Finding the best college for singing is like finding the Lochness monster. Its existence is mythical. Sometimes, just sometimes we have to ask ourselves other questions to get to an answer.
The best college for a singer is the one that will help you get your goals when you’re finished with it, if it doesn’t then it doesn’t exist. Being married to the idea that an art or music school gives you some edge by attending it, is highly false.
But it has its benefits. To find them is going to be upon you to discover. No one else. But let’s first address some things.
Disclaimer
I have very strong opinions about whether or not young adults and especially teens should attend music colleges or not. The answer most of the time is no. But, I never really discourage anyone to attend college. The reason is that everyone comes from a different background and everyone comes from a different financial situation.
So, who am I to stop you from going to college if you’re going to come out of it with no financial drawbacks?
This is definitely not the most pleasing article I’ve written and as a result, it’s not going to be a pleasing article to read. Read it through and take it with a grain of salt. Think and think and think about what might be the best choice for you might be in your life.
It Starts With You
I know, I know, you’ve heard it a million times. You get to decide what you want and everything, that’s NOT what I’m getting at.
I’m trying to make you understand that it starts with what you want. If college is a way to get it, then attend it. Makes sense?
The reason is, that you want the smoothest, shortest, and most efficient way to get where you want. This is the biggest decision. Like starting with the broadest question possible. If you wanted to travel the world would you attend a physical college? No. Would you attend an online university? Probably.
See? That’s the kind of reasoning I am getting at. It’s not always easy but it’s ten times easier to take some time off and think rather than make a decision in haste and have to waste your time and money and have regret for the rest of your life.
Can You Pay for It?
It would be morally wrong if I were to NOT tell you this.
You know colleges are becoming expensive and the competition is still high. Art and music colleges are cutthroat too. Over the burden of performance that you will have, you must also try to find a way to pay your tuition. Your rent. Your utilities. Your food.
I think this just needs to be said here so that it’s at least in your consideration. Because it wasn’t on mine and I got a near-miss with something that I would be paying for all my life. Quite literally. You need to figure out your finances.
I’ll get a job!
Then who’ll perform? (not the live performance, though it could mean that too)
Music colleges are so dynamic that you’d be missing half the shows and events just because you have a job to show up to. Which is not going to be beyond the minimum wage.
So you’ll work a job to not attend the shows to be able to live in an apartment to go to college? The maths doesn’t add up.
I’ll get a loan!
Please don’t. Save yourself the hassle at all costs. Between having a degree that will make you take debt and be broke. Be uneducated, without debt, and broke.
Because it will ruin you.
Get financially educated. Read books. Talk to richer people than you and try to find ways to make money. It doesn’t have to be a straight path to a career in music. I didn’t and neither should you.
There are horror stories out there of people who have debts racking up to above $150,000 and they have to pay for it all their adult life. That’s not a very sound financial decision to make because your life will revolve around the fact that you have to pay that debt off rather than the degree allowing you to do what you want. Ironic isn’t it?
Do This Instead
Apply to every college. Every. Then apply for scholarships. As many as you can find and then when you think you’ve done your part then apply for some more scholarships.
If you can somehow make it bend to your will then you will be able to attend college. Maybe in that scenario, it would work really well. It can, some of the students who were on 100% scholarship were amazing musicians but I don’t think they were struggling with their classes either though.
It’ll force you to keep up your grades in order to maintain it.
But, I have something I would like to share with you.
My Scholarship Experience
I was granted a partial scholarship and I was very proud of it. I really was. I didn’t know at that time that scholarship students need to perform in other classes because they were scholarship students.
I was so disappointed. It wasn’t the cultural shock that got to me but the many things I had to do. I had never shown interest in academics before this. Not to this degree. I just felt like if someone would’ve said something I would’ve made better choices. Nobody did.
So, that’s my take. Maybe you’ll be able to make better decisions than what I did in my early 20s. I am fine now and I am very happy with my struggles.
Learn to Sing Better
There is nothing that is going to determine your success more than your ability to sing. With or without a college. It’s as simple as that. Master your singing and you can start figuring out the rest of the stuff.
I recommend everyone has at least one singing course in their library to rely on for daily practice. I have written about it here. And how much should singers practice? Here.
I personally own ‘The Four Pillars of Singing’ course myself way before I started writing for this website. You can buy it here. It will include the book as well, which I don’t have.
Here is a page that I’ve written about all the courses that you could buy. I personally recommend buying according to your need.
All the best and I hope you end up making the right decision whatever you end up deciding, I know you’ll be successful.