Welcome! We are excited that you’re interested in a career in music and want to learn more! Perhaps you’re a musician or a singer who dreams of being a professional performer. You might love editing waveforms on audio software until the music sounds just right. Maybe song lyrics pop into your head at random times and you’re gifted at setting them to music. You might even be interested in instrument or software design and the science behind the sounds we call music. Whatever your career aspirations, the first step for any budding music professional is a bachelor’s degree in music. This series highlights the most important aspects of preparing for and earning your degree. You’ll learn the ins and outs of a varied academic and professional field.
First, in Post 2, we pose the vital questions you should ask yourself as you consider which programs will be the best fit. Such questions include: What kinds of professional networking opportunities does the program have? Do you want to attend a program that focuses solely on performance and technique, or would you like to learn about other areas as well?
We then explore the gamut of music careers. For prospective music performance majors we discuss whether to attend a conservatory or a university in Post 3. From there, we dive into the fields of composition in Post 4 to music business in Post 5 and music production and technology in Post 6. In all these posts, we explore the top music programs for these specialties and contextualize them within the broader considerations of the field.
While this series identifies each of the top programs’ strongest areas of study, like composition or music business, the schools we discuss are exemplary across all music majors. For example, we discuss Juilliard as a top school for music performance and composition; however a student might attend Juilliard for conducting or jazz studies and emerge a leader in their field. Similarly, we highlight the composition program at University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music, but students who attend the school for performance or music education will be equally successful post-graduation.
We also look at the admissions process in Post 7, highlighting the key elements of a successful application for both Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Science, and the role of auditions. We discuss admissions factors and application components, and present strategies that will ensure your application rises above the rest.
Ultimately, this series will not only guide you in identifying which program is right for you, but it will help you navigate the complexities of choosing one, underscoring important factors to consider such as: What kinds of music performance opportunities will you find? What is the culture of the program? And how does each approach teaching? Perhaps most importantly, this series will help you learn about yourself as a prospective music major and provide support in determining what kind of future you hope to achieve. So, let’s get started! Our next post explores the essential factors to consider before applying to a top music program.
Feel free to set up a complimentary consultation to learn about our admissions consulting services. Whatever your question, Collegiate Gateway is happy to help!
