A career in music production is not only one of the most exciting pathways in the music industry – it has become much more accessible with recent innovations in music technology.
Music production schools specialize in a broad range of talents, from editing and mixing music to engineering studios, concerts, and more.
Students enrolled in prestigious music production programs will learn from the very best in the industry.
In an intimate student-to-teacher environment, undergraduates can receive guidance from producers who have collaborated with some of the world’s most prominent artists.
Four-year programs at some of the best music production schools in the U.S. place budding producers and engineers in state-of-the-art facilities and performance venues to get a taste of what it is like to work in the “big league.”
Here are our picks for 10 of the best music production schools in the US. Remember that these ten schools are a starting point, and the most important thing is to find the “right fit” music production college for you.
Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
Students attending the Peabody Institute can obtain a B.M. in Recording Arts and Sciences or pursue a five-year dual-degree B.M./M.A.
The curriculum follows the “Tonmeister” model, which emphasizes theoretical and practical knowledge and experience. Undergraduates work in various studios and complete a senior internship in their preferred niche within the music industry.
The internal work-study program is a vital component of the B.M. degree – students receive compensation for engineering an abundance of live recordings and studio sessions at video game production companies, radio stations, consulting firms, and popular music festivals.
The faculty brings significant experience to the program; for example, Scott Metcalfe is the Associate Director of The Sound Sleep Studio, a research entity of The Sleeping Brain Lab at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Recent Peabody alumni have collaborated with world-renowned artists like Joss Stone, Bon Jovi, and Paul Simon. They also hold broadcasting and recording technician positions at places like NPR.
University of Southern California Thornton School of Music (Los Angeles, CA)
USC offers a variety of programs for students interested in music production.
The school’s interdisciplinary approach ensures that undergraduates will work alongside bands, solo artists, songwriters, video game designers, and other engineers within the USC community.
The Music Production Department’s faculty is arguably its greatest asset. Recently appointed professor Christian Amonson signed his first recording contract at age 20.
Sean Holt has collaborated with some of the best artists in the industry, like Carlos Santana, Mary J. Blige, and John Legend.
Professor Jae Deal served as the orchestrator on Janet Jackson’s global tour and has assisted Elton John on several projects.
To gain admission to the B.M. in Music Production, applicants are screened by faculty selection committees. Those admitted will complete a capstone project by the time they graduate. There is also a strong emphasis on a liberal arts education and writing skills.
Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA)
We could write an entire article focusing on Berklee’s accomplished alums, visiting artists, faculty members, and special programs.
Alumni like Matt Schaeffer, Charlie Puth, and Suzy Shinn have been nominated for multiple Grammy Awards and collaborated with chart-topping artists Kendrick Lamar, Meghan Trainor, and Dua Lipa.
Berklee’s B.M. in Music Production and Engineering prepares students to excel in professional roles within the recording industry.
By the end of their program, graduates will have developed a business plan, led creative projects from start to finish, and produced multitrack records using analog and digital audio systems.
Admission is competitive – the selection committee generally accepts around 30% of applicants yearly.
Besides MP&E, there is also the more recent B.M. in Independent Recording and Production.
Taking a more cross-disciplinary approach, undergraduates will use a music production “toolkit” to produce “commercially competitive master recordings.”
Students will emerge from the program with the confidence to infuse their skills within a professional community, manage independent record-producing careers, and identify evidence-based practices for editing, mixing, and mastering music files.
New York University (New York, NY)
NYU boasts not one but two exceptional departments for students passionate about pursuing a career in the music production realm.
NYU Steinhardt undergraduates may seek a B.M. or dual degree (B.M./M.M.) in Music Technology.
In the former option, they will take classes in sound engineering, electronic music, game audio, keyboard harmony, and various liberal arts classes.
One of the most exciting parts of the program is the semester abroad in Prague or Paris.
By graduation, students will have completed an internship at a major recording studio or concert venue like Radio City Music Hall or Sony.
The Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU Tisch is the first program to offer training toward a B.F.A. in Recorded Music.
Multiple Grammy Award-winning producer Clive Davis is a paragon in the music production field and the only non-performer to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Clive Davis Institute prioritizes experiential education – all Recorded Music majors must earn two credits of work experience in an industry and community service-based setting.
University of Miami Frost School of Music (Coral Gables, FL)
Students attending the Frost School of Music will enjoy the recently renovated Weeks Recording Studio, the first studio in the world to include three full-size consoles in the central control room. The Music Engineering Technology Department comprises skilled faculty members like Dana Salminen, who has worked with musicians like Sting, Pitbull, and Flo Rida.
The University of Miami was the first university in America to offer a four-year undergraduate degree in Music Engineering.
Students hone their skills in acoustics, studio design, and post-production; additionally, they may choose to minor in electrical engineering or computer engineering.
Those applying to the Music Engineering program need to know how to read music and perform at least one instrument at an expert level.
The Frost School utilizes its own Frost Method, where professors work with small groups to provide more individualized attention.
University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance (Ann Arbor, MI)
The Department of Performing Arts Technology enrolls 20 or fewer new students each year.
These undergraduates can expect a high level of support and guidance from professors and colleagues.
Students can access well-equipped studios like the Bill Brehm Technology Innovation Suite, which houses editing labs, an electronics prototyping workshop, a surround-sound control room, and other top-notch tools.
The University of Michigan places heavy emphasis on career planning. Its EXCEL Department (Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Career Empowerment, & Leadership) is a national forerunner in funding student-led business ventures in the performing arts realm.
Have an innovative idea to flesh out? The School of Music, Theatre, and Dance is an excellent place to take a healthy risk!
John Granzow is one of the many esteemed members of the University of Michigan Performing Arts Technology department.
A Stanford Ph.D. graduate, he initiated the 3D Printing for Acoustics workshop at its Centre for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics.
His unique instruments include sonified easels in Lyon, France, and a hybrid gramophone in San Francisco, California.
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (Bloomington, IN)
The Jacobs School of Music offers dynamic audio engineering programs for students at varying levels of experience and desired commitment: a B.S. in Audio Engineering, and a brand-new concentration in “Creation and Production”.
A low teacher-to-student ratio, resulting from a cap of 20 incoming students per year, allows for close mentorships and increased opportunities.
Students within the B.S. track will complete hundreds of hours of experience serving as assistant and lead engineers, mixers, and runners for various on-campus productions.
A final internship awaits in the fourth year, and students can arrange placement anywhere in the United States.
The talented faculty group includes audio engineers like Michael Stucker and Konrad Strauss.
Stucker acted as the technical engineer for John Mellencamp’s recording studio, and Strauss has produced television advertisements for major corporations like United Airlines, Allstate, and McDonald’s.
Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA)
Drexel’s Music Industry B.S. prepares students for exciting careers as booking agents, label owners, producers, and record executives, to name a few options.
Regularly heralded as one of the nation’s best music business schools, Drexel employs experienced faculty members like Program Director Jeff Apruzzese, the former bassist for Passion Pit who has collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, and other musical icons.
Students may also take advantage of the accelerated B.S./M.B.A. degree offered through the LeBow College of Business.
Regardless of their path, undergraduates will spend at least two summer “co-op” sessions interning for performance venues, radio stations, recording studios, or record labels.
We’re talking MAJOR organizations here! Think Atlantic Records, RCA Records, MTV, and Live Nation.
Drexel utilizes its MAD Dragon Music Group, which houses a student-led record label, publishing company, artist management cohort, booking agency, concert promoting business, and media organization.
MAD Dragon Records has won two Independent Music Awards for Best College Record Label.
Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA)
The Music and Technology program at Carnegie Mellon is one of the newest programs on this list.
Founded in 2009, the B.S. takes an interdisciplinary approach to training undergraduates in one of six potential concentrations (like Recording Technology, Audio Engineering, or Computer Music).
Carnegie Mellon’s B.S. is also one of the most customizable degrees on the list.
Students can focus on areas like music information retrieval, sound synthesis, and musical robotics. The curriculum is divided into three tracks: Music, Composition, and Technical.
Candidates must choose their desired track when applying, and those pursuing the Music or Composition concentrations should have a high level of training in voice or their instrument.
All applicants will submit a portfolio including personally engineered audio recordings, video recordings, software/web page creations, etc.
Northeastern University (Boston, MA)
Northeastern offers three degrees concentrating on music technology: a B.S. in Music, a B.S. in Computer Science and Music, and a B.S.E.E. in Electrical Engineering and Music.
The first program applies digital and audio analog techniques to various purposes and genres.
The B.S.E.E., on the other end of the spectrum, emphasizes the study of electronic technology in music production, performance, and distribution.
The co-op is at the center of a Northeastern student’s educational journey.
Beginning in their first or second year of study, students receive assignments with music industry organizations at home or abroad. Even better, students receive compensation for their work and do not pay tuition during their co-op time.
Generally, co-op experiences last six months.
Students will receive guidance in finding the opportunity that best suits their career goals and location preferences.
The benefits of co-ops are clear: many graduates gain full-time employment at the businesses where they complete their internships. Some big-name employers students have taken internships with include the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Rolling Stone, and Walt Disney World.
