With its beautiful beaches and legendary theme parks, the state of Florida seems like a place where music is always in the air.
However, wonderful music doesn’t just happen. Fortunately, the Sunshine State has some of the world’s best music schools, ready to prepare the next generation of performers and teachers.
Florida features a surprising range of offerings for aspiring musicians. Some of the schools on this list are grounded in tradition, drawing from well-established forms and methods for those who want to study classical music.
Others are thoroughly modern, giving students access to cutting-edge technology and training for the current pop music landscape. Each of them possesses fully-appointed facilities and impressive faculties, everything a young learner could want.
Whichever type of music you’re looking for, whatever your goals as a musician, you’ll find what you need at these outstanding Florida schools. The beautiful weather and cultural diversity of the Sunshine State makes Florida the perfect place for the musicians of tomorrow to find their voice.
University of Miami Frost School of Music
The Frost School of Music at the University of Miami stands out on this list thanks to its Modern Artist Development and Entrepreneurship (MADE) program, specifically designed for those who want to work in today’s music industry as performers.
Those interested in songwriting can pursue a MADE degree with the Bruce Hornsby Creative American Music (CAM) minor, named after the legendary singer-songwriter.
Frost also hosts one of the country’s strongest jazz programs. Faculty members include the two-time Grammy award winner Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Guggenheim Fellow Etienne Charles.
No matter which track they choose, all students in the University of Miami’s music program benefit from the Frost Method.
The Frost Method prepares students for the practical realities of making a living as a working musician. It teaches students audience engagement, marketing, negotiating contracts, and other essential skills for a musician in the 21st century.
Lynn University Conservatory of Music
The Lynn University Conservatory of Music is the ideal choice for musicians on a budget, as they are one of the few institutions in the country that do not charge tuition.
But for this very reason, the Lynn Conservatory is extremely selective. While Lynn University overall offers an acceptance rate of 50%, the music school is far more selective than the general university.
Intimidating as that fact may be, the selectiveness reflects the Conservatory’s commitment to excellence. Lynn is the most specialized school on this list, focusing entirely on classic performance. No one comes here to study jazz or contemporary styles.
Furthermore, Lynn emphasizes close collaboration with some of the best instructors in the country, many who teach at other respected institutions. Standouts include flutist Jeffrey Khaner, who also serves at the Curtis Institute of Music and at the Juilliard School.
Florida State University College of Music
As with Lynn University, students can get a first-rate education at a low cost from the Florida State University College of Music. FSU charges just $6,517 for in-state students, almost 50% less than the average cost of tuition nationwide.
Teachers at FSU Music include bassoonist Jeffrey Keesecker, a venerable and accomplished teacher as well as principal of the Tallahassee Symphony. Composition students can study under Pulitzer Prize winner Ellen Zwilich.
Florida State’s incredible jazz program counts among its faculty Grammy-nominated bassist Rodney Jordan and pianist Marcus Roberts, who has played alongside Wynton Marsalis, Béla Fleck, and other greats.
Outside of the classroom, students can take advantage of the offerings at the Warren D. Allen Music Library. One of the largest music libraries in the South, Allen contains over 150,000 scores and recordings.
Also notable, the Florida State University School of Music has a high job placement rate, including 100% placement for graduates of its music therapy program.
University of South Florida School of Music
As a tier-one research institution, the University of South Florida does everything at the highest level of excellence. That standard extends to USF’s School of Music, making it one of the state’s finest programs for music.
Perhaps the jewel of USF Music’s crown is its SYCOM studio, one of the nation’s most well-appointed electronic music recording spaces. The center of the school’s Composition and Electronic Music Department, SYCOM has everything budding musicians need to push the medium forward, giving them first-hand experience working with tools that create the sounds of tomorrow.
Impressive as SYCOM is, USF Music isn’t all flashy new technology.
They also excels on traditional metrics, such as its faculty members. Students can study under masters such as composer and electronic music pioneer Paul Reller or vocalist Kyoung Cho, who has performed with Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus & Orchestra and at the Israel International Vocal Institute.
Stetson University School of Music
All of the institutions on this list have their impressive attributes, but the Stetson University School of Music has one thing over all of the others. Stetson has the oldest collegiate school of music in Florida, having opened its doors in 1936.
Unsurprisingly, that history fills Stetson Music with pride, as demonstrated by its current reconstruction project. The school is working to rebuild Hulley Tower, a 52-bell Carillon tower that was damaged during the 2004 hurricanes.
That said, Stetson isn’t content to rest on its laurels and continues pressing forward. It looks ahead with its unique undergraduate-only program, which gives all of its opportunities to its youngest musicians. That means students at Stetson Music get the best access to faculty members and the first chance to be placed into ensembles, without having to compete with graduate students.
University of Florida School of Music
U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Florida number 30 in the nation, so it follows that the institution would have one of the best music schools in the state.
In fact, Florida’s impressive academic record is one of the most appealing aspects of its School of Music, which features a unique combination program. For those who want to pair their musical studies with more traditional intellectual pursuits, USF is one of the best options in Florida to do so.
Even better, USF offers very affordable tuition for Florida residents, making a music degree much more attainable than at other schools.
The unique qualities of USF don’t stop with its structure. The school also offers degrees rarely found elsewhere, such as its Sacred Music program. Students can prepare for a career in church music leadership, gaining the necessary skills to conduct services and guide others in their devotional lives.
If that’s not enough, the University of Florida recently allocated $20 million to expand its music buildings, ensuring a bright future for its music students.
University of Central Florida School of Performing Arts
Founded in 1963, the University of Central Florida is one of the younger institutions in the state. That means the music program at UCF’s School of Performing Arts doesn’t have quite the same storied history as others on that list.
But with that youth comes an energy and enthusiasm that other institutions can’t match.
The UCF School of Music is breaking the “ivory tower” higher education stereotype by intentionally engaging the community of Orange County. UCF participates in the charity program A Gift For Music, which operates after-school programs and orchestra trips for local underprivileged kids.
That said, UCF Music also offers everything one would expect from a traditionally great school. They have a first-class jazz program, with an incredible faculty. Teachers include pianist Per Danielsson, a Yamaha Artist who has performed with greats such as Rosemary Clooney, Don Braden, and Ingrid Jensen.
University of North Florida School of Music
As with the University of Central Florida, the University of North Florida School of Music is a relatively young program, having started in 1987.
However, the school got off to a fantastic start, as it was founded by noted educator & jazz euphonium player Rich Matteson.
UNF supports the music program with an incredible $22 million facility constructed in 2001. In addition to its 44 practice rooms and 200-seat recital hall, the crown of the building is the Lazzara Performance Hall.
A 1,400 seat theater, Lazzara Performance Hall regularly hosts not just work from students, but also acts from around the world, giving scholars first-hand experience with guest artists.
UNF Music’s Great American Jazz series makes use of Lazzara, having brought performers such as Wynton Marsalis, Jimmy Cobb, and Dave Brubeck to the college.
Florida Gulf Coast University Bower School of Music
At Florida Gulf Coast University, music studies aren’t shunted off into their own corner.
Rather, FGCU’s Bower School of Music & the Arts connects music education to theatrical performance and fine arts studies. As a result, Bower gives its students a more interdisciplinary education.
Thanks to this approach, Bower can offer unique degrees, such as its Music Therapy program. Students have the choice of pursuing a Bachelor of Music Therapy degree and the Music Therapy Equivalency Certificate, learning how to use music to promote mental health and wellbeing.
Those interested in more traditional courses of study won’t be disappointed at Bower.
The Music Performance track gives them the opportunity to learn from masters such as internationally-recognized recitalist and stage director Krzysztof Biernacki and concert pianist Michael Baron, who was recently inducted into the Steinway & Sons Teacher Hall of Fame.
Florida International University School of Music
As part of Florida International University, the Wertheim School of Music & Performing Arts takes a global approach to music. Wertheim understands that music is a global language, and therefore takes its students on tours across the world.
Recent classes have performed in Costa Rica, Spain, and Cuba, giving young musicians first-hand experience in connecting across cultures.
Those who stay at home will find lots to love at FIU, thanks to the Wertheim Recording Studio. The studio features the best technology available, including a control room equipped with Dolby Atmos 3D audio and a fully-appointed mixing console. The studio gives students the opportunity to record their work in a professional setting and allows them to work alongside professional musicians who come to Wertheim to produce their own work.
Finally, there are the events hosted by Wertheim, such as the Miami International GuitART Festival. Not only does the festival bring in respected performers from around the world, but it also hosts symposiums, giving students the chance to both learn from legends and teach the next generation of musicians.
