Exploring Premier Colleges for Contemporary Music Programs

Contemporary music programs offer aspiring musicians and industry professionals a launchpad for successful careers. These institutions provide a blend of traditional music studies with innovative approaches to music-making, performance, and the business aspects of the music world. This article explores several prominent colleges and programs dedicated to contemporary music education.

Berklee College of Music: A Pioneer in Contemporary Music Education

Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, stands as the largest independent college of contemporary music globally. Founded in 1945 by Lawrence Berk as Schillinger House, the institution was established on the revolutionary principle that studying and practicing contemporary music is the best approach to prepare students for music careers.

History and Evolution

Originally, Schillinger House specialized in the Schillinger System of harmony and composition developed by Joseph Schillinger. It distinguished itself from other music schools by offering training in jazz and commercial music for radio, theater, television, and dance. The faculty consisted primarily of working musicians rather than academics, emphasizing practical knowledge and experience.

The college evolved over the decades, adapting to new developments in popular music, such as rock and roll, soul, funk, and jazz-rock fusion. Key milestones include:

1962: Offering the first college-level instrumental major for guitar.
1966: Awarding its first bachelor of music degrees.
1979: Lawrence Berk stepped down as president, succeeded by his son Lee Eliot Berk.
1980: Launching the world's first undergraduate degree program in film scoring.
1986: Introducing the world's first college-level major in music synthesis.
1987: Establishing the world's first college songwriting major.
1988: Expanding instrumental majors to include the first college hand-percussion major.

Academics and Programs

Berklee offers a wide array of undergraduate and graduate programs in various disciplines, including performance, production, songwriting, music therapy, film scoring, and music business. With 15 majors, a diverse student body representing over 100 countries, and a vast network of successful alumni, Berklee serves as a premier learning environment for contemporary music.

Campus and Resources

Berklee's main campus is located in the Back Bay area of Boston. The college occupies 25 buildings, housing 40 recording studios, 5 film/video scoring and editing facilities, and 9 music synthesis facilities. Additionally, the campus hosts the studios of the Berklee Internet Radio Network (BIRN), a five-channel, commercial-free internet radio station.

In recent years, Berklee has expanded its facilities, including the construction of new buildings along Massachusetts Avenue. These modern facilities provide students with state-of-the-art resources for learning and creating music.

Global Presence

Berklee has extended its reach beyond Boston, establishing campuses and programs around the world:

Berklee València: The college's first international campus, located in València, Spain, offers unique programs in contemporary music.
BerkleeNYC: A campus in New York City, providing additional opportunities for students in the heart of the music industry.
Berklee Online: The online extension school of Berklee College of Music offers bachelor's degrees and courses in various music-related fields, providing flexible learning options for students worldwide.

Longy School of Music: Empowering Individual Artistic Journeys

Longy School of Music takes a personalized approach to music education, empowering students to curate their own artistic journey. Instead of prescribing studies, Longy encourages students to create new career possibilities and challenge traditional norms.

A Personalized Approach

At Longy, the emphasis is on individual growth and exploration. Students are encouraged to push beyond the boundaries of classical music and embrace diverse genres and musical styles. The school aims to remove barriers and create access for individuals who may have been historically denied or restricted due to their identity or status.

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Embracing Diversity and Innovation

Longy actively works to welcome musicians from all walks of life, preparing them to be change-makers in the world. The school reimagines who gets to play, hear, and write music, fostering an inclusive and innovative environment.

Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts at The New School: Integrating Music with a Liberal Arts Education

Eugene Lang College, part of The New School in New York City, offers a Contemporary Music program that combines music studies with a liberal arts education. This approach allows students to benefit from university-wide resources while studying in an intimate college environment.

Curriculum and Resources

The Contemporary Music curriculum at Lang covers a range of traditional approaches to music studies while exploring innovative approaches to music-making and listening. Students delve into:

Music theory, history, and criticism of music in its many social and cultural contexts.
Music technology, including the uses and significance of music in audiovisual media.

As part of The New School, Contemporary Music students can access resources from the Mannes School of Music and the School of Jazz. They can also enroll in selected courses across the university, including those offered by the College of Performing Arts and Parsons School of Design.

BA/BFA Pathway

Students seeking both a liberal arts education and professional training in jazz and contemporary music can pursue the BA/BFA pathway. This program allows students to tailor their studies to their individual interests and career goals.

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Connecting to the New York City Music Scene

Located in the heart of Greenwich Village, Lang College provides students with unparalleled access to New York City's vibrant music scene. Students can engage with various venues and organizations throughout the city, using the city as a learning laboratory.

Contemporary Music Center (CMC) in Nashville: A Christ-Centered Artistic Community

The Contemporary Music Center (CMC) in Nashville offers a unique program designed to prepare young musicians and aspiring music executives for careers in popular music. As an artistic community, the CMC focuses on developing artists and music executives with a Christ-centered vision for music content, production, and delivery.

Program Overview

The CMC's mission is to equip students academically and creatively for potential careers in the music industry. Students complete the semester with original recordings, a press kit and resume, and knowledge of how to obtain a recording contract or a job in the music industry.

Academics

Students take three core courses with all participants and then choose either an artist track or an executive track, depending on their interests. Both tracks allow for a full 16-credit semester.

Core Courses (for all students):

Faith, Music, and Culture
Inside the Music Industry
Practicum "CMC Tour"

Artist Track:

Essentials of Songwriting
Studio Recording
Performance

Executive Track:

Strategic Management
Music Business Survey
Advanced Media Marketing

Technical Track:

Advanced Studio Recording
Audio Engineering
Concert Production

Worship Creative Arts Track:

Music & Media Arts
Worship Technology & Production
Worship Arts Internship

Cost and Application

The cost for a semester at CMC includes tuition for 15-16 hours of credit, room with kitchen facilities, laundry facilities, and travel, meals, and accommodation for the practicum (tour). Applicable federal, state, and private aid can be applied, but Gordon institutional aid is not carried over.

Oberlin Conservatory of Music: Fostering Innovation and Performance in Contemporary Music

The Oberlin Conservatory of Music is dedicated to fostering innovation and performance in contemporary music. The Division of Contemporary Music offers intensive coaching and faculty mentoring, encouraging students to hone their musical skills and explore diverse musical genres.

Composition Program

The composition faculty works with aspiring young composers to broaden their skills and increase their facility in presenting their musical ideas with clarity through written notation. Composition students have ample opportunities to have their pieces performed through formal and informal performances.

Technology in Music and Related Arts (TIMARA)

TIMARA serves as an important hub between the Conservatory and College of Arts and Sciences. Students work in diverse media, including live electronics, acoustic composition, multi-channel fixed media, video, music for dance, sound design for theater and film, research in acoustics and psychoacoustics, software development, hardware design, performance art, and soundscape composition. Many students pursue interdisciplinary interests through Oberlin’s double-degree program.

Performance Opportunities

Oberlin enthusiastically embraces the performance of contemporary classical and new music. The school has been a training ground for new music performers and ensembles, including the Grammy Award-winning sextet Eighth Blackbird and the International Contemporary Ensemble.

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