2021-22 GUIDE TO MUSIC SCHOOLS

2021-22 Guide to Music Schools
Download the Guide or scroll down to view information for each school
Musical America's latest
Guide to Music Schools
Includes pandemic policies for each school
Students of the arts once sought only to train to achieve artistic excellence, but now that's not enough. On the heels of the pandemic and the move to streaming, an artist must also be an audio/video producer, winning onscreen personality, social media expert, and marketing whiz.
Music schools and conservatories are attempting to meet the challenge with solutions ranging from mentoring faculty, technology, and internships and fellowships, to name a few. Pay close attention to the Guide's "Career/Post Graduate Assistance" section.
We have, of course, listed the pandemic policies for each school. This (still) lingering beast is ever-changing, so please check check individual websites for updates.
 

2021-22 GUIDE TO MUSIC SCHOOLS

FEATURED SCHOOLS
 

 
 
Evanston, Illinois
With its proximity to the cultural hub of Chicago, conservatory-level musical training and engaging academic environment, Northwestern's Bienen School of Music provides students an educational atmosphere unlike any other. Undergraduates may pursue dual degrees, double majors, or an ad-hoc (self-designed) major.
 
   
 

 
 
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston Conservatory at Berklee is internationally recognized as an innovative leader among conservatory programs focused on elevating every aspect of the performing arts. The institution is committed to making all forms of performing arts a more visible and valued dimension of communitieshere and abroad.
 
   
 

 
 
Chicago, Illinois
The DePaul University School of Music offers conservatory style, performance-based study within a large university in Chicago, a destination city for world-class arts. Students benefit from individualized study and rehearsal at the highest level among a supportive community of individuals striving to e their best.
 
   
 

 
 
Rochester, New York
Eastman is dedicated to the highest levels of artistry and scholarship and to the broad education of young musicians within the context of a university. Our students enjoy a challenging but nurturing environment that focuses on artistic excellence while encouraging the pursuit of individual paths and interests.
 
   
 

 
 
Toronoto, Ontario, Canada
The success of our graduates, many of whom now have successful careers as concert and recording artists, is a testament to our focus on performance training.
 
   
 

 
 
New York, New York
Since 1905 Juilliard educated the world's foremost musicians, then dancers & actors; its Lincoln Center campus a launching ground for artistic achievement, with an equally world-renowned faculty.
 
   
 

 
 
Cambridge, Massachusetts
The world needs music now more than ever. At Longy, we prepare students to become exceptional musicians who can engage new audiences; teach anyone, anywhere; and use artistry to change lives in communities around the world. Join us and become the musician the world needs you to be.
 
   
 

 
 
New York, New York
Manhattan School of Music takes full advantage of New Yor's abundant learning and performance opportunities, preparing highly talented students for careers as passionate performers and composers and to be imaginative, effective leaders in the arts.
 
   
 

 
 
Baltimore, Maryland
At the Peabody Conservatory, we are a community of artists—cultivating excellence, embracing new ideas, and committed to the future of music in our world.
 
   
 

 
 
Tianjin, China
The Tianjin Juilliard School uniquely focuses on collaborative musicianship, emphasizing a commitment to ensemble playing of the highest artistic level. Our programs reflect the best of educational standards, preparing students for a lifetime of creative expression, of engagement and growth as an individual and as a musician.
 
   
 

 
 
Cincinnati, Ohio
CCM—declared one of this country's leading conservatories by The New York Times—provides life-changing experiences within a highly creative and multidisciplinary artistic environment.
 
   
 

 
 
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
UNCSA School of Music offers a transformative conservatory experience that prepares students for professional careers. The program combines intensive individual study under professional artist-mentors with a variety of performance opportunities including collaborations with other UNCSA arts schools. Students attend master classes with distinguished guest artists and perform state-of-the-art facilities.
 
   
 

 
 
Los Angeles, California
As the music profession changes, the USC Thornton School of Music offers an innovative education that prepares students for careers at the highest level as performers, composers, educators and industry leaders. We do this while making the most of our location in Los Angeles, the nation’s center for creativity and original art of all kinds.
 
   
 

 
 
New Haven, Connecticut
YSM maintains a highly selective admission process, each year admitting approximately 100 students who come from prestigious American and international conservatories and universities to study with Yale’s distinguished faculty. A full tuition award and living stipend is given to all students who are admitted to the School.
 
   

Adelphi University
Garden City, New York
Adelphi is known for its top-ranked academic programs, small classes, and personalized attention. Our students call their Adelphi experience transformative and call their community family—exactly what your college studies at all levels should be about.
Potsdam, New York
Crane is an undergraduate-focused music school with attentive full-time faculty. We are part of SUNY Potsdam, an arts-centric school, with 575 music majors. At Crane, students can choose from a wide variety of programs and majors.
SUNY Fredonia School of Music
Fredonia, New York
Fredonia is leading the next generation of music professionals. Our Music Education program boasts an incredible 100% job placement rate after graduation, and our faculty and alumni are GRAMMY award-winning year after year. Choose the power of Fredonia, and turn your passion into your profession.
Orange, California
We specialize in undergraduate education for musicians, promoting their artistic, professional, and intellectual development. Our students enjoy exceptional performance opportunities in state-of-the-art facilities with internationally renowned faculty who know them by name. Come here to hone your craft and turn your passion into profession. Become anything imaginable.
Northeastern University Department of Music
Boston, Massachusetts
The Department of Music at Northeastern is devoted to offering graduate and undergraduate majors, combined majors and minors, a cross-disciplinary approach to research and practice in music, underscored by real-world experiential learning and cutting-edge technology.
Oberlin, Ohio
Oberlin Conservatory focuses on undergraduate pre-professional musicians in classical, contemporary, jazz performance; composition; and electronic music. Two graduate programs—Piano Technology and Recording Arts & Production—lead to Artist Diplomas. The Conservatory is embedded within the premier liberal arts environment of Oberlin College and is renowned for the Double Degree Program.
Pacific Region International Summer Association (PRISMA) Festival & Academy
Powell River, British Columbia, Canada
PRISMA prides itself on its focus not only on the technical aspects of music education but on the care it takes to ensure a positive experience—one that brings people together through a shared love of music. It has an exceptionally supportiveenvironment for learning and performing together.
London, United Kingdom
The Royal College of Music is one of the world’s greatest conservatoires, ranked the top institution for performing arts in the U.K. for six consecutive years (QS World University Rankings 2016–21). We have nurtured exceptional musical talent for more than 135 years and welcome students from all over the globe.
The Shepherd School of Music
Houston, Texas
The Shepherd School of Music provides a dedicated faculty of artist-teachers, extraordinary performance opportunities, beautiful facilities, and an unparalleled education at one of America’s premiere universities.
Annandale-on-Hudson, New York
Pre-professional orchestra that combines performance with rigorous study of the humanities; three-year Master's Degree or two-year Advanced Certificate; full-tuition fellowship and bi-weekly stipend; world-renowned guest conductors; regular performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance
Ann Arbor, Michigan
The School’s unique relationship as a part of the U-M, ranked as one the top universities in the U.S., provides students with a vast array of options and opportunities. All of our degrees require some academic coursework, most of which can be selected from any area of the University.

Additional Schools
Arizona State University School of Music, Dance and Theatre
Tempe, Arizona
Bard College Conservatory of Music
Bard College
Annandale-on-Hudson, New York
Blair School of Music
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee
Boston University School of Music
Boston, Massachusetts
The Buchmann-Mehta School of Music
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv, Israel
Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas
Carnegie Mellon University School of Music
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Cleveland Institute of Music
Cleveland, Ohio
Colburn Conservatory of Music
Los Angeles, California
Conservatorio di Musica "Arrigo Boito"
Parma, Italy
Curtis Institute of Music
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DePauw University
Greencastle, Indiana
Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin
Berlin, Germany
Florida State University College of Music
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida
Frost School of Music
University of Miami
Coral Gables, Florida
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
London, United Kingdom
The Hartt School
University of Hartford
West Hartford, Connecticut
iClassical Academy
Crans-Montana, Switzerland
IU Jacobs School of Music
Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana
JAM MUSIC LAB Private University for Jazz & Popular Music Vienna
Vienna, Austria
Mannes School of Music
The New School
New York, New York
Robert McDuffie Center for Strings
Mercer University
Macon, Georgia
New England Conservatory
Boston, Massachusetts
New World Symphony, America's Orchestral Academy
Miami Beach, Florida
Peck School of the Arts
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
San Francisco, California
Shanghai Orchestra Academy (SOA)
Shanghai Conservatory of Music
Shanghai, China
Shenandoah Conservatory
Shenandoah University
Winchester, Virginia
Stauffer Center for Strings
Cremona, Italy
UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, Colorado
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
University of Illinois School of Music
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, Illinois
Department of Music & Dance
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts Lowell Department of Music
Lowell, Massachusetts
University of North Texas
Denton, Texas
The University of Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Westminster College of the Arts
Rider University
Lawrenceville, New Jersey