Looking to go to school for music, where do I start?

So the other night, I was at a function hanging out with a lot of my friends. Now I already have a reputation at being a good guitar player, Ive played for about 3 years now, and I feel like I've made really great process. (yes i know 3 years isnt alot)

Ive also started picking up piano lately, and by knowing another instrument, piano just came so fast.

So when I had a crowd around me, listening to me play piano, a good friend of mine came up to me and said "dude, you know where you have to go? Berklee, my brother goes there and he loves it, I'm going to talk to him for you."

So thats when I realized, I mean music is the thing I love the most, I do well in school but its not necessarily stuff that really interests me. Ive also been recording lately and my band played gigs rather frequently over the summer. The problem is, I have no idea where to start! Neither of my parents came from a strong musical background, and as far as the fine arts go, they dont really have the right hook ups.

They want me to do what I love, and what I love is music, but how the hell do I get started CD?

Easy, get the word out through fastweb or something similar that you want to go into music, research schools in areas of the country that interest you (fastweb will help with this too), and be receptive to any information that is sent to you. Narrow it down to 5 or so schools, then go visit them and meet the music faculty. You can usually tell the quality of the faculty just by talking with them, but I know a lot of places do faculty concerts on visit days and stuff like that. After you've been to all the schools, weigh the pros and cons and pick the place that is the best fit.

Well, the first step should be obvious.

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Originally Posted by dudeman

Well, the first step should be obvious.

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grab your flute, with flute being a euphenism for dick

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Originally Posted by Infernus

grab your flute, with flute being a euphenism for dick

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You got it baby.

My advice is don't. I went to a music school and I hated it. I mean I loved the odd hour or two a week I'd get jamming with cool people but it was usually ruined by the inclusion of some not-so-cool people. I ended up spending far too much time getting stoned and I never did any of the proper work. It felt like just being there was zapping every creative spark out of my soul. I left after nearly two years with nothing to show for it cept some good times and a couple more friends.

I'm not saying your experience will be the same as mine, the place I went to was pretty shit if I'm honest. I'm just saying make sure that this is what you want to do before you rush into the decision. Music is a very restrictive vocation and 3 years of your time spent studying may not necessarily lead to what you want to do in life.

Dude, don't tell him that. I mean, I did the exact same thing, but there really are people who can withstand the onslaught of creativity-sucking and forced practice and performance that is music school. You have to take the path that you want to take, follow your desires. I wouldn't trade my experience in music for anything, in spite of the fact that it ended up being a big waste of time.

If you want to go to music school then you should go to music school. It may not end up being for you, but life is all about the journey. Part of that journey is making mistakes and learning from them, but if you don't try things then you will never know what you've missed out on. Don't let not going to music school be a regret.

Thanks for the advice guys.

Your right, its very possible that music is not what I want to do in the long run, but at this point, its my greatest interest, and for that reason im going to try. And if its not what I find out I want, atleast like Mr. E said, it would be an amazing journey.

At least where I live, options for guitarists are pretty limited. IMO you're better off playing as much as possible, finding a band, playing a few gigs etc. Musical Academies and such are aimed primarily at classical players and occasionally jazz players and even then very few are actually respected enough to get you anywhere.

I'm not trying to put a dampener on your aspirations but that's really how I see it.

There are some really good jazz schools that are highly respected within the jazz community, you just have to look for them because they are all little and hard to find.

Webster University is an example of this.

Juliard.

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Originally Posted by TheOriginalGrumpySpy

Juliard.

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I actually wouldn't advise Juliard. I got accepted there and did a campus tour and talked to some people there, but it was just too much. I've never been a huge fan of the conservatory method, and they do it to death there. At Juliard you have to eat, sleep, and breath music, which you either know you are cut out for before you start or you go into it and it destroys your soul.

You got accepted to Juliard? A school more selective than most Ivy League schools (about 5%) and denied it?!

I was going to say....what? Are you sure it was Juliard?

lol, yes, I know what Juliard is. I got into every school I applied to, but I wasn't gonna go somewhere where I knew I would be miserable. I knew I would be miserable at Harvard, Duke, and Juliard, and I couldn't afford NYU (even though that is where I really wanted to go....glad I didn't now, man would that have been expensive for nothing).

Gotta love affirmative action.

Mr. E I am calling bullshit. You aren't that good at music or that intelligent. Prove it or it didn't happen.

edit: Jesus Christ I didn't see that you claimed to have gotten in to Harvard and Duke as well. Where do you go again? Because there is absolutely no fucking way you got into those places and turned them all down to go to some regular school.

Prestige isn't everything. I received acceptance to admittedly more prestige then my current one. But this had a better program for EE it was also 400 miles away from my home. Money can also be a factor.


You also forget that he's black (or at least can claim it).

I will never believe that untl I see proof.

Not everyone on the internet lies (trust me, according to my status I'm a glorious beacon of light).

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Originally Posted by TheOriginalGrumpySpy

everyone on the internet lies.

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My cousin is very musically talented. He started playing the guitar, then the piano, then the drums. He loves music. But he isn't going to school for it. Music to him is more of a hobby and recreation more so than his future. Of course he doesn't know what the hell he wants to do. He got accepted into MIT for Christs sake.

Reason I bring this up is because you don't want to waste your money on something you aren't sure you that's what you want to do for the rest of your life. I suggested to him to go to a local college, take some gen eds and into courses and get a feel for what you like. If you like music, perhaps you should look into Audio Engineering or something of that sort if you are good with math. From what ever says here, music school seems to require music is everything to you. If it really isn't your life but more of a hobby, you should look for other options.


PS: If I learned anything from House, everybody lies.

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Originally Posted by Killuminati

Mr. E I am calling bullshit. You aren't that good at music or that intelligent. Prove it or it didn't happen.

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I'm pretty amused that you think you know anything about the real me whatsoever. Luckily for me, my pride is not wrapped up in what people on the internet think of my life choices.

For the record, I have not lied itt. Being an excellent saxophone player, graduating high school with a 4.8 GPA, and having a 32 on your ACT in combination with being black can get you anywhere you want to be. Believe it or not, I don't care.