My DS always planned on majoring in music but after visiting schools he has realized that he know much of what is taught in these programs and since he won’t be pursuing classical performance, the music degree isn’t worth it for him. He is thinking of shifting to electrical engineering as a hobby of his has been designing and building custom audio equipment and instruments (guitar pedals, synthesizers, etc). At the same time, he wants to pursue his music career outside of school (rock/pop). Any suggestions for quality engineering schools that have vibrant music scenes around them? He was underwhelmed by NYU engineering but did somewhat like Northeastern and BU. We haven’t been anywhere else. He has a 3.85 GPA UW 1520 SAT as a junior and should have around 10 APs when he graduates. ECs are good but mostly in music and musical theater…Thank you!
I have been told that U.Mass Amherst has a very good music program.
I once had a guitar teacher who had started at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, ran out of money, and completed his degree at U.Mass Lowell (he had to retake most if it from the beginning). He seemed to think that U.Mass Lowell was also quite good for music. I think however that he had gone there rather than U.Mass Amherst mostly because this allowed him to live at home to save money.
McGill and Toronto both are very good for music. The music library at McGill is very impressive, as are some of their recording and concert facilities. I do not know how open they are to allowing non-music majors to take music courses. However, we did ask at McGill about lessons. Apparently many of the music professors at McGill will routinely offer lessons on the side for a fee to augment their income (edit, and at least in general any McGill student can sign up for lessons). When we looked there seemed to be music events almost every night at McGill, and the area of Montreal around McGill also has an active music scene (and Place Des Arts is relatively nearby also).
Music, math, computer science, and engineering are talents that often coexist in the same brains. I was a math major and worked in high tech for my entire career. I have multiple times seen someone I know from work get up on stage and play music. In most cases they were very good. On one occasion this was right before I got up on stage and played at an open mic. My coworker was so good that I then spent about a month learning to play whatever he had just played (it was something by Turlough O’Carolan if I am remembering properly). On another occasion during a break in a concert someone I had recently known as a software engineer came over to chat, and gave each of us a copy of his most recent CD. Then he went back up on stage. I still have the CD.
In the very, very high reach category, MIT allows students to take classes at Harvard and at Wellesley College. While I was at MIT I took one music class at MIT, and was sufficiently unimpressed that the following semester I took a music class at Wellesley and quite liked it.
MIT has an excellent music department that is very open to students of all majors and also offers a major, minor, or double major, with classical, jazz, popular and world music. Music | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
We don’t know what state you are in. The schools known for contemporary music, rock, pop are USC Thornton, Miami Frost, New School, Belmont, Berklee, maybe NYU. UMass Lowell has a competitive guitar program. Oberlin and Brown have progressive music departments where he could continue to build/invent instruments. Harvard has a double degree program with Berklee. Tufts would be a possibility.
There is an excellent music forum here on CC and you don’t have to be a music major. There is a helpful essay in the Read Me section entitled “The Double Degree Dilemma” that is really about ways to study music. I would add that a student can study engineering or any other subject and continue with music lessons and extracurricular performance, while taking music electives.
There are many schools that could work. If engineering is the focus then it seems wise to focus on the quality of those programs first. MIT, Olin, Northeastern in my area. Clark and WPI are in a consortium and you could do WPI with music at Clark. Countless other possibilities.
I have to wonder why your son feels he already knows everything that is taught in college programs for music! And if he was underwhelmed by NYU and so so about Northeastern and BU, it sounds like he might be hard to please so maybe MIT would be the best top choice.
Chicago has a very vibrant music scene Northwestern would be worth a look
For more of a target Case Western in Cleveland
You note rock/pop and outside of school and that makes sense as few likely have those opportunities on campus. But then you read how so many bands started at college, playing fraternity houses and local bars, etc. So I’ve give some schools of music - but then below - cities. After all , rock bands have come from
UW to UGA to Ohio State to IIT to UIUC, etc.
I’d find the right school for you - but maybe only check in areas that have vibrant music scenes - which I put below - and know doubt there’s more. With 400+ EE ABET schools and you’ve already said you don’t love NYU/NU facilities - well tour schools in cities of interest and find a school you do like in one of those cities.
Of course, engineering will run $20-95K so don’t forget budget - which is most important unless you’re willing to spend big.
Schools
You might check into possibilities at Syracuse and Miami - and U Rochester too. They’re great music schools and have fine engineering programs. Can they be mixed, etc or opportunities for non majors. I second Case Western.
You can probably look at any school of interest and google their music opportunities for non majors. It’s probably a wider list than you realize.
As for “around” them and music scenes - a Vanderbilt, Tulane and then other less selective schools - a UT Chattanooga, Memphis - will have thriving music scenes in the area - plus other schools. You went to Northeastern but for example you have Tufts and BU in Boston. You went to NYU - in the city (or near) you have Columbia, Manhattan, City college. All ABET accredited.
You might start with the list of 420 ABET accredited schools. Which areas are good for this?
Areas for rock music
**"he wants to pursue his music career outside of school (rock/pop). "
Is that St. Louis (Wash U) or Los Angeles
St. Louis has WashU and SLU. Los Angeles has everything from Long Beach State to Loyola Marymount to USC and UCLA. Is it Seattle and U Seattle, Seattle Pacific or U Wash. Or Minneapolis - at UMN or U of St. Thomas. or UGA in Athens GA.
There’s many, many ABET accredited EE schools - over 400+ in the US. Which will impress him facility wise - and offer area or school opportunities he seek. It sounds like maybe you aren’t seeking school driven but area driven opportunities.
Here are the music options available to a non- music major at Rice U. Non-Major Offerings | The Shepherd School of Music
Your kiddo might like the wonderful music in New Orleans, but Tulane only offers a minor in EE at the undergraduate level.
Focus on engineering then go on the music majors forum here. I listed schools most often mentioned for rock/pop in a previous message. If you do engineering you can do extracurricular rock/pop anywhere. Some music schools that are being suggested are geared to classical or jazz which does not seem to be what you wanted. Again, the music forum is a great resource. I can PM a list of music industry/production type programs if you like. But it seems engineering should be the main focus in the search.
Maybe a dumb question here but what are his career aspirations? Based on the OP it seems like he wants to go down a music path but doesn’t believe there’s anything to be gained from going to higher ed for a music program. He has EE as a hobby but is there value in him going to a school for 4 years for him to foster a hobby? He might be able to get the EE information through local voc-tech after-hours programs.
Clearly a smart student and will have lots of higher ed options but wondering if higher ed is the best path.
Very much agree with this. 
Maybe something like this?
https://music.gatech.edu/bachelor-science-music-technology
Atlanta has a vibrant music community.
@Mellome If the son is interested in sound recording, sound engineering, music production etc. I offer a full list via PM if desired.
Case Western Reserve but show them the love. They really care about demonstrated interest.
I think that University of Rochester would be perfect for what you’re looking for and a good admissions match.
Bucknell is also strong in engineering and has a top level music program.
Rice is known as an engineering school. Lesser known is its Shepherd School of Music, which is superb. Rice would probably fall into the reach category at this point.
OP - are you looking for a music program? When I read this, I think not.
At the same time, he wants to pursue his music career outside of school (rock/pop).
I think you are looking for good club type (not school club but music club) opportunities. Of course, many bands start on campuses - in cities and not in cities. But a place like Nashville, as an example, is loaded with clubs on Lower Broadway…just one example…I’m sure many cities like that…if he makes the cut with the clubs.
Son doesn’t need a school that is “good for music” with focus on classical or jazz.
Thornton, Frost, Belmont, Berklee are best known for rock/pop. Son doesn’t need these either. Unless he wants to major in popular music.
MIT, Tufts, Case Western, WPI/Clark, many LAC’s and universities will fit the bill. Music can be extracurricular and include electives.