Belmont University

henrob
Mon, 08 Jan 2007 21:47:36 +0000

My son did graduate from Belmont in Commercial Violin Performance. I have said earlier what my son does and that I pleased with his college program.

His wife (they met his freshman year) graduated in Commercial Voice. She is unusual in that she prefers to sing back up and do studio work. She is not the “out front” singer like so many there. Currently she works in music business during the day, but like my son, does studio work and gigs on nights and weekends. They both love it.

I think Belmont has a great Commercial music program. I do not consider it a top program if you are going the classical direction, but from what I see, the classical training is good to lay the base and the commercial teachers are highly regarded. My daughter-in-law loved her voice teacher and felt her teacher improved her voice greatly. She was a Senior by the time I heard her sing and by then she was a very fine singer.

The commercial vocal program and the music business program are the biggest in the music school. There are many, many singers working to make it, the majority female. Quite a few kids come to the school to major in music and then decide either the competition or music theory is too tough and they transfer into the music business program. Many very good singers are there trying to make it in rock, country and other areas.

The music school is heavily supported by Mike Curb, who owns Curb Records. I think the music business school is named after him. Vince Gill is a huge supporter of Belmont and its music school. So the school has strong support.

My son is a classically trained violinist and took AP Music Theory in high school. Theory came easy to him, but many of the kids who go there to major in music have little or no formal music training. So music theory hits them like a Mack truck. But I think the teachers are used to that and work hard with those kids.

Nashville is a hot bed for music, and only a portion of it is country. The musical talent and opportunities in the city are tremendous. We live in Atlanta, and I don’t believe Atlanta comes close to Nashville’s musical life and atmosphere.

I hope this helps. If you are interested in either commercial (non-classical)music performance or music business, I think you are making a mistake if you do not at least look at Belmont’s program.

And just for reference, I am my son’s father, a he. Best of luck in the college search.