Music Industry/Business School Help needed for current senior

Parents Forum
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My son is a senior looking at music industry/business programs. His true love is for performing electric guitar in a rock/contemporary style andt he wants to study the industry and get experience there, more knowledgable and ready to succeed, and with employable skills. He has no experience playing jazz or classical guitar although he is willing to learn some jazz. He DOES want to study music, especially commercial styles and hopefully have chances to perform, although he can always do this off campus. Many “music” programs require auditions and require classical guitar or jazz, at a minimum.

He is looking at all of the usual programs: USC, NYU, Miami, Syracuse (both Setnor and Bandier), St. Rose, Mid. Tennessee, William Paterson, Monmouth, Belmont, New Haven, Albright, Rochester, UC Denver, Loyola New Orleans, Case Western, UMass Lowell, Milliken, U of Memphis, Delta State, Capitol. Some of these I’ve eliminated after reading commentary on this website, niche and student reviews.com

Credentials:
23 ACT, awaiting scores on retake
school doesn’t rank or calculate GPA but would be about 3.5
no weighted, AP, classes offered at his school
did Five Week Summer Performance Program at Berklee
year long internship at regional performing arts center working both front and back of house, learning lights, soundboard, set up etc.
member of school sponsored band, produced a professionally recorded CD
Lots of experience playing in public
100 hours community service
great story of overcoming adversity, went from becoming a failing student and victim of bullying, making choice himself to leave to go to a boarding school across country, rediscovered music in a supportive environment where teachers helped him learn how to overcome mild learning disabilities.

Any thoughts on the best way programs and the best way to present him to get him admitted? Do you think any of the schools that want jazz guitar auditions would consider really impressive rock guitar solos? My son may call some of the schools and try to talk to guitar faculty to get a feel. If they are just looking for talented musicians for the industry programs, he fits the mold, just not in the way they usually measure it.

Can anyone speak to the difference between the Syracuse Setnor Music Industry program and Bandier? Since Bandier is for “non-musicians” would Setnor be more appropriate if he can get past the audition guidelines? However, it seems like Bandier has more industry contacts, more prestige, and some other special features that the music based program doesn’t have.

I don’t know if it is even worth applying to schools like NYU and USC unless the grades and ACT scores are a secondary consideration to the talent portion, essay, recommendations, big picture etc. Any thoughts?

I DO believe that a program that offers internships, that has its own record label, production company etc., and definitely a faculty with meaningful contacts are almost musts.

I know that people post on here that have been in this position and some that have made it into these programs (or not). Any advice would be appreciated! I may post this on the music forum, too, but I know that there have been some excellent posts from parents here on this subject.

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You may get more helpful info in the Music Major forum. Certainly you should search through old threads there.

Loyola NO has both a popular and commercial music program and a non-performance music industry major that don’t require jazz or classical, so they would certainly give him a shot I’d think. Sounds like he has a lot to offer. These are the audition/portfolio requirements for the various programs:

http://apply.loyno.edu/cmfa/famis#auditions

My D is in the BS Industry program and likes it so far. She actually auditioned for (and got accepted to) the performance major but switched over before she started. NO is obviously a great location for music and from what I’ve seen there are lots of opportunities for the students.

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@pjdinoh just curious as to why Berklee is not on your list??? Seems like a perfect fit!

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What do these schools expect you to pay and what can you afford?

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I know the gentleman who runs Bandier, and have for many years, and he is an outstanding human being. IMHO exactly the kind you want shepherding your kids.

When I went to Syracuse before the great flood, there was no Bandier but many opportunities in the music business in radio, records, and live performances - despite it being a mid-market. Some industry titans like John Sykes of MTV and others went there as well.

However, the weather in Syracuse is very different than that you will find at USC! lol…

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Drexel? The friends’ kids I know who have gone there for music stuff have been more on the tech side, e.g. sound engineering, but they have a music business program, too (with their own label, etc.). Philadelphia is an excellent place for any kind of music – classical, rock, jazz, folk, bluegrass, soul, hip-hop, blues, they’re all alive and well (if not exactly well-fed) on a nightly basis. There’s a huge all-ages indie music scene, and clubs themselves are very cheap compared with other cities.

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Thanks to everyone who has responded so far. Yes, JHS, I forgot to mention Drexel - it is high on the list. Postmodern: my son has been studying in the middle of Massachusetts the last three years and has survived so far! I am impressed that although he would like to leave the cold, he has said he will go anywhere the best school is. As far as cost, we are very, very blessed that we will be able to cover any of these schools’ costs. Hopefully the fact that we aren’t seeking financial aid might help a little at some schools, don’t know. Rockinmomab: He was turned off after spending the summer at Berklee. He didn’t feel like there was any room for “creative license” there. This confirms some other comments I’ve read here - that you go down the hall and find 20 guitar students being taught to play the same riff exactly the same way. He also wants a broader college experience and more to fall back on just in case he is one of the one in four college students who changes their mind about their major! I’m glad to hear good things about Loyola. I think we will try to attend the EA auditions in early December.

So thankful for the great advice so far!

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I’m sorry to hear about his summer experience at Berklee. It certainly is not like what he found at all!!! Summer is totally different. It is a different caliber of students, different instructors, different curriculums and certainly students are not being taught the same thing in every lesson room. If we had judged Berklee on its summer program, my son would probably not have attended either. Too bad to hear this as from what you have said, your son would fit in perfectly. My son is also a guitarist and loves Berklee. Anyway good luck in your search and make sure you take what you read here with a grain of salt!!! Lots of people with lots of differing opinions. Form your own conclusions and don’t base them on what others say. I also think most negatives about Berklee are from those who have never even been a part of the school. There is a parent on here who’s son was accepted to USC and Berklee and she was not very enthusiastic about Berklee but is now thrilled and her son is being challenged like never before so again, I urge you to make your own decisions.

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Gotta ask… is he sure he wants to combine his love of music and academics/career? Some students find it better to keep them separate. Our son was one of them.

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The music major forum will be helpful.

I second the suggestion to give Berklee another look. By the way, it not only just merged with Boston Conservatory but there is a new double degree program with Harvard. Berklee has been on the move lately.

You have a great list and obviously already know your way around this part of the music world.

And you are right he could go to virtually any school he likes, based on size, location, academics, music and “vibe”, and major in anything and still do music via lessons, electives, and performance on or off campus.

There is nothing wrong with focusing on music as an undergrad. It does not doom anyone financially. Music majors have access to many kinds of jobs and grad or professional schools. He has already done internships and continuing those will help with future employment as well.

If performance is what he truly loves, I hope he can focus on that as an undergrad. If music industry is a backup so that he can get a job, there are other ways to approach that (as with internships) , but if he really wants to do that, I would also suggest Northeastern which has a major in music industry and great teachers in the area of course . http://www.northeastern.edu/camd/music/academic-programs/bs-in-music-industry/ The coop program might appeal to him as well.

If your son has a real interest in academics, then applying to schools that offer a wide range of options can work out well.

He could always apply to schools with good academics, schools with good performance, and schools with music industry and choose in late April!

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Thanks again to everyone for your helpful thoughts! colorado mom - No, I’m not sure if he is determined to combine the academics and music. I think he just lacks any other interest besides music to pursue in college at this point, yet he values the college experience and degree at this point. How did your son pursue his interest, if you don’t mind sharing? I imagine that having a band of his own wouldn’t be hard in any thriving college town and it might even be better if he didn’t have competing interests of a school mandated performing ensemble taking up his time. I do like the idea of industry programs that offer recording studios and agencies that record and represent student bands. This could help, even if he doesn’t study music business etc. It is so hard to expect everyone to know what they want to do the rest of their lives when they are only 17 years old!

The requirements for applying to many of the schools are so daunting at this point, too. The different video prescreening requirements differ by school and some want live auditions. Each wants different songs. With all of his ongoing commitments I don’t know how he can attack all of this and do a decent job. I think he needs to pick just a few schools and do a very good job applying to those. In picking those schools, I don’t know how much sense it makes to put effort into schools that ultimately pick 25 students out of 600 applicants. And those numbers go up each year! Any more thoughts?

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My son is a Commercial Music major at Belmont. He loves Belmont. One thing that is really important is to read the audition requirements for each school where he plans to audition. You don’t get to go in and just play. Every school is specific about what it wants.

Belmont also has a compelling Music Business program. Have you sat in on the admissions presentation that the Music Business people put on? My son had a hard time deciding between the two programs but ultimately chose Commerical Music.

Edited to add: Do you anticipate a higher ACT score?

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My friend’s D is in the music business program at SUNY Oneonta. It seems like a good program.

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I was talking with someone I know who is an agent for some well-known commercial musicians, and he said some of his colleagues didn’t major in music at all.

I don’t think college decisions should always be made with future career written in stone. I don’t think kids actually do need to know what they want to do with the rest of their lives. There will be zigs and zags. He can spend four years on music and end up in law school or a job unrelated to music- or continue. Finances, especially loans, can add to the pressure so avoiding them as much as possible can be a priority.

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I agree with you @compmom. My current music major doesn’t want to be a professoinal musician. He wants to work in the sports industry. He loves music and is very talented. He is doing an internship in the athletic department at Belmont. He worked for the minor league sports team in Nashville this summer. He will probably study sports management in grad school but has been told that undergrad major does not matter.

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I suggest Belmont because of the thriving music business in Nashville. It’s all here___live performances in multiple venues and types of venues, recording ,writing. festival…Nashville is Music City and a great place to live!

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My son majored in Music Industry at Northeastern in Boston. It was a great experience with two meaningful co-ops. He has worked in the music industry since graduation. Worth a look.

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UPDATE: Thought I would update everyone on my son’s status and seek anymore opinions. He was accepted today EA at Drexel’s Music Industry Program and has been accepted at Loyola New Orleans for Music Business and will be auditioning for the Commercial Music major (not sure which one he would rather do). Also accepted at Delta State, Albright, and University of New Haven, all for Music Business. Awaiting a decision from Monmouth University but that should be an acceptance. He has received generous scholarships from all schools. He was unable to get his prescreen videos done to pursue Miami or USC. (He did apply to USC but didn’t get the video in.) Syracuse does not offer enough artist development for him in contemporary guitar. He considered NYU Steinhart but that probably wouldn’t be the best fit for him for several reasons. It’s probably too late to consider Northeastern, I think they require a video too. He would rather leave Boston anyway.

My son and I were both really impressed with Loyola New Orleans. I can’t say enough about the faculty - quite a few extremely well qualified faculty that appear to be genuinely interested in the students’ success. The program offers a rare opportunity to grow as a contemporary electric guitarist, perform, and learn the music business. I think for my son he might be able to eventually shine as a rather big fish in a small pond. He isn’t crazy about Belmont’s requirement of taking four semester of classical instruction. If I recall, the audition requires a jazz component in whole, or in part, as well.

He did get his ACT up to a 26, by the way and I don’t recall if I mentioned it in my earlier post (I can’t see it right now), but he is in a fantastic internship this year that rivals those offered by many college level music business internships. He highligted it in his Drexel portfolio and won a $2,000 Portfolio Scholarship. He works all front and back of the house operations for a regional cultural center. He loves it!

By the way, for those reading this that are also wondering about Loyola, I’ve read nothing but good things about their program here. At their Music Business Open House, it was clear that their objective is to teach their students how to make money doing what they love, making music (in the commercial music program - but that applies to all areas of the music business. We sat in on a first year, first semester course where students had been put on teams, assigned to find a local artist who would hire them and they were to produce a song for them, record it, arrange and advertise and produce a performance of that song, etc. So in their very first semester, the students are being thrown into what some schools don’t have their students doing until their last year! I was impressed!

I welcome any thoughts or further suggestions as he continues to consider his current acceptances and thinks about whether he should apply anywhere else. Thanks!

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For a young person eager to join the work world in an area he loves, Loyola sounds perfect.

My only word of caution might be that later he can regret avoiding classical instruction. It is a good foundation and builds skills that are transferable. I assume he will be taking foundational theory, aural skills and music history as well.

If he is excited, it sounds like he has a perfect option. He can always take classical guitar later : )

(My comment mainly stems from young composers who want to do film scoring right away, and may not apply to contemporary guitar/commercial music!)

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@pjdinoh, glad your son was impressed with Loyola. My daughter is prety happy there–just finishing her first semester.

The group project initially sounded almost intimidating when they described it to us at the visit. The more I thought about it though, I thought, how cool that they get a little taste of so many aspects of the business right at the start.

My daughter had some frustrations with it–but that’s all part of the learning process, right? She said the prof basically told them–a lot of you will be really annoyed with each other and/or with your artist at various times through this process. Lots of the typical stuff with miscommunication about schedules, that sort of thing.