Product Description
The music industry is depicted in so many different ways. To young people like me, it’s the ultimate dream to be at the top of the game, selling records, posing on the cover of a magazine, and have a voice that reaches millions. To adults, it’s a business that has weakened with technology advances, two month fashion statements, and the economy struggling.But what do we know? There’s that old saying that goes “you can’t judge a book from its cover,” a phrase which su… More >>

GIRL IN STEREO

Why?  Music schools are looking for new ways to open their resources to a wider range of students.  Especially in the aforementioned area.  Technology is changing the way many of today’s leading musicians compose, perform and produce.  It is also changing the way in which music reaches audiences both in the recorded and performance mediums.

The country’s leading music programs and even traditional conservatories are taking notice.  There is a reason for this.  Schools are finding it necessary for their sustainability to train students for the careers that will exist 20 years from now.  This includes going beyond the traditional classical curriculum and picking up on ideas that have led to the emergence of non-traditional music programs such as Berklee College of Music and Musicians Institute.  Many of today’s jobs a few years from now will have been replaced by other things.  Other careers in music will be invented or explored.  What these jobs or other careers will be, only time will tell.  But colleges owe it to their students to make sure their needs are being met and that they are truly prepared for a career in music.

Traditional distinctions among types of music schools are becoming less prominent as schools increase their offerings by adding more academic and technology programs.  For instance, Chicago’s Columbia College just recently launched the Contemporary Urban and Popular Music Program and awards a Bachelor of Music degree for students that are interested in producing, composing and performing modern music.  Ironically, this is the same degree awarded to students for classical composition.

Many schools which started as traditional conservatories are now offering degrees in Music Business, Music Industry and Music Engineering Technology.  Berklee College of Music and the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music were the among the pioneers in these non-traditional fields of music.  Schools are offering these programs designed for modern music production which are essential for sustainability and are using modern methods in order to reach current and future students.

Music has been deeply affected by the enormous change evolving in all forms of media.  Every branch of the arts has and will be affected for years to come.  It’s important that we embrace the future and what technology has to offer in the field of music.  With new ideas come new possibilities and exciting opportunities.  This emerging trend has not gone unnoticed and many music schools are now getting involved.  Music colleges owe it to their students to meet their current goals as a musician and lead them in directions they may never thought existed.

Your music industry education can begin in college. If you are sure that you want to be the person who edits the recorded sound to make it better, then a college with a specialized music program is your best bet. These programs offer intense study of music and hands-on training. Someone who graduates from one of these programs will have the advantage of actual knowledge of music equipment.

Technical schools are also in high demand. At one time, people shunned technical training as being second class. It ran a distant second place to getting a degree at a four-year institution. But, when it came to finding jobs after graduation, technical school graduates had one very important advantage-legitimate experience handling the latest equipment used in the music industry.

Technical schools provide a mix of book learning and lectures and time in the music lab. Students get to create music, edit sound, and produce their own music to see how the process works. Many technical degrees are two-year programs but a lot of fundamentals and advanced teaching goes on in those programs.

Internships are required at most technical schools. They evaluate their students and how they apply the skills learned in the classroom in a work setting. Some programs at four-year institutions require internships before graduation but not all. An internship at this stage with an instructor to back you up is a great initiation into the music industry.

When choosing a music school or a music program at a college or university, review the entire program. Are the instructors credentialed? In the music industry, this could mean that they have twenty years experience as a sound editing engineer or a music producer. A Bachelors degree wouldn’t hurt either. With the constant changes in the music industry, be sure that your instructors can provide the type of training for you that is currently pertinent to the industry.

How is the program set up? Many programs offer more book work and less time in the lab. Theory is good to know if you are planning on a career in teaching. For a career that involves working in a music studio or on the sets of music videos, hands-on experience is more practical.

Studios are looking for graduates who can jump right in and be a part of the company. If the studio head asks you to sit at a station and make the sound better, your career could take a dive if you can’t work the equipment or provide an interesting answer. They don’t have time to waste on unprepared people.

Distance learning is also a way to get the education you need to perform technical jobs in the music industry. For those who have to work a regular job during the day to make ends meet, distance learning programs provide the opportunity they seek. All you need is a willingness to be flexible, a computer with Internet hook-up, a telephone, and commitment. Many distance learning programs are affiliated with local community colleges or university campuses so students have access to musical equipment. A student has the best of both worlds on their own terms.

So, before you decide to move to a major city to go to school, check out the local technical schools and distance learning. Being in New York or California won’t make you more likely to be hired, but the content of your school program might. Check with potential studios to see what program accreditations they recognize and shoot for a music program that has them.

Imagine how hard it would be to learn how to play the piano or another instrument by simply reading a book. It’s true that people have successfully learned to play an instrument by reading a book. However, without the benefit of visual demonstrations, the process can be long and difficult. Today’s music correspondence courses contain visual demonstrations via video and live webcam instruction to accompany written textbook materials. This combination of learning materials greatly increases the student’s likelihood of success.

The type of correspondence course that you choose will probably depend on your goals. Examine your reasons for wanting to learn to play a particular instrument to determine where to start looking.

Do you want to:

• Receive nationally recognized certification? If so, you may want to look into colleges or accredited music schools such as Berklee School of Music in Boston or Eastman School of Music in Rochester New York. This is especially true if you hope to get a job in the music industry. Many employers want to see some type of formal education on your resume from a reputable school. Many of these offer correspondence courses that can help you meet your goals. Sometimes you can complete an entire certificate program by correspondence. For other programs, you may need to do some live classroom work in addition to correspondence courses. Look for accredited music schools with a professional reputation in the industry. Most offer some type of distance education, either by correspondence or online. This can be an excellent alternative if moving somewhere else to get your musical education isn’t an option.
• Enrich your personal life? Maybe you always wanted to learn to play the piano as a child but never had the opportunity. Maybe you’ve been out of practice for several years and just want to brush up on your skills. If employment in the music industry isn’t necessarily your goal, then you’ll probably find what you need from a private instructor or company such as PlayPiano or perhaps ChordPiano, which you can easily locate online through any search engine. Many online music schools offer programs for beginners or for honing old skills. They may combine written materials with DVD demonstrations, online video instruction or live instruction via webcam. Sometimes these types of correspondence courses are less expensive than those offered by colleges or music schools.
• Explore a new genre? Maybe you are a classically trained pianist who always wanted to learn how to play the blues. Perhaps you took lessons for a few years as a child, but never took theory and learned to understand chords. A correspondence course through a private instructor or company may be exactly what you need. Correspondence courses are available on specific topics and genres that may interest you. If you already know the basics, it won’t take long to build upon that knowledge and teach yourself something new.

Let your personal reasons guide your decision when choosing a music correspondence course. You’ll probably find that many music correspondence courses are very affordable. Plus, you can learn from the comfort of home with your own instrument. The list of advantages to taking a music correspondence course is practically endless.