The school itself is moderately selective. Popular degrees offered include Doctorate of Music Arts and Master of Music in Classical Studies, Jazz Arts, and Orchestra Performance, among others. In fact, the Manhattan School of Music boasts strong programs all around, all of which are headed by a first-class faculty that includes members of the New York City Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.Īll students take classes in Music Theory, Music History, and a variety of performance arts. Located on Manhattan's Upper West Side, the Manhattan School of Music is a competitive environment that offers its students a number of valuable opportunities.įounded in 1917, the conservatory is especially respected for its jazz department, which has produced a long roster of notable alumni, including Harry Connick, Jr., Herbie Hancock, Hugh Masakela, and Herbie Mann.īut the conservatory isn't just about jazz. Vocal graduates have gone on to sing with the Met, La Scala, and other internationally famous opera companies, while Curtis musicians currently occupy principal chairs in every major American symphony.įeatured Online Bachelor's in Music 3. Students can participate in any of the four campus ensembles, all of which are led by an elite faculty. The rigorous music education students receive at Curtis is seemingly successful at propelling students into musical careers. The entire undergraduate student body consistently hovers around 150 students, 100 percent of whom receive a full-tuition scholarship (though housing costs are not included). Live auditions are required, and only four to 11 percent of applicants are accepted each year. Other famous alumni include conductors Jaime Laredo and Alan Gilbert, violinist Jascha Brodsky, organist Alan Morrison, and pianist Lang Lang.Ĭurtis is likely the most selective conservatory in the country. Curtis Institute of Musicįounded in 1924, the Philadelphia-based Curtis Institute of Music has produced many notable alumni-especially composers, including Leonard Bernstein, Gian Carlo Menotti, Ned Rorem, and Nino Rota. Although Juilliard has received some criticism for its limited availability of practice space, the school is currently in the process of adding additional practice rooms on campus and in residence halls. Juilliard musicians tend to be competitive students who are happiest as soloists or as members of top-ranked music groups.įirst-year students are required to live in student housing, almost all of which is ideally located around the Lincoln Center area. Because the school is so small, it has no problem attracting top talent. About 600 of Juilliard's 650 students are music students (there is also a dramatic arts program). Each year, only about five percent of vocalists and 16 percent of instrumental musicians are accepted. The school offers a Bachelor of Music, a Master's of Music, and a Doctorate of Music Arts, as well as various combinations of the three.Īdmission is highly competitive and requires a live audition.

Located in New York City's Lincoln Center and known for its high-expectations, Juilliard has produced many musicians who have become household names: from Miles Davis to Yo Yo Ma to Renée Fleming. Juilliard Schoolįounded in 1905, the Juilliard School can easily be considered the most prestigious music conservatory in the country-and for good reason. The schools in this ranking were selected on the basis of educational excellence, strength of faculty, reputation, and record of accomplishment by alumni/ae.įeatured Online Bachelor Programs The 20 Best Music Conservatories in the U.S. Others, like the Colburn School or Musicians Institute, prepare students for careers in the contemporary music industry. Some, like Juilliard and Curtis, are well-known training grounds for students of classical music. They are located across the United States. The 20 conservatories on this list offer some of the best music programs in the nation. At the same time, they want a program that prepares them in a practical way for a career in the music world. In choosing a conservatory, music students seek a program that will provide them with the skills and opportunities needed for them to grow and flourish as artists.

Students with a passion for music must decide whether they want to devote their lives to music and thus attend a college dedicated to training musicians, namely, a conservatory. Ranking the Best Music Schools for Musicians

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