Top 5 Music Production Schools to Check Out!

I get allot of questions about getting into music production. You can learn yourself through trial and error, take individual classes or go to school to get a degree. Some colleges also offer programs in the music industry which is a great compliment to production training.

Below is a listing of the five of the top 5 Music Production Schools I know of. Courses include everything from audio engineering to sound design and mixing. While they are in no particular order, it is safe to say that most people would agree that the number 1 spot does belong to Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Berklee College of Music in Boston is considered the top school of music. Berklee began its mission in the teaching, training and educating in the field of jazz but has expanded to now include other types and styles of music to include hip-hop and rock along with jazz. They offer three types of degrees in music, including one in production and engineering.

Berklee guarantees a hands-on approach in each of their music degrees. Some of the more famous names that have graduated from Berklee include Kevin Eubanks in 1979; Keith Harris of the Black Eyed Peas in 1998; Quincy Jones in 1951; Natalie Maines of The Dixie Chicks in 1995; Branford Marsalis in 1981; John Mayer in 1998 and so many more.

Needless to say the college helps create extremely talented artists in the performing field but also behind the scenes names that don’t necessarily get top billing but whom the well-known names would be lost without.

The Steinhardt School of Music within NYU is where the music industry gets some of its top trained production people. NYU’s Steinhardt School offers one of the few Masters Degrees in specialized divisions which include the technical and computational aspects of music.

Anyone graduating from NYU Steinhardt School will definitely have the training and contacts needed to rise in the music industry field of production with their degree. Steinhardt School has a very strict and stringent entry process which accepts only the most elite and talented individuals.

The Recording Connection Audio Institute is one of the less traditional types of schools and is known in the industry more so than by the press and public. Although the school has been around since 1983, in terms of colleges and universities that makes it a fairly new school.

The basis of their learning is a hands on approach in the industry, providing training that will not only get students directly into the business and handling all aspects related to their desired degree but making connections that most colleges and universities simply don’t get their students out into the real world to make.

There is a course curriculum that is actually taught one on one to the student, making it a very personalized and individualized learning experience in the industry itself. There is no actual brick and mortar school to attend but instead a base office in Hollywood, CA with satellite professional studios in numerous cities. Students begin and work with professional studios and professionals in the field in an apprenticeship style program.

Its validity is questioned by some who are used to the brick and mortar style school settings; while others liken the experience to a “tech school” or apprenticeship, with minimal “book” style learning. While this is truly one of the more different styles of professional recording career colleges because of it’s “beyond the brick and mortar” school type; one has to only look at today’s cyber schools that are graduating students left and right with valid, legitimate and proper degrees and diplomas.

You’re not going to see as many “big names” come out of this college as you are “real working people” who are in the industry, behind the scenes. While colleges like Berklee and NYU have big names behind them, this is simply because they offer aspects of performing along with the behind the scenes of the music industry. The man who was the head engineer in producing the Black Eyed Peas album isn’t going to be well known to most people while the name of the band will be.

Indiana University Bloomington’s Jacobs School of Music is also one of the most well known schools of music and the largest overall school, enrollment wise, to offer specialty music degrees ranging from Associates to Masters Degree programs. Opening in 1910 the Jacobs School of Music has a substantial history and past associated with its music program and offers degrees in everything music from the performance end to the engineering and production aspects of the industry.

The Peabody Institute of The John Hopkins University is mainly known for their performance degrees; however they are known as one of the top colleges offering a Masters of Art in Audio Sciences which covers most aspects of musical production and in particular the technical aspects. This degree is not for the faint of heart as one can only be considered for entry once they have obtained their BS and then apply for admission.

Most people that choose The Peabody Institute of The John Hopkins University do so for their performance degrees as opposed to their technical and production aspects. A Masters in Music (MM) from The Peabody Institute of The John Hopkins University is an impressive looking addition to a resume but that’s not always what is looked for when applying or working in the true music production industry.

Schools such as this and the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University are examples of spending money on education that could be seen as “wasting” time on non-music classes. Taking courses in science, mathematics, history and such are not really useful for a career in music production.

For example, I have a two year degree from the Hartford Conservatory of Music where we only studied music. I found that much more useful that the 4 year music business program I then went through at the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford.

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