Any more options for me?

KatMT
Sun, 04 May 2008 16:16:44 +0000

This is a little crazy – but, would they consider letting you major in Music Industry? The business side of music. At JMU where I teach in the School of Theatre and Dance, the School of Music has a BM degree in Music Industry – students in the program have to audition on a major instrument (in your case it would most likely be voice), do the complete music core, take private voice lessons, even do a senior recital. They choose a music recording or music business emphasis (I believe). They can (and often do) audition for the operas, musicals, take acting, musical theatre, and dance classes.

At JMU there are also some business, school of media arts and design, english, history, etc… majors who participate in music, theatre, and dance classes and activities. However, it is usually not possible for non-Music Majors or non-Musical Theatre concentrators to take private voice lessons for credit – although some will take lessons privately. Some schools will allow non-majors to take voice lessons for credit, however.

JMU may not be the school you are looking for – but there are most likely other Music Industry programs that are similar… and schools where majors outside of music and musical theatre can take private voice for credit, and participate in theatre, music, and dance activities

I think that the suggestions above are also great places to look… depending on what your grades are like Yale, Dartmouth, Brown may also be good options to look into – although even those whose GPA, test scores, ECs are within range of these schools need to look at the Ivy League as reach schools – much like top BFA MT programs :)

Possibly also look at Belmont in Nashville – I believe that they have strong commercial music degree programs.

Another option – look at colleges in a city where you could take classes outside of the university or college – although this would cost money that is not part of your tuition which you parents may or may not want to pay for.

There are many paths to a career in the performing arts. If you have the passion and drive – which is sounds like you do, you can make it happen.

Good luck!