University suggestion / work major + music
 

Ok, here is the deal.

I have a student who is looking for a school in either the US or the UK. He really wants to study music (drums) but yet realizes that his parents are right about studying something that will lead to a career in case if the music side doesn't pan out.

I figure that he should be at least UCSB/UCLA quality once his English gets better.

He got admitted to a pretty school over here to major in Engineering but it really doesn't look like his heart is into it.

We discussed LIPS (the place that Sir. Paul) put together and Cambridge but he's looking at a budget of US$ 20k per year since his older brother is still in college.

I have to give him credit for wanting to get out of Japan and for actually willing to follow his parents advice about trying to follow his dream but still have a back up plan.

Ok, folks what do you suggest?
I'm racking my brains over this one :(

I don't think I've ever known a drummer that went to college :)

You really need to 'study' drumming?

I thought all you needed was a couple of sticks, a nice set of skins and a big bag of weed.

One of the instructors I work with just finished his PhD in music here at UF... maybe major in music with a minor in education?

Most of the people that had Music Performance majors that I knew in college had a minor or second major in Music Education. The drummer for my favorite college band was a Business Major. ;)

Around here, Northwestern University is where most of the serious musicians from my high school went. I even found out one of them was in the Marine Band for a while.

Hartford has an acoustics and music program where you can study/play music, and learn the physics (engineering) of sound and acoustics. Two people that I currently work with at an acoustical consulting firm started out in this program...

http://harttweb.hartford.edu/curriculums/acoustics.htm

Link is kinda weak...you may want to contact the university for more information if it looks interesting to him.

I know nothing,

But I believe they have a very good music school in Boston, I have worked in Boston and it is a very nice city. If I were a youngin it would be an extremely cool place to go to school. I presume he could get a business/education/engineering degree as a backup to the music training there.

U.S.C. has both an outstanding business and music department. Dual major?

Berklee College of Music is the one in Boston. Other top schools for music include University of Miami, University of North Texas, University of Indiana, Northern Colorado, Southern Cal. Even as a drummer, he should study theory, orchestration and composition...

Can one become a teacher without having an actual degree in education? i believe one can...so i figure that a business degree would be more beneficial in the long run as he could always fall back on teaching.

I wish your student the best...

My wife is a very good musician, will in fact be playing/singing with a whole bunch of other folks for the Pope when he comes to DC later this year.

She minored in music and majored in math and philosophy.

Guess which degree got her a job to support the other habits?:)

He can mix the practical with the artistic...I in fact think each contributes to the other. Both our children play instruments (my son is an all-county musician, and a soon to be black belt).

Yeah but then he would have to live in this miserable place!

But seriously, wouldn't USC be over his budget?
"US$ 20k per year "

What do you call a guy that can't carry a tune and hangs out with musicians?

A drummer.


Seriously, in the UK - I hear that Paul McCartney has founded a music college in Liverpool. I'd try for that. I think that he and Jerry Jeff Walker were planning one in the Austin area as well, not sure how that is going.

The University of Denver.

www.du.edu

has what's called a "3/2 integrated music/business program" where you can combine an undergraduate music degree with an MBA, IMBA or MAcc in 5years. Their music school is quite good.

It's absolutely what I would have done if I did it again.

http://www.daniels.du.edu/undergrad_grad_faqs.aspx

I'm glad I have a music degree, but an MBA for one more year of school would have been a good move.

Sapporo Guy,
Check out Jacksonville State University. They have a great international program for foreign students. The band / music program is top notch - 'The Marching Southerners'. There is also a drum & bugle corp, JSU Spirit, there but I know nothing more than that. I received both my undergraduate and graduate degrees from Jacksonville State University. I will be glad to get any information you request - just let me know.

http://www.jsu.edu/orgs/intp/
http://www.jsu.edu/depart/ihop/ihp2004/main/internationalapplication.htm
http://music.jsu.edu/
http://www.jsu.edu/

+1 for Berklee College of Music in Boston. Lots of very good talent has come out of there and in that industry, I imagine connections are more important than talent alone.

How do you get a drummer off your porch?

Pay for the pizza.

What did the drummer get on his math test?

Drool.