How to Pick the Right Music School

Picking the right music school requires a little more effort than applying to universities that have good academic reputations; you really need to invest the time and energy to look at the criteria listed below (most important to least important).

1) Voice Teacher: This is the MOST important criteria.  Your voice teacher will be the most responsible for crafting you into a legitimate professional singer.  If at all possible, you should interview and take a lesson with several professors of different schools to determine which voice teacher is best for you. 

2) Money/Financial Aid:  If a music school wants you, they will offer considerable aid.  PERIOD.  If they do not offer you any financial assistance, then they are planning to make a lot of money off your tuition, and will likely not cast you in prominent roles and help you with furthering your career.  You also need to graduate with as LITTLE DEBT as possible.  Music is not a career in which you can expect to make a lot, or even decent, income at first.  It is almost impossible to get a music career off the ground if you have substantial college loans, because you still need to spend lots of money after school for auditions, additional training, marketing etc...

3) Caliber of School Productions: You want to go to a school that offers a lot of high-level productions, as most of the music and acting crafts are learned by doing.  If possible, sit in on a rehearsal or actual show.  Meet the acting/directing professors.  Go to a school where you KNOW you will be cast.

4) Reputation of School: While not nearly as important compared to law schools, the fact is that attending a school with a sterling reputation will open some initial doors to auditions otherwise closed.  While attending Julliard will not get you hired, it will probably allow you to score a few auditions other young professionals cannot get due to their lack of experience.

5) City the School is Based in: While you will do most of your work with the school, it helps to have a very active theater community surrounding the school.  That's why schools on the East Coast are so popular; you can start building professional contacts before you even leave school.

DWS