My daughter is currently a junior. While she has a strong music background, she wants to go to a sound design program that is not centered on music (many programs we have looked at are focused on music recording arts). Her goal is to work with sound design for television and film. Does anyone have any recommendations of programs? She wants to live on campus at a school that isn’t too large. We are on the east coast but would be open to going farther if it is a strong program. Thank you for any help.
Hi-- How about Emerson?
https://www.emerson.edu/visual-and-media-arts/undergraduate-programs/audiosound-design
Or Five Towns – https://www.ftc.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/film-and-video/
Ithaca seems to have sound design in theater and for music. you may want to contact them about other focuses, such as TV
And although it looks more music focused, they might have visual media too as it’s an engineering school–
https://www.stevens.edu/college-arts-and-letters/undergraduate-programs/music-technology
Here is their visual arts and technology department. I can’t see why an enterprising student couldn’t combine these. It’s at least worth discussing with Stevens
https://www.stevens.edu/college-arts-and-letters/undergraduate-programs/visual-arts-technology
Thank you. I will check out Emerson with her. It looks very interesting. We have Five Towns on our list. At 72K a year, I think Steven’s would not be feasible.
You probably know about this source already but just in case, you may want to look at College Navigator. It will tell you what ON AVERAGE you can expect to pay for each school based on your income level. Click on the net price tab for each school
Check out SCAD in Savannah. We were on a tour for their acting program and they showed us sound mixing studio. Apparently the machine they have is one of the few in the country. The head of the program was really enthusiastic and showed off the scoring that a 1st year student did in the introductory class. Their whole set-up for film and television was pretty impressive.
Recording Arts at Loyola Marymount or SCAD
Also the Sound Concentration at Depaul.
My daughter went to a college visit at her HS for SCAD and she liked it but I have read conflicting reports online about the quality of education on gets for the cost. Also, that the area the school is in might not be very safe. Any thoughts on that?
We know people that go there and love it. We visited and were very impressed. The safety is like every large city. Be smart. Be aware. Don’t walk around alone at night. They tell the students areas of town to avoid. I don’t think it was much different than Chiacgo or LA in terms of safety. We think most of the complaints end up being about not liking the quarter system or not wanting to take the mandatory art classes. The cost is comparable to both LMU and Depaul. It is a private school and they are all expensive.
@amymariemom23 - Most Stevens (not “Steven’s”) students receive an average of 50% of the cost of attendance in scholarships and financial aid. There are a sizeable number of full-tuition scholarships for outstanding high school students. Being an engineering and scientific university (the fourth oldest in the US, 145 years ago), Stevens has applied that rigor towards developing an outstanding Music Technology and Visual Arts Technology program. The Stevens program is more technology based and has significant computer science, programming, and engineering content than most other programs of this kind at liberal arts based schools. Technology is more and more pervasive in TV and movie sound and visuals, and those trained in the application of the technology to them will have the upper hand in their careers. Stevens graduates are heavily recruited by the major TV, media, music, and broadcasting industries. You should look into the program and what the actual cost of attendance would be before you dismiss based upon the “sticker price” of tuition.
“The safety is like every large city”
Not every large city. NYC is so safe (and has been for the past about 10 years) that you’d be surprised at how relaxed you can be. I worry about my children – born and raised here – going to other cities as a result.
Thanks for all the info. I will look into Steven’s more. I like the idea that she would be within driving distance (we are from Southern NJ).
UNC School of the Arts might be worth looking into. Not sure if they have exactly what she is looking for, but it is an excellent school. https://www.uncsa.edu/design-production/sound-design-hub/index.aspx
This is related to music and you could get some advice on the music major forum. Here are some suggestions. This is a list I already had so not customized for your needs.
http://www.berklee.edu/majors includes contemporary writing/production, production/design, film etc.
http://online.berklee.edu/music-production online only, of course they also have on campus
http://www.uml.edu/FAHSS/music/Programs/Undergraduate/SRT/Sound-Recording-Technology.aspx UMass Lowell, includes internships-very well regarded nationally
http://www.northeastern.edu/camd/music/academic-programs/bs-in-music-industry/ includes coop
http://www.emerson.edu/academics/departments/visual-media-arts/undergraduate-programs/audiosound-design
http://harttweb.hartford.edu/undergraduate/music/production.aspx excellent conservatory w/music production, affordable
http://www.purchase.edu/departments/AcademicPrograms/Arts/music/programs.aspx excellent conservatory w/studio composition and studio production, just outside NYC, very affordable
http://www.clarku.edu/departments/clarkarts/music/ Clark has production elements and scoring etc. but NO AUDITION- the advantage of a college / university versus conservatory/music school (but you can submit work as an arts supplement)
Ithaca College and Conservatory
Columbia College Chicago
UC Denver
College of St. Rose
U. of Michigan PAT
Miami Frost