Read through the article below to go over the most up-to-date information regarding best music production schools in europe, music production schools online & music production colleges in california. You will also find related posts on best online music production schools & music production colleges near me on collegelearners.
Music Production Schools and Universities Overview
Music production programs can be found at a range of different institutions from community and technical colleges to art and design schools to 4-year colleges and universities. Suitable programs for those who want to study music production may be called recording arts, music technology, audio production or sound design programs.
What are Good with Music Production
These schools, located all across the country, offer programs relevant to students interested in studying music production:
| College/University | Location | Institution Type | Degrees Offered | Tuition & Fees (2015-2016)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berklee College of Music | Boston, MA | 4-year, Private | Bachelor’s, Master’s, Undergraduate Certificate | $40,082 (undergrad), $44,560 (graduate) |
| New York University | New York, NY | 4-year, Private | Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral | $47,750 (undergrad), $40,984 (graduate) |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | 4-year, Public | Bachelor’s | $13,856 in-state, $43,476 out-of-state |
| Indiana University | Bloomington, IN | 4-year, Public | Bachelor’s | $10,388 in-state, $33,741 out-of-state |
| California Institute of the Arts | Valencia, CA | 4-year, Private | Bachelor’s, Master’s | $43,986 (undergrad), $43,986 (graduate) |
| Columbia College Chicago | Chicago, IL | 4-year, Private | Bachelor’s | $24,344 (undergrad) |
| Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD | 4-year, Private | Bachelor’s, Master’s | $48,710 (undergrad), $50,510 (graduate) |
Source: *National Center for Education Statistics
School Selection Criteria
Students interested in music production schools may want to keep the following considerations in mind when selecting their program:
- Some schools emphasize music performance while others highlight production, potential students should investigate each program’s focus and ensure they meet the criteria for enrollment.
- Consider the quality of the recording studios and sound equipment that a university or college offers. Individuals are better prepared for the real world when they graduate with plenty of studio time spent in a well-equipped space using the latest technology.
- Aspiring students can also consider if a music production school offers an internship to gain real-world experience, which may contribute to securing a full-time position.
Music Production Program Overviews
Associate of Science in Music Production
An associate’s degree program in music production usually amounts to about 60 credits and can be completed in two years of full time study. The program provides students with a foundation in the music recording process through internships and final projects.
Bachelor of Science in Music Production
A bachelor’s degree program in music production takes about four years to complete. Classes often focus on music production for visual media such as games, film and television. Students also learn multi-track recording techniques and radio engineering skills, as well as participate in internships and complete projects.
Master of Fine Arts in Music Production
These advanced programs prepare graduates to be strong contenders for leadership positions in the music industry. The curriculum focuses on technology and business skills and lasts about three years. Programs may also include an internship, master’s project or thesis. Students are often able to tailor studies to meet their specific interests by taking specialized classes such as music and sound for visual arts and multimedia.
There are a number of different programs available to students interested in studying music technology, with qualifications giving graduates an edge when looking for careers within the industry. Many private and public schools offer this program with a broad range of tuition and fee rates, although not all schools offer both graduate and undergraduate programs in the field.
![20+ Best Music Production Schools in 2020 [UPDATED]](https://collegelearners.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/music-production-schools.jpg)
Best Music Production Schools in Europe
- 1Indiana University School locations:
- Indiana (1 campus)Program Info
- Areas of study you may find at Indiana University include:
- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Non-Degree: Coursework
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
- Communications and Journalism
- Communication Studies
- Communication Technology
- Recording Arts
- Comparative Language Studies and Services
- English Composition
- English Language and Literature
- Foreign Language and Literature
- Journalism
- 2Texas State University School locations:
- Texas (1 campus)Program InfoAreas of study you may find at Texas State University include:
- Graduate: Doctorate, Master
- Post Degree Certificate: Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Communications and Journalism
- Communication Studies
- Communication Technology
- Recording Arts
- Comparative Language Studies and Services
- Digital, Radio, and Television Communication
- English Composition
- English Language and Literature
- Foreign Language and Literature
- Graphic Communications
- Journalism
- Public Relations and Advertising
- Ithaca College School locations:
- New York (1 campus)Program InfoAreas of study you may find at Ithaca College include:
- Graduate: Master
- Non-Degree: Certificate
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Communications and Journalism
- Communication Studies
- Communication Technology
- Recording Arts
- Digital, Radio, and Television Communication
- English Composition
- English Language and Literature
- Foreign Language and Literature
- Journalism
- Public Relations and Advertising
- Savannah College of Art and Design
- School locations:
- Georgia (1 campus)Program InfoAreas of study you may find at Savannah College of Art and Design include:
- Graduate: Master
- Non-Degree: Coursework
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Communications and Journalism
- Communication Technology
- Recording Arts
- Digital, Radio, and Television Communication
- Graphic CommunicationsGet Started with Savannah College of Art and DesignResearch Savannah College of Art and Design’s Degree Programs
- Communication Technology
- 5York College of PennsylvaniaSchool InfoSchool locations:
- Pennsylvania (1 campus)Program InfoAreas of study you may find at York College of Pennsylvania include:
- Graduate: Doctorate, Master
- Non-Degree: Coursework
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
- Communications and Journalism
- Communication Studies
- Communication Technology
- Recording Arts
- Comparative Language Studies and Services
- English Language and Literature
- Foreign Language and Literature
- Public Relations and AdvertisingGet Started with York College of PennsylvaniaResearch York College of Pennsylvania’s Programs
- 6Yakima Valley Community CollegeSchool InfoSchool locations:
- Washington (1 campus)Program InfoAreas of study you may find at Yakima Valley Community College include:
- Graduate:
- Non-Degree: Diploma
- Undergraduate: Associate
- Communications and Journalism
- Communication Technology
- Radio and Television Broadcasting
- Recording ArtsGet Started with Yakima Valley Community CollegeResearch Yakima Valley Community College’s Degree Programs
- Communication Technology
- 7Western New Mexico UniversitySchool InfoSchool locations:
- New Mexico (1 campus)Program InfoAreas of study you may find at Western New Mexico University include:
- Graduate: Master
- Non-Degree: Coursework, Diploma
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
- Communications and Journalism
- Communication Technology
- Photo, Film and Video Tech
- Recording Arts
- Comparative Language Studies and Services
- Digital, Radio, and Television Communication
- English Language and Literature
- Foreign Language and LiteratureGet Started with Western New Mexico UniversityResearch Western New Mexico University’s Degree Programs
- Communication Technology
- 8Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSchool InfoSchool locations:
- Iowa (1 campus)Program InfoAreas of study you may find at Western Iowa Tech Community College include:
- Graduate:
- Non-Degree: Diploma
- Undergraduate: Associate
- Communications and Journalism
- Communication Technology
- Recording Arts
- Graphic CommunicationsGet Started with Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeResearch Western Iowa Tech Community College’s Programs
- Communication Technology
- 9Waubonsee Community CollegeSchool InfoSchool locations:
- Illinois (1 campus)Program InfoAreas of study you may find at Waubonsee Community College include:
- Graduate:
- Non-Degree: Diploma
- Undergraduate: Associate
- Communications and Journalism
- American Sign Language – ASL
- Communication Technology
- Radio and Television Broadcasting
- Recording Arts
- Comparative Language Studies and Services
- Foreign Language and Literature
- Graphic CommunicationsGet Started with Waubonsee Community CollegeResearch Waubonsee Community College’s Degree Programs
- 10Vincennes UniversitySchool InfoSchool locations:
- Indiana (1 campus)Program InfoAreas of study you may find at Vincennes University include:
- Graduate:
- Non-Degree: Diploma
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
- Communications and Journalism
- American Sign Language – ASL
- Communication Technology
- Radio and Television Broadcasting
- Recording Arts
- Comparative Language Studies and Services
- English Language and Literature
- Foreign Language and Literature
- Graphic Communications
- Journalism
- Public Relations and AdvertisingGet Started with Vincennes University
There is an infinite number of ways in which a student can be educated in music production in 2020. It is a growing field that opens the doors to different opportunities related to the creation of sound. It is, perhaps the fastest-growing music field in today’s universities is music production. We have painstakingly compiled the Best Music Production Schools in 2020.
Increasingly, we are seeing students looking for a specialization in this musical niche that is incredibly focused on the areas of sound recording, digital composition, and acoustic engineering.
What career will I take with a degree in Music Production?
From the creation of musical scores in films to the orchestration of sound systems for live events and the design of rhythms for songs, audio engineers focus on the science behind the art of music, many of which attend the best music production schools.
Possible career paths include a recording engineer, sound designer, video game audio content creation, television program score, location recording, live sound reinforcement, and audio system maintenance.
Choosing the right music title can help you determine where you want to take your music career and which Best Music Production Schools to choose.
What is a Music Production degree?
Most music production programs consist of a four-year degree that combines general education requirements with music and production courses.
Whether you get a Bachelor of Science (BS), a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Music (BM), you will study the basics of acoustics, music theory, MIDI sequencing, Pro Tools, Ableton, Logic (and other software). ), and audio recording.
Online courses are rare since this industry requires practical education. School considerations should include access to sound studios and recording labs, student-run programs and labels, high-tech equipment, and learning from renowned artists and organizations.
You can also enter a two-year music production program to obtain an associate’s degree that allows you to earn an entry-level position in the industry or a master’s degree that improves your career.
Professional certifications in software programs, such as Pro Tools, generally require 12 weeks of study.
You can offset the enrollment of each music production program in this final list with financial aid, scholarships, loans, and grants.
You can access the opportunity to acquire your Music Production degree through all of our tuition fee-sponsored scholarships, by clicking on the Music Scholarships.
Trying to make the decision about your music career and the Music Production School to choose? Let us explore the 20+ Best Music Production Schools in 2020.
Best Music Production Schools In The World
1 . Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
The Recording Industry Department of MTSU is recognized as one of the largest and best music production programs in the world. ABS. in audio production and a master’s degree in fine arts (M.F.A.) in arts and recording technology are available.
Bachelor students are encouraged to seek a minor technician, such as electroacoustic, computer science or entertainment technology. The campus offers six recording studios and separate laboratory spaces for mastering, film mixing, postproduction, and MIDI.
2. New York University-Steinhardt, New York, New York
While studying for your bachelor’s, masters or doctoral degree in music technology at NYU-Steinhardt, you can experiment in 13 studios, including the 7,500-square-foot James L. Dolan music recording studio.
As a Leader in the technology industry, the facility supports recording, teaching and research projects. The internationally recognized program offers more than 40 diverse courses in music technology, including sound engineering, multimedia production, and software development.
The interns are located in the best recording studios, music houses, symphonies and theaters of the Big Apple.
3. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The leading performing arts university added a bachelor’s program in music and technology in 2009 to train students in the electrical engineering and computer science aspects of the industry.
While you win your B.S. In Music Technology, you’ll study everything from calculus to harmonies and software skills from Pro Tools.
In the Master of Science in Music and Technology program, you direct your course of study by choosing an emphasis, such as composition or performance with assistive technology, computer music systems or instrument design.
4. Berklee College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts
A degree in music production and engineering from the prestigious Berklee College of Music gives you access to award-winning mentors and premier recording studios that have the latest equipment in the industry and open 21 hours every day.
You get hands-on experience in everything from synthesis technologies to digital audio editing and production of musical compositions.
Berklee Online also offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Studies in Electronic Music Production and Sound Design, along with a variety of certification courses for specialists, professionals, and teachers. It is undoubtedly one of the Best Music Production Schools in 2020.
The sound recording technology program is the largest division of the UMass Music Department. Outstanding recording, production and transmission professionals lead the undergraduate and master’s degree curriculum.
5. University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts
You train in a 1,200-seat concert hall, six recording studios, eight study labs, and 30 practice rooms. A musical input hearing is required. A combined bachelor’s /master’s degree can be obtained in five years and comes with a technical or production concentration.
6.Los Angeles Film School, Los Angeles, California
Earn your A.A.S. at Recording Arts in the heart of the Hollywood entertainment industry. This 18-month program covers everything from live show productions to mixing a disc for movie post-production.
Leading industry professionals often go through the campus, and each student receives a loaded MacBook, professional microphone and headphones. You also graduate with your Avid Pro Tools certification.
7.American University, Washington, D.C.
Earn your B.A. in Music Production or B.S. in Music Technology at the American University recognized nationally. Both programs focus on sound synthesis and study management, but you specialize in music, communication, computer or physics.
The combination of art and science along with seven on-campus studies provide a holistic education to make their mark in the music production industry.
American University is one of the Best Music Production Schools in 2020. The school also offers graduate certificates and master’s degrees in technology and Music production.
8.Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
The Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology offers masters and doctorates for innovative artistic and technological advances.
The research-focused department, which is part of the School of Music and the School of Architecture, offers leading courses in the robotic music industry, music information retrieval and digital signal processing and music theory to train the next generation of audio technologists.
9. University of Denver, Denver, Colorado
One of the most important performance schools in the country, Lamont School of Music accepts only 300 students per year. Earning your B.M. in Recording and Production provides in-depth training in instruments, music theory, analog synthesis, and digital audio work.
Instruction in the classroom is equally balanced with time in the three electronic and production studios. Students participate in more than 300 presentations each year on campus and at regional festivals.
10. Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
At the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, you can get a B.S. Bachelor in the music industry but specialized in technology and music production.
Since the program focuses on industry and not on performance, students do not have to audition. The courses of musical composition and audio production techniques are balanced with the commercial and legal aspects of the industry.
You have access to six recording studios and two audio labs, as well as a student-run concert production company and an award-winning record label.
Each student completes two summer cooperatives with organizations focused on music. You can choose to attend school for a fifth year to complete your master’s degree.
If you desire to put a boost to your Music Career in some of the best and well-equipped institutions around the globe, You can take the chance to achieve the dream by clicking on the Top Music schools in the World
11. Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
A self-styled “creative and technological playground,” Full Sail University is among the Best Music Production Schools in 2020 and it offers three musical production avenues that result in a B.S. In Recording of Arts, Musical Production or Show.
The Central Florida campus offers more than 110 study and production environments, including Full Sail Live, a high-tech music center. His training includes mixing sound on stage for live bands, recording sessions of engineering artists and audio editing for shows and games developed by students.
Full Sail online audio production courses allow you to obtain your A.A. in 20 months Click here to read our full review of Full Sail University from the perspective of an alumnus.
12. University of Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut
The majority of UH students are working to achieve their B.M. In Music Production and Technology. The four-year curriculum emphasizes acoustic and electronic engineering.
The school believes that “the ideal music production professional should be a first musician and then a technician”, so students should audition with a classical or jazz piece.
More than 400 performances are recorded each year at the professional Hartt Recording Studio on campus.
13. International Academy of Design and Technology, 10 campuses
The IADT media arts program includes associate degrees in audio production and licensure. The technology-driven campus focuses on the latest trends in digital audio production, mixing techniques, sound reinforcement, and live recordings.
You can enroll in 10 accredited programs throughout the country, from Orlando and Michigan to Texas and Seattle. The school’s award-winning virtual campus also offers an online degree.
14. Institute of Production and Recording, Minneapolis, Minnesota
The IPR College of Creative Arts quickly trains you for a career in music production. The A.A.S. in audio and engineering production, the degree focuses on basic musical concepts and technical skills with courses ranging from song arrangements and chord structure to advanced recording and editing techniques.
A.A.S. There is also titles available in Sound Design for visual media, as well as a live and live production. The Minneapolis campus includes six laboratories and seven studios that are open 24 hours a day, which are available to recent graduates for a year.
15. Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee
Located in the nation’s country music industry, Curb’s Music and Entertainment Business Department offers a B.S. and B.A. in Music production technology.
The degree inclined to science includes courses in circuit theory, hearing science and music production physics. The program requires students to complete a minor in a discipline related to their career.
16. The art institutes, 12 campuses
You can sign up for AI’s audio production program in a dozen states, including California, Texas, and Virginia. Your studies in both A.A.S. and B.A. The grades focus on audio recording, live sound, and broadcast production.
17.Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
The music technology program of the Performing Arts School has a choice of 50 and 70 hours. Both focus on creative techniques of recording, production and audio technologies.
Each student develops a customized course of study that adapts to their specific interests. An off-campus recording studio offers 3,500 square feet of space filled with high-tech equipment.
18. Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
With the Department of Recording Arts of the university, emphasis is placed on practical production experience. Only 15 students are admitted to the A.A.S. and B.S. Annual programs.
The student is expected to register more than 1,000 hours in the studio during his four years of study, will work with the IU record label and intern in the performances of the Jacobs School of Music.
19. Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas
The Faculty of Fine Arts and Communication of TxState offers a B.S. in sound recording technology. The courses of 120 semester hours range from music literature to mixing techniques for electronic instrumentation.
Most classes meet off-campus at Fire Station Studios, a two-story space that includes a massive courtroom, a video editing room, an isolation booth, and a control room.
Students must audition for the competitive program with a musical instrument.
20. University of New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut
UNH offers a B.A. and B.S. in Music and sound recording, which are based on the theory of music, musicality and sound recording technologies. The components of science include electrical engineering, sound physics, and calculus classes.
Professional instructors guide small classes as you learn to conduct a computer-based study. The three campus studios have professional-level teams that cater to beginners and advanced students.
21. The Virtual Training Company
Online courses
VTC can be the solution to update your professional skills easily and economically. The interactive online professional audio program focuses on the development of applied engineering skills using Pro Tools, MIDI, and Digidesign. You complete the program with official certificates of competence.
Conclusion
It is important to go to a school specialized in music production, thus the Best Music Production Schools. Other schools will not have the latest technology, and if you are not working with the best tools, then you are not as familiar as you can with the tools with which you would work in a prestigious studio.
Music production is a field that is growing very fast. Be sure to weigh your options and find the school that best suits you before enrolling. That’s why it is important to understand the Best Music Production Schools in 2020 before selecting your choice.
We have other great scholarship opportunities that might be of help to your search
- Visa For Music Africa & Middle-East Music Meeting for Artists – Rabat, Morocco
- Concerts SA’s Music Mobility Fund
- OneBeat International Fully Funded Music Exchange Program
- International Music Scholarships at UWC Adriatic in Italy
- 6th International Reggae Poster Contest
- International Music Omi Residency Program
- Sony/Warner Techstars Music Accelerator Program for Music Startups
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We hope this writing provided your scholarship necessities. Please share with your friends and leave your question or response on the comment box for us to serve you better.
What degree do you need to be a music producer?
Although educational requirements vary, a bachelor’s degree in music production is the most common credential for aspiring music producers. These programs sometimes include an internship that provides experience overseeing the entire production process.
What is a music engineering degree?
Master’s Degree in Recording Technologies or Audio Sciences
Graduate programs provide working professionals with additional audio engineering knowledge and allow them to concentrate in a specific area of sound. Concentrations may include musical informatics, acoustical studies, recording and production.
Is it hard to be a music producer?
Being a music producer is difficult for a number of reasons. … Music production is also a very diverse field. A producer might produce music for a signer or rapper, write music for movies, design sounds for video games, record and engineer live bands, or simply produce music for themselves.
Is music production a good career?
A career as an audio engineer required solid technical skills. Now, an engineer may be a computer whiz or someone with a good grasp of recording software. Producing music, without a music producer, is entirely possible for a contemporary audio engineer.
How much do music producers make per song?
Advances. Producers generally will get advances on these fees as well. New producers receive between zero and $3,500 per song; mid-level producer get $3,500 to $7,500 per song; and famous produces receive an advance of between $10,000 and $15,000 per song.
10. Peabody Institute – Baltimore, MD
Graduates of Peabody’s Recording Arts and Sciences program have become fixtures at major production companies worldwide, including National Public Radio. They have also joined the staffs of major symphonies, audio equipment companies, and have even gone on freelance careers as post-production and mixing engineers. Additionally, the school also has a “Computer Music” program, which is designed for musicians with an interest in both electronic music production as well as the recording arts.
9. Full Sail University – Winter Park, FL
An intriguing component of the Full Sail University Music Production is the emphasis on marketing. To be able to produce high quality music requires demanding, complex skills, but to be able to market high quality music is a whole different ballgame. Full Sail, a small for-profit college in Florida, has graduated students who have ascended the ranks of popular music production. Full Sail offers an intensive online course study that is very thorough. However, they may not have the same state-of-the-art in-house facilities other colleges with music production courses may be able to offer.
8. California Institute of the Arts – Valencia, CA
California Institute of the Arts, more frequently known as “Cal Arts,” is a top program for those interested in music production, especially those who are interested in integrated media. In 2011, Newsweek ranked the California Institute of the Arts as one of the best schools for pursuing the arts, as the campus itself evokes a very creative, artistic atmosphere. The studio’s creative facilities are top notch, and students are allowed to pursue projects in state-of-the art recording rooms. The degree is not exactly in “music production,” but rather “music technology.”
7. Academy of Art University – San Francisco, CA
The Academy of Art University is actually not a music school nor a music school attached to a larger university, like most schools on these lists: rather, it is a stand-alone, for-profit, and privately owned general arts school with about 18,000 students, making it one of the largest art schools in the nation. The music production program is among the most significant in the country; many of their alumni have gone on to major production jobs at Sony, Dolby, Skywalker Sound, and CBC Toronto, among other top corporations. Some skills that their students are taught include mixing, mastering, orchestration, editing, and even composing for multimedia.
The program is deeply embedded with the visual media program at the school. So, if you are looking to have an education in various electronic music styles, this may not be the best college for you. However, if you are looking to do scoring and sound for multimedia and television, this could be the very best college for your needs.
6. Georgia State University – Atlanta, GA
A program in the midst of exceptional growth, Georgia State University has a comprehensive music production program and facility. The college offers three recording studios as well as a complete Pro Tools post-production suite, good for teaching students advanced skills in mixing, editing, and mastering. They also have a large, multimedia collaborative lab known as the 2CINEM facility, a 7,000 square foot space dedicated to the marriage of music production and multimedia.
For an in-depth report located in the University of Michigan library archives on GSU’s Music Production program, click here.
5. Drexel University – Philadelphia, PA
Drexel offers only two music degrees at its school: Music Industry with an emphasis on business, and Music Industry with an emphasis on production. The production degree provides students as much hands-on real experience in the field as possible. A desirable aspect of this program is the summer co-op requirement, in which students spend two full summers gaining hands on experience at recording studios, record labels, music venues, and other professional music businesses. Additionally, the college itself has a number of student-run businesses that publish, record, and release music made by the students. A program that is fully committed to preparing students for lucrative music careers in the music industry, Drexel is a top option for any musician looking for an excellent career in music production.
4. Indiana University Jacobs School of Music – Bloomington, IN
Notable Faculty: Konrad Strauss
Indiana University’s music production department is known throughout the school as the “Department of Recording Arts.” It is one of the smallest programs in the entire nation, in terms of number of students, with only 15 incoming students per year. Because of this, students are given unusual quantities of individual attention and instruction, providing an unparalleled opportunity to create an enriching relationship with their faculty.
One of the oldest music production programs to my knowledge, it was founded in 1982. This is a program very much focused on producing sound for CDs, DVDs, and live television, as well as learning the essentials of the basic recording studio. Located in one of the most notable music schools in the US, the faculty recording engineers include accomplished names such as Konrad Strauss, who has won Grammy awards for production.
3. University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance – Ann Arbor, MI
Notable Faculty: Stephen Rush, Erik Santos, Jason Corey
The University of Michigan features state of the art sound technology equipment located in their state of the art building known as the Duderstadt Center. Music production majors are able to choose from a variety of music production degrees that are most suitable for their interests, with many of the production degrees combining secondary focuses in performance, composition, or sound engineering. The program is officially known at the college as the “Performing Arts Technology” department, and has launched many graduates into the ranks of top professions throughout the nation.
2. New York University – New York, NY
NYU actually has two departments for music production, one in the “Tisch” School known as the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music, and one in the “Steinhardt” School that is focused on music technology. Both are excellent, but have major differences between the two.
The Clive Davis Department is designed for musicians who aspire to be “entrepreneurs” of music, according to the college’s website. Their graduates have gone on to become CEOs of record labels and have started up a number of music businesses. Their take on music production education is unique, as it is more focused on actually launching the musician into entrepreneurship, rather than just focusing on producing music.
At the Steinhardt school, we see an excellent program that is much more conventional. Their music technology department features a 7,500 square foot recording studio with state of the art equipment. Most importantly, their alumni have ascended the ranks of excellent careers, including media jobs attained at Google, professorships at various universities, and freelance post-production engineers. More alumni stories can be found here.
1. Berklee College of Music – Boston, MA
With state of the art facilities and a faculty of extraordinary record, the Berklee College of Music is, along with NYU, possibly the most prestigious and advanced college for music production in the entire world. With ten recording studios on site, students are given a virtually unlimited amount of time and space to work alongside master sound engineers as faculty. Every school year, according to the website, students are collectively given well over 10,000 hours of hands-on time in the recording studio, ensuring optimal technique and proper knowledge for the real world of music production.
Additionally, Berklee students are given the opportunity to produce electronic music and take courses on the aesthetics of production. By the time students graduate from this program, in addition to many hundreds of hours of work in the recording studios, student will have advanced ability with Pro Tools, MIDI/digital audio workstations, studio console equipment experience, and mixing techniques such as using panning, compression, and EQ.
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