4 answers
Asked
598 views
what should I expect when majoring in the entertainment business
I am a junior and im interested in the music industry as a recording artists #singing #music-performance #singer #musician #music so what colleges should i be looking out for
Login to comment
4 answers
Updated
Thomas’s Answer
Hi Felicia. You identified you wanted to be a recording artist (singing), so I'm going to offer some advice in that area.
Some people do solo work, some do backup vocals, some do choral singing, and some make a living doing all three. (And there are certainly other opportunities!) Genres play a big role in what opportunities are available, who you collaborate with, and the skills needed to be successful (e.g. to be an artist that gets recording opportunities). It's difficult to speak to specific options not knowing what genre(s) you are interested in working, so maybe start by exploring this question. What do you want to sing in a studio? Google search is an invaluable resource in this respect; you can ask how specific artists got into their field. That tells you a lot.
I second Jaryn's suggestion above for looking into contemporary commercial music programs . The acronym CCM might be help to search. If you want to go down the classical route you may find more success in other departments/colleges/universities. I live in the "classical" world, so for me, recording sessions often look different from solo R&B artists, for instance, and requires different techniques and music performance standards to operate successfully in those spaces. I would not function well in a jazz setting, but I'd excel in a solo+orchestral environment. So, knowing what you want to sing will help inform what skills you need to develop, and that will lead you to certain training programs as opposed to others. Best of luck!!! Music is a wonderful field to get into. :)
Some people do solo work, some do backup vocals, some do choral singing, and some make a living doing all three. (And there are certainly other opportunities!) Genres play a big role in what opportunities are available, who you collaborate with, and the skills needed to be successful (e.g. to be an artist that gets recording opportunities). It's difficult to speak to specific options not knowing what genre(s) you are interested in working, so maybe start by exploring this question. What do you want to sing in a studio? Google search is an invaluable resource in this respect; you can ask how specific artists got into their field. That tells you a lot.
I second Jaryn's suggestion above for looking into contemporary commercial music programs . The acronym CCM might be help to search. If you want to go down the classical route you may find more success in other departments/colleges/universities. I live in the "classical" world, so for me, recording sessions often look different from solo R&B artists, for instance, and requires different techniques and music performance standards to operate successfully in those spaces. I would not function well in a jazz setting, but I'd excel in a solo+orchestral environment. So, knowing what you want to sing will help inform what skills you need to develop, and that will lead you to certain training programs as opposed to others. Best of luck!!! Music is a wonderful field to get into. :)
Updated
Linda’s Answer
Hello Felicia,
The Namm Foundations: (https://www.nammfoundation.org) offer a wealth of information regarding the 10 Types of Music Majors, including Recording Artist. This is a good place to attain information and resources, which can offer guidance to your travels in the music industry...Linda
The Namm Foundations: (https://www.nammfoundation.org) offer a wealth of information regarding the 10 Types of Music Majors, including Recording Artist. This is a good place to attain information and resources, which can offer guidance to your travels in the music industry...Linda
Thank you so much for your guide
felicia
Updated
Jaryn’s Answer
Hi Felicia! If you want to pursue a career in the music industry as a recording artist, I recommend going to a college that has a Popular Music Program or Music Industry program. These programs will give you the knowledge specific to the current music industry and will allow you to meet people within the industry that could help you get internships or jumpstart your career. A few schools to start your search are: University of Southern California, Syracuse University, and Berklee School of Music. I hope this helps and good luck!
Thank you so much for the insight i appreciate it
felicia
Updated
Nir’s Answer
Much more important than which school you attend is what internships you land. So whatever school you go to I suggest you chose a city with a lot of opportunities. L.A., N.Y. and Nashville are all prime candidates. Most record companies do not care at all about your resume aside from that you have a degree and instead count on connections. Job postings on a website like a traditional job are very rare and are usually symbolic to fill a legal requirement of advertising, but in reality it's almost always given to the person with the connection. Getting your foot through the door as an unpaid intern is your best chance at working in any major music label.