Choosing the right college

[PrimusPanda]

I will be graduating soon and have been looking around for a college that fits what I am looking for. I live in Ohio and am looking for a college fairly close by. The college I am looking for offers both audio engineering and a music/bass guitar type class. So far the only colleges I have found is the Musicians Institute (located in California, a bit far for my liking) and Some college (currently forgetting the name -_-) in Massachusetts. The MI looks nice but is too far away and the one in Massachusetts doesn't look like what I really want and is also a little far. Any suggestions on nearby colleges that offer these courses? I'm having trouble finding them.

[jmattbassplaya]

I hear MTSU in Murfreesboro, Tennessee has a great audio engineering program.

[oldrookie]

Don't know for sure, but I'd do a search for schools in Nashville. There's one just south of Vanderbilt U that has a massive music program...can't remember the name. As a bonus, one of the best coffee joints I've been in is just across the street.

[Swicked]

why does it have to be close to home?

[Swicked]

try Theu.com or something along those lines they have student reviews of colleges and should give you a rough idea

[hrodbert696]

Audio Engineering is not something I would expect most liberal arts/four-year colleges to offer. However, you might check schools with strong Theater Studies programs that may include technical subjects like sound and lighting design. More likely you would find it in a two-year community college or associate's program. If you're planning on a full bachelor's degree, that may be something you pick up on the side over the summer.

By the way, did you mean a whole audio engineering program, like a major or minor, or just a class? I would NOT determine your entire education based on whether a school offers one particular course. Sometimes a course is in the catalog but in practice the department offers it once every three years and that's the semester that you're doing a program abroad or there's a scheduling conflict with something you absolutely NEED to graduate. So ask what your goals are for college in larger terms than whether you'd be able to take this or that.

The good news is that most places that have a music program will probably allow you to take bass lessons. They may not allow you to major in it, though, unless you take up other instruments as well.

[TJ55]

Here is link to Middle Tennessee State's program. I've always heard it was a great program as well. I lived in Murfreesboro for little while and it was "OK". The proximity to Nashville is a huge draw if you are a live music junkie like me though.

http://recordingindustry.mtsu.edu/curriculum.html

[jollygiantchris]

Columbia (the Chicago one not the ivy league one) offers audio engineering and is a decent university.

[CTbass613]

If your focus is getting work out of college, i would try to look at the schools that have great placement. I personally decided not to go to school for music (my dad is a Berklee Grad from the 70's when they actually required you to have a good audition to get in, not just the money) and he pretty much said flat out, if your focus is on playing music, you don't need to go to music school, go get a degree with a solid background and then actually play and practice your instrument on your own or with private instructors.
You can get the same education with a private instructor as you can with a degree in music, but instead you audition the teachers and make sure its someone that will help you get better and take you to the level you want to reach. The recording/audio engineering thing I can understand the need for a certification in. You can get certified without focusing your education around that. I am not trying to crush any dreams you may have, but just put some more thought into what you are doing and what you want out of music and life, and determine if taking on a student loan for music alone and then trying to pay off that student loan by living a life only involved in music is something that you can reasonably accomplish. The reason MI or NYU are good schools to go to is because they are in Cities where there is work and you can actually work through school playing music pending your level now.
I bring this up because I was one of the better musicians in my high school, when I graduated I went to school for business. A bunch of kids who were passionate about music, but really didn't have any chops went to music school...the only work they can find is part time substitute jobs where they aren't even teaching music. I have played close to 175 gigs each year for the past three years, been in multiple studio settings and even have my own home studio, where i produce my own music attempting to get media placements. So just make sure you make the right decision for yourself, and what you want to do, look at where you want to live and if there is work there for someone with the degree you are seeking. Best of Luck!

[happy123]

liberal arts subjects will give u lot of options.....i just enjoyed my four years....

[insomniac2295]

McNally Smith in St. Paul, Minnesota has a great campus and an excellent engineering program and a great bass performance program.

[happy123]

ya ...someone gave me this www.liberalartscolleges.org.... and i just enjoyed this site for liberal arts subjects...

[Snarf]

Originally Posted by oldrookie

Don't know for sure, but I'd do a search for schools in Nashville. There's one just south of Vanderbilt U that has a massive music program...can't remember the name. As a bonus, one of the best coffee joints I've been in is just across the street.

Belmont. I'm auditioning for my masters there in a couple weeks.

[elgecko]

College is crazy expensive! Make sure you're going to get a return on your investment!