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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