It is an important decision to choose a music college. A person’s career can be affected by the college they choose. All music schools offer music theory, composition, and other related material. However, each music school offers something unique.
These are the country’s top ten colleges of traditional music, along with their locations and alums.
Top Music Programs In The U.S.
The Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, the nation’s most well-known performing arts university, is the best. This college is known as “Juilliard” and offers acting and dance in addition to music. The school offers instruction in vocal arts, instruments and jazz studies. It also provides education in composition, conducting, history, composition, and other areas. Juilliard is located in New York City’s Lincoln Center. Students from Juilliard often get the chance to perform at Lincoln Center. Although the institution primarily focuses on opera and classical music, many students have gone on to other types of performance.
Some notable musical alumni are Miles Davis and Nina Simone, Barry Manilow, Pat Benatar, Yo-Yo Ma, and Nina Simone.
Berklee College of Music
Berklee college of music is located within the upscale and friendly Back Bay area of Boston, MA. The college offers 12 majors that lead to a baccalaureate (B.M.). The college offers a professional diploma and 12 majors leading to a baccalaureate degree (B.M.). Berklee is focused on helping artists reach the Top 40, so many alum work in music, pop, and other contemporary genres.
Some notable alumni are Melissa Etheridge and Esperanza Spalding. Quincy Jones and John Mayer.
Yale School of Music
Although Yale may not be the most obvious school in music education, the Yale School of Music has been a leader in the world of educating musicians. It is the only music school in the Ivy League and admits only 200 students.
Three Grammy-winning composers Michael Daugherty and Oscar-nominated composer Marco Beltrami are Yale School of Music alumni. Matt Brubeck is a cellist, keyboardist and composer.
Curtis Institute of Music
The Curtis Institute of Music is a well-known institution that has existed for almost 100 years. The school is a specialist in opera but also offers programs in conducting, composition, vocal studies and organ. The tuition-free Curtis Institute of Music has a very small number of students.
Alums include Leonard Bernstein and David Brooks, as well as Lang Lang, a Chinese concert pianist.
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music educates and trains musicians of all ages from more than 40 countries. According to the school, music education builds human potential, lifts the spirit, and prepares students for a life beneficial to the public good. There are many majors available, including composition, conducting and chamber music. They also offer music theory and contemporary improvisation.
Notable alums include Neal E. Boyd (pop opera singer), Vic Firth (percussionist), and Aoife O’Donovan (progressive bluegrass singer).
Mannes School of Music
Mannes School of Music combines real-world experience with cross-disciplinary learning to create a rigorous classical training program. The Mannes School of Music is located in New York City. It offers over 50 minors and a dual five-year degree program in Orchestral Instruments, Arts Management, and Entrepreneurship.
Some of his alums include Burt Bacharach, a highly successful composer, songwriter, record producer, pianist and singer.
Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University
Jacobs School of Music can be found at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
The university is home to more than 1,600 students. This university has 180 full-time faculty, which includes scholars, performers, and internationally acclaimed teachers. Five buildings house recital halls, over 170 practice and rehearsal rooms, and more than 100 studios. The Musical Arts Center boasts some of the best technical capabilities in the country.
Alums include Joshua Bell, a Grammy-winning conductor and violinist, and Carl Broemel, a rock musician.
Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University
Blair School of Music is only for undergraduates at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. The Bachelor of Music program at Vanderbilt University focuses heavily on instruction in classical music performance. While earning academic credits, students gain practical experience in solo recitals, master class participation, and performance.
Dana Kelley, violinist and Evan Mack (pianist/composer) are two examples of alumni.
Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University
Bienen School of Music was established in 1873 by the merger of the Northwestern Female College with the Evanston College for Ladies to create the Northwestern University Woman’s College. The school is in Evanston, IL, near Chicago and offers five dual degree programs. Bienen receives more than 2,000 applications each year. However, each class only has 200 undergraduate and graduate students.
Arnie Roth, Grammy Award-winning music director for Chicagoland Pops Orchestra and Arnie Roth, principal conductor of Chicagoland Pops Orchestra, are two notable alumni. Steve Rodby, a Grammy Award-winning jazz bassist, is an album producer and Grammy Award-winning musician.
Cleveland Institute of Music
Cleveland Institute of Music promises classical training for modern musicians. Dual degrees are available, including an education degree, so students can teach music or have double majors in theory or composition. You can study various instruments, audio recordings and music theory and composition.