<p>@Lencias I’m in the same boat as you are. The mic you can take since they aren’t really that big, but don’t worry that much about the keyboard I’m sure you’ll have access to the practice rooms which have pianos, and meanwhile, for those months you don’t have your keyboard you can compose songs with your guitar :)</p>
<p>I don’t know about USC, but I know that at my state university (U of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign) students are NOT allowed to play instruments in the dorms. They have to go to practice rooms in the music buildings.</p>
<p>-Verify if your residence has a Piano and a private music room.
- Don’t take excessive equipment with you. Some rooms are small and you will have no space.
-Remember every six month you will have to empty the room.
-Ask your advisor what kind of practice facilities they have.
-Ask what kind of equipment they have.
-Ask for alternatives offered, do they lend or rent equipment.</p>
<p>Best wishes at USC a great university!</p>
<p>@Poncem</p>
<p>It’s a MIDI keyboard, connected to my computer so that I can write parts without clicking in individual notes (oh god the last time I did that…), kinda need it…</p>
<p>@ Greenery
Every 6 months? Why six months? Don’t I have the dorm till the end of the year? Or am I relocated every semester?</p>
<p>Lencias…you are right; every May students need to empty their rooms.</p>
<p>However, if you come home for Christmas, probably you want some of those instruments with you.</p>
<p>Surely you’ve seen the youtube video “United Breaks Guitars.” That’ll help you decide… find another student traveling West and venture out together. Just a thought.</p>
<p>We faced similar questions as son is a popular music major at USC and we live in the midwest. He writes and records music which meant there could be issues with what can you bring back for winter break and what are you going to do over the summer. Moving the heavy stuff multiple times was going to get expensive and a real pain. We decided that the really big heavy stuff it would be cheaper to buy used in LA and then leave with friends over the summer (He didn’t have any at usc but we hoped he would make some 
). We used craigslist and were able to find a great used keyboard and a great used keyboard amp and mic stand and keyboard stand for just under $1000. Will probably be able to get close to that for them at the end of his time at USC. One guitar shipped in baggage and one went in the overhead. Microphones and 8track recorder went in a suitcase. Wife was told to wear multiple layers of underwear to leave more room in the suitcase for sons crap when we moved him out (she didn’t laugh but I did) and we made it. He has brought a guitar home the couple of times he has come home and it seems to be working out fairly well. He wouldn’t be happy without music gear at USC and it seems to have worked out well for him. $1000 isn’t much in the scheme of your education at USC if you are really serious about your music. Might not get exactly the same quality of stuff you have at home, but it will get you “really good” and you will have enough stuff to move without moving heavy keyboards and amps. SCA is amazing and you have to seriously consider going. The music gear is not a reason to not go. Good Luck!</p>