Music Production/business/engineering Schools???

[random.hero]

ok guys, you've helped me out a lot in the past, and now i need your help on what schools are worth the money you throw at them, or if any are worth it at all.

I cant decide in the slightest what i want to do with my future, but i love making music, listening to music, mixing music, and anything dealing with music i suppose. The business idea is also appealing, but i dont know yet. that also brings me to questioning whether or not companies look for degrees in just business in general or music business degrees. i've looked into a lot of schools: mcnally smith, berklee school of music, full sail, and many others out there. I guess im just asking what schools are legit and will get me somewhere and hold a promising future, and which ones are a waste of time and money. Anybody with previous experiences on this stuff or any help you can offer is greatly appreciated.

Thanks a ton guys, you are all super cool.

-random

 

[bennychico11]

what are you wanting to get into? you say you love everything to do with music...then which profession do you want?

Most recording studios won't care that you have a degree, so you might not want to wasted the money getting one at a school. If you love writing/playing music you might look into getting a music composition or music performance degree. But don't get it for the paper...get it because you will have the chance to study with some good teachers.

If you like the business side then maybe concentrate on an entertainment business degree....especially if you're interested in starting your own company or marketing yourself as a musician.

If it is recording that you want to concentrate on you can look to see if recording studios around you offer an internship/class of some sort. That would be the best way of breaking into the business because most hire the people the teach. If you want something beneficial that will put you a step ahead of the competition, look into electrical engineering. Plus it would be a good fall back degree.

 

[random.hero]

I cant decide in the slightest what i want to do with my future

but i know it wants to be with music!

a lot of these schools offer major and minors say one in business and the other in performance...

i guess i really just want to keep my options open because i really dont know what im going to want other than a musically related career. thanks for the help though man. never thought about the electrical engineering stuff

 

[danny.guitar]

Definitely have a fall-back plan, electrical engineering is a great one and will not only give you opportunities for lots of good paying jobs, but will still give you a chance to work in the audio industry.

I think if you want to work in a studio, your best bet might be to find some local studios in your area and tell them you want to work there, maybe as an apprenticeship or whatever, and they'll probably make you make coffee, clean the studio, etc. before they let you operate the gear. At least that's how it seems to be done in most studios.

While a lot of people successfully move on to a real recording studio after recording school (ie: Full Sail, etc.), a lot of them don't. I personally wouldn't bother going that route. It could end up working out, or it could just be a big waste of time and money.

 

[random.hero]

thanks danny, this is really helping. is that really still how they do it though? apprenticeships in studio's? i thought that was like 80's style industries and nowadays u need a degree

 

[bennychico11]

thanks danny, this is really helping. is that really still how they do it though? apprenticeships in studio's? i thought that was like 80's style industries and nowadays u need a degree

the recording world is stuck in the old days

kidding, but many studios still hire this way. Of course, many studios need only one person to run the entire thing....so it gets harder and harder to find studios that will hire anymore.

 

[danny.guitar]

If you ask people at a lot of studios they will just say "um...no" but sometimes there are some where they really could use someone to setup the mics, make coffee, clean the studio, and eventually run the studio when they are not able to. You'll just have to ask around. They will probably want you to have some experience in recording, so you should know how to work a lot of the gear...mixers, etc. Of course, they'll probably teach you this stuff but it's still a good idea to know what you're doing and have the basics down.

Look in the Yellow Pages for every recording studio you can find and call all of them.

You still need to think about what career choice you want, and then think of a fall-back plan that you would still enjoy doing as a career if the one you want doesn't work out.

You still have several years to make these decisions though. Best advice I can give is to try and see if you would really enjoy it before deciding to make it your career choice.

 

[random.hero]

haha i've got like ONE year to decide actually (junior in highschool, admissions into schools will be due around this time next year)

lots of good info guys, thanks a ton

 

[Chili]

You have Berkely on your list, if you are a good musician and want to be a great musician, this would be the school to go to. Sorry, I don't know about their audio engineering program.

My friend did two years at Berkely for drums and he was, by far, the best drummer I had ever worked with. After his two years at Berkely, he went on to get his EE which is what pays his bills.

Like Danny.Guitar said, have a fall back plan.

 

[random.hero]

cool advice man, thanks

 

[bennychico11]

You have Berkely on your list, if you are a good musician and want to be a great musician, this would be the school to go to. Sorry, I don't know about their audio engineering program.

My friend did two years at Berkely for drums and he was, by far, the best drummer I had ever worked with. After his two years at Berkely, he went on to get his EE which is what pays his bills.

Like Danny.Guitar said, have a fall back plan.

however, I think he's talking about Berklee (in Boston)
Berkeley is in California....two different schools. Ones a music school, the other a University.

 

[Chili]

however, I think he's talking about Berklee (in Boston)
Berkeley is in California....two different schools. Ones a music school, the other a University.

Yes, you're right. I'm referring to the one in Boston. Points off for spelling.

 

[Whatmysay]

Before you decide on anything read the books below so you fully understand why you would or would not go to a university, college, and private recording school or just teach yourself.

The future (as it has always been) is about networking, communicating, collaborating, creating and most of all learning from your mistakes. You only go to a place of learning because the teachers are amazing and/or the course is so popular you have excellent peers and you learn from them.

But that is such an old skool POV – these books might offer you some alternative – I am too old – I can see the trends expressed in these books, but I can not see the detail – the devil and millions of dollars are in the detail. Good luck

Tipping Point

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0316316962/gladwellcom

Blink

http://www.amazon.com/Blink-Power-T...=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200504099&sr=1-2

Gladwells site
http://www.gladwell.com/tippingpoint/

The Wisdom of Crowds

http://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Crowds...1706/ref=pd_sim_b_title_2/105-6920552-1604417

Freakanomics

http://www.amazon.com/Freakonomics-...d_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200504008&sr=1-1

Wikinomics

http://www.amazon.com/Wikinomics-Ma...Everything/dp/1591841380/ref=pd_sim_b_title_2

The Long Tail

http://www.amazon.com/Long-Tail-Future-Business-Selling/dp/1401302378/ref=pd_sim_b_title_3

The World is Flat

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/03..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0DPKRP71AV0JXNKY69F4


A Whole new Mind

http://www.amazon.com/Whole-New-Min...d_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200504411&sr=1-2

 

[random.hero]

hahaha yeah thanks again. what would i do without you guys???

 

[DAS19]

Im getting my degree in business while having my concentration be in audio. I get to be in three studios and get studio time recording projects. I am learning the big boards and outboard gear and proper techniques. Do I think studios look for a college degree, maybe not but when they see one im sure its only going to be smiles.

Oh yeah most schools dont do just audio majors. I guess they want you to ahve somethng else. So they give you a bussiness major, or music, or performance. Or something.