BEST MUSIC PERFORMANCE COLLEGES?

Question

BEST MUSIC PERFORMANCE COLLEGES?

Answer 1

Your field of study will make a difference. Do you plan to major in classical or jazz performance?

Here is a list of "some" of the top performance schools in the US. Most of them offer a doctoral degree, which is a very good indicator that they have very solid programs, and excellent performing groups. I would recommend researching what private teachers are at the schools, as that is something that is very, very important. The top schools are also quite selective, so keep in mind that there are many other colleges that have excellent music programs.:

University of Rochester - Eastman School of Music

The Julliard School

Cleveland Institute of Music

Curtis Institute

Northwestern University

Peabody Conservatory

Berklee College of Music

University of North Texas

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)

Manhattan School of Music

Indiana University

University of Michigan

University of Miami

University of Cincinnati

Oberlin Conservatory of Music

The complete list can be found at the link below.

In the end, your ability, the contacts that you make, some good luck, and whether or not the place that you choose to live in is supportive of the arts will be what determines how successful you are.

Best of luck to you in attending the school of your choice!

Answer 2

Wherever you go, if you're interested in theater as well, come spend a summer in Santa Rosa Junior College's Summer Repertory Theatre.  It's great.  They put on & rotate thru-out the summer 5 plays.  This year, 3 of them were musicals.  (I went to all 5.)  See http://www.santarosa.edu & look at the Theater Arts Dept.  Their dance program is pretty good, too.  I've seen their spring performance, & I know they also have a dance class just doing songs from musicals.  However, for other types of music, although I'm sure it's pretty decent, I'm sure there are more well-known schools, & I'll leave that to others to be the experts.

Answer 3

The top colleges in the country are not always the "best" for some people.  Many of the "top" colleges are highly competitive and do not offer the chance for gifted, but not highly-trained musicians to thrive.  Sometimes it is better to go to a smaller college with a smaller music program so you will get more opportunities to perform, say solo with an orchestra, than you would at a college with several of the top 1% of musicians in it like Julliard.  Also, the BIGGEST factor determining the right program for you is the PRIVATE TEACHER with whom you would study.  Many of the top colleges have artist teacher with performing schedules that keep them from being in town during several weeks of the semester.  Their students study with masters candidates or assistants.  

Look at some of the smaller programs that are nationally accredited music programs.  Ask who are the primary private teachers in your instrument.  Ask where their students going to school for their Masters/Doctoral degrees.  For many musicians, the master degree is the time for the highly competitive program.  

Hope this helps.