I would like to transfer into a University with a reputable Music Production program. I’m looking for a school in the Eastern part of America (excluding Full Sail University).
I’ve been playing a variety of instruments since i was 8. I have a good foundation in music theory, and i have recently been utilizing a DAW for mixing and producing original as well as remixed tracks.
I’m extremely serious and committed to making music production my career path; I’m looking for a program that can match that commitment with knowledgeable teachers, hands on learning, creative projects, music based courses, and program specific career readiness programs.
Money is always an object so I’m not looking at any schools who have a tuition exceeding 45k/yr.
I hope that is specific enough to narrow down some results. All in all I’m searching for some options to weigh out, and any help anyone can one can offer would be greatly appreciated!
Before the answers start rolling in, why don’t you check out Berklee college of music in Boston. Don’t know if it’ll meet all your needs but it’s like one of the best.
Also, it isn’t really a tradition university as far as I know but check out Dubspot in NY. I always hear lots of great things about it.
Berklee is great but if you don’t want to exceed $45K a year, maybe this isn’t your school. Music schools with a great reputation are going to require an audition on an instrument. You say you play a variety of instruments but you will need to be very proficient on one. Also theory knowledge will be a help in your auditions. Check out Belmont in Nashville. They are a little less expensive than the Berklee type schools. Also check out UNT.
Loyola of Maryland, in Baltimore, is supposed to be good in that. Drexel is very good, but quite expensive. University of the Arts in Philadelphia has a Music “Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology” program. I don’t know how generous they are with scholarships for transfers, but they offer pretty good ones to first-year students.
At College Navigator, it looks like “music technology” is the closest search term. This pulls up only 30 undergraduate programs in the entire country. If wouldn’t take long at all for you to weed through them by price and location: http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?s=all&p=50.0913&l=93&pg=1
“music management” finds 96 programs. Depending on your specific interests, some of those might be better matches for you: http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?s=all&p=50.1003&l=93
Just a heads up on transferring credits. Most music programs will accept transfer credits in general ed but they will insist on their particular 4 year sequence of music theory as a requirement. So frequently you are still looking at another 4 years for your BM. *(this happened to my D) Also–head over to the music majors forum.
So true. Good point!!!
This has been asked a lot on the Music Major Forum. Head over there and ask your question, and scroll (or search) through past threads. As for price - are you well enough off that you don’t qualify for financial aid? For Music Performance degrees there are substantial merit awards at most schools - no idea, though, about music production - but few students pay the ‘list’ price, except, perhaps at Berklee and for profit music trade schools.
Some past threads:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/787110-music-industry-program-major-and-minor-help.html (definitely look at the list in Post #8)
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1093576-recording-arts-major-music-major-or-minor-p1.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1456303-colleges-for-music-recording-engineering.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1303515-recording-audio-engineer-colleges-p1.html
Some good programs to check out that match your criteria: Georgia State, Elon University, Lebanon Valley College, Virginia Tech