A Guide to Finding Your Ideal Music School

8/11/2023

It’s about that time of the year now as summer is winding down and high school students are having to prepare for their college applications. There are standardized tests that need to be taken, course schedules finalized, and college visits that need to be scheduled. If you’re a parent or a student during the planning process of what to look for, hopefully, this will help simplify the process.

Now, US education is more expensive than ever, and the pressure can be intense especially if you’re in high school to compete for scholarships if you want to study music. Here are some things to consider when you’re looking for a music school!

Find the right teacher. There are so many different conservatories and music programs in the country that it can be overwhelming and what helps is being able to find the right teacher that fits your student’s personality that they can trust and feel that they will be able to make progress with throughout their four years. You can start with local teachers in your state or even their musical heroes. Make sure that you can correspond with them by email beforehand to schedule a visit in person or on Zoom. These types of visits are very useful in determining whether it would be a good fit for them. It is also helpful for them to get to know your student so that way when they have the audition, they will be able to put a name to the face of who is playing.
Scholarships. It’s important to go somewhere that offers substantial scholarships. It’s become admittedly harder since there are a lot of music programs that mostly offer scholarships at the master’s level. It would be good to also search online databases for scholarships like the College Gazette or the National Association for Music Education to search for additional funding.
Goals. Finding the right music program that they would thrive in also involves what their goals are. If they are interested in becoming an orchestral musician, have them apply to Colburn, Juilliard, and Curtis. Colburn and Curtis offer scholarships to those who are successful in their audition, whereas there are some scholarships available at Juilliard. If they want to double major in music and another discipline, programs like the double degree program at Johns Hopkins University Peabody Institute of Music are a great option or the Colombia-Juilliard program for a more rounded education.
Costs. Now, the United States is a big country, and it is not going to be humanly possible to visit twenty schools. What I would suggest is to narrow it down to 3-5 places and make pros and cons lists. If the teacher is responsive to you and is answering your correspondences, that is a big plus. Out of that list, there should be one or two options that should be a back-up just in case as there are a variety of factors that go into an application for music school.
Abroad. Since the costs of education have risen, it may not hurt to consider studying abroad. When I studied in France, I attended the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional l de Versailles, it cost me 1400 euros for two years of study. If I had lived in Versailles, it would have cost me less as the price is lower if you live in the municipality.

The college application process can be overwhelming and hopefully, these tips will give you some points to consider while you’re on your search. By carefully weighing these factors, you’ll be able to find the best music program for your student! If you want to learn more about the music classes we offer, schedule a free consultation today!