Learning music is an age-old practice of passing artistic knowledge from master to apprentice. Music is known as the universal language of mankind, and it has been shown that musical training may have positive physiological effects. Research also found that listening to soothing music after exercise was associated with decreased heart rates and blood pressure.
In this regard, American music is eclectic because of the many cultures that have contributed to it. American music encompasses genres as diverse as jazz, country, rock, R&B, and folk. The USA is actively bringing advanced music knowledge and instruments into the industry as time passes. It has also given rise to notable musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Bob Dylan, and others.
In the United States, students may study music of every genre, from classical to modern, with instructors who are at the top of their fields and network with other professionals in the field. Higher education in the USA offers a diverse selection of majors at many prestigious institutions. So, make sure to read our article below, which elaborates on some of the best music schools in the USA with rich music degrees.
Top Music Schools in the U.S.
1. Berklee College of Music
Our #1 recommendation is Berklee College of Music, which comes among the top universities in North America. Over the years, 141 Berklee grads have won 332 Grammy Awards, the music industry’s highest award.
Undergraduates at Berklee may choose from 14 different music-related concentrations, including anything from performing to music business and production. These include majors such as composition, contemporary writing and production, cinema, and media scoring, along with a great deal of other options.
The total tuition fees for the program are more than $22,000 per semester for summer intake and $25,000 for fall intake. Merit-based scholarships are a component of the application process for all undergraduates at Berklee, even those who apply without submitting an audition or interview video. These costs include fee waivers and stipends.
They also offer graduate programs in music with majors in global jazz, which offer full-tuition grants and music education. Musicians of all stripes may enroll in these programs to further their education and pursue professional performing careers.
As an excellent music school in the USA, it also provides in-depth training in novel approaches to classroom management and lesson organization. This gives experienced musicians the chance to broaden their horizons by participating in a variety of exciting performing endeavors.
2. The Julliard School
Since its founding in 1905, the Juilliard School has been at the forefront of performing arts education. The school is committed to providing talented performers from all over the globe with an education of the highest standard to help them realize their full creative and leadership potential and become contributing members of society.
It offers several programs in music, including undergraduate and graduate programs in performing arts, vocal arts, etc. In addition to the students’ music major, they must take a minimum number of liberal arts courses.
The standard time to get a Bachelor of Music degree is four years. Students who are accepted as transfer students must complete a minimum of two years of residence at the institution. There are foundational classes there, including “Ear Training,” “Piano,” “Lyric Diction,” and others. The tuition fee of this institute for international students is more than $54,000.
Students can also earn their master’s or Ph.D. degrees, depending on which program in the Music Department they took. These programs are designed for musicians who already have an undergraduate degree and are looking for further musical instruction and classroom education that will better qualify them for employment in the music industry.
Moreover, it offers elite programs like the opera and opera chorus at Julliard to students from throughout the world. The Juilliard Scholarship Committee determines scholarship awards at the institute, and they consider monetary needs and artistic excellence.
3. Northwestern University
Next in our suggestions of top music schools in the USA is Northwestern University, which is ranked #32 worldwide by QS World Rankings 2023 and accredited by HLC. Their broad range of courses allows students to explore many different areas of interest. Students have numerous chances to establish and take part in initiatives that further their education, development, and contribution to society as a whole.
Through their intense curriculum, students at the Bienen School of Music gain excellent musicianship, interpersonal abilities, self-discipline, and dedication to musical greatness. International students who plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree in music from here do so to pursue a career in music performance or music studies. The university offers numerous courses that may supplement a conservatory degree.
A Bachelor of Music (BM) may be earned at the Bienen School of Music with a concentration in performance (piano, strings and percussion, and jazz studies), musical studies (composition, musicology, music education, and theory), or ad hoc (as an additional major). The full-time tuition fee of this program for overseas students is $64,887.
Nevertheless, Bienen’s master’s degree integrates the disciplines of performing, teaching, theory, writing, and research. Students may craft unique course schedules from available electives with an advisor’s guidance.
The duration of their master’s degree in music education is one year. In certain areas (brass, conducting, jazz studies, music education), students can earn this degree in only two years. The master’s tuition fee for international students is about $57,762. They also provide several merit-based scholarships to deserving students.
4. Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music, with its long history and reputation for academic excellence, made it to our list. It has a high global ranking and offers several distinct courses in various fields.
Composers, instrumentalists, jazz musicians, and musical theater and opera enthusiasts may all find something to their liking in MSM’s four-year undergraduate curriculum. Four tracks in this degree program— major field of study, course work in music-related topics, ensemble performance, and humanities— offer a demanding curriculum for performing or composing for prospective professional artists.
Among the best music programs in the USA, it includes standard courses like music history and theory and a substantial humanities component that focuses on reading, writing, and discussing works of historical fiction, literature, and theory. The bachelor’s degree costs $53,500 for international students.
Students with a bachelor’s degree in music may enroll in a full-time, two-year master’s program in music theory and performance. The emphasis of the curriculum is on skill development and preparation for a music career. Financial aid in the form of grants and scholarships is offered to international students with fee reductions and other offers.
5. Indiana University – Bloomington
When it comes to music education in the United States, the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University—Bloomington is now the most recognized institution. The conservatory, founded in 1921, is an integral element of the university, with the legendary violinist Joshua Bell, the composer and producer Booker T. Jones, and many more among its distinguished graduates.
The application procedure includes a live audition, as is standard at other top music institutions. Every student must join an ensemble each semester, and there are plenty to choose from among the many choirs, bands, and orchestras. You can choose from different areas of study at Jacobs aside from music education, including music theory, jazz studies, piano, composition, and many other programs related to music.
FAQs: Music Studies in the U.S.
What Career Opportunities are Open to Graduates with a Music Degree?
Individuals today have more options than previously possible with a music degree, and those options are expanding. A degree in music is worthwhile because of the wide variety of careers that graduates might pursue, especially in the USA, where the music industry is worth $26.2 billion. As the performing arts and other sectors flourish worldwide, musicians have increasing opportunities to find work.
It is a widely known fact that the American market for music consumption generates the most revenue. Career opportunities such as music producer, acoustic consultant, sound designer, marketing executive in vocal arts, special effects technician, choral director, instrument designer, and music video director, among many others, are available for music graduates.
Enrolling in a well-regarded music school dramatically enhances the educational and professional opportunities available to prospective musicians. If your dream is to pursue a music degree in the USA, you can choose from the top American music schools above for a start.
We hope that this article on the best music schools in the USA helps you make an informed decision about which school to pick for kickstarting your educational journey. Feel free to visit our Guide to Studying in the USA and Open Courses in the USA for more information about the different programs and scholarship opportunities!
