Music School

Some people just seem to be born with musical talent. Others learn to compose and perform music through rigorous training. Either way, if you are seriously interested in music as a profession—as a composer, a singer, a musical theorist, or performer—you’ll need an education to sharpen your talents and raise your skills to the level required to succeed in the professional music world. You’ll need to go to a music school. But, which music school should you choose? Here are some suggestions:

Cost: Can you afford the tuition at the music school? Before you decide that it’s impossible, bear in mind that there are a number of ways in which you can fund your education. Many organizations, particularly the United States government, make grants, scholarships, and loans available to prospective students who can show financial need or who show particular promise or talent. Go to the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) Web site and fill out the FAFSA form. That’s the tool you need to apply simultaneously for a large number of funding options. Student loans do need to be paid back after graduation (though the interest is usually low); however, grants and scholarships are essentially free, so you aim for them first.

Location: Where would you like to study music? Perhaps you have a job that you can’t leave or you need to take care of family members. In that case, you’ll need to find a music school within easy commuting distance—less than an hour’s drive each way, if you can. (Remember that you don’t want to use up all of your practice and studying time driving to and from classes.) If you can move away from home, decide if the school is in a place where you’d like to live. You may even like it so much that you’ll decide to stay there to begin your life’s work.

Prestige: Is the music school well regarded by professionals? Will having its name on your résumé give you the break you need? The more prestigious a school is, the more it will cost. But, the prestige of the school will also help you earn the money that will pay off the extra expense. And, it may speed up the transition to your musical career if the school is well known.

Staff: Are the teachers at the music school well regarded? After all, these are the people who will help you develop your talents and maybe find your first job.