Without a doubt, New York City is one of the best places to study music production.
It’s a city with the world’s most famous entertainment centers and recording studios.
So in today’s article, we bring you the best music production degree colleges in New York.
All of these schools provide well-designed production courses, state-of-the-art facilities, and renowned faculty.
Table of Contents
1. New York University
New York University is one of the best schools in the country that offers music production courses.
Their Institute offers both Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees, and it’s ideal for anyone who wants to improve their music production skills as well as learn how to balance creativity and entrepreneurship.
Some of the courses include Computer Music Synthesis, Analog Electronics Lab, Analog Recording Technology, and the Music Technology Internship.
Students are also encouraged to develop innovative ideas, work collaboratively, and assume leadership roles in the business of creating and selling recorded music.
Therefore, courses are designed to help students develop business, creative, and intellectual skills necessary for their success in the field.
2. The New School – Mannes College
The New School for Music is another top-rated music school you should check out.
Located in New York’s Greenwich Village, the conservatory offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in departments such as classical music performance, voice, composition, and jazz.
Their distinguished alumni include pianists Richard Goode, Murray Perahia, and Bill Evans and the 20th-century songwriting legend Burt Bacharach.
But this distinguished music school also offers courses that will prepare you for different positions in the music industry.
Their curriculum is rigorous but also interdisciplinary and imaginative, and all courses are taught by world-class artists and professors.
Students are also offered unique opportunities for collaborative work.
3. NYU Steinhardt
NYU Steinhardt is another great option for students interested in music production and technology.
In fact, NYU Steinhardt is one of the industry leaders in technology, teaching, and research, and it has a reputation for being one of the top-performing schools for music production and audio engineering in the US.
NYU Steinhardt offers:
- Bachelor of Music (B.M.)
- Master of Music (M.M.)
- Ph.D. in Music Technology
They also have a Tonmeister advanced certificate for graduate students.
Moreover, the school has state-of-the-art facilities, including the 7,500-square-foot James L. Dolan Music Recording Studio.
And since it’s located in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, its students can study right next to famous recording studios, music publishing houses, and jazz clubs.
4. CUNY LaGuardia Community College
LaGuardia Community College is a public community college located in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens.
As a part of the City University of New York, CUNY attracts many NYC-based students interested in music studies.
The college offers an innovative Music Recording Technology program, offered through the Humanities Department.
The program integrates computer, electronic, musical, and hands-on recording studio training, so it’s ideal for students who want to become audio technicians and enter the music industry.
5. SUNY at Purchase College
Another great program to look into is offered by SUNY at Purchase College.
The college is located about 30 miles north of New York City, and it combines rigorous coursework in the liberal arts and sciences with conservatory programs in the visual and performing arts.
And their Studio Production study program provides hands-on studio experience, training in all kinds of music genres (both modern and classical), small-group study with professional producers, and music theory and musicianship for producers classes.
Studio Production at Purchase also features a stellar faculty, a well-crafted curriculum, as well as superior professional career and internship opportunities in NYC.
6. SAE Institute
SAE Institute is regarded as one of the top music production schools in the US.
They have about 54 affiliated campuses in 21 countries worldwide, and in the US, they have locations in New York City, Miami, Atlanta, San Francisco, Chicago, and Nashville.
Generally, SAE Institute provides education for different study levels, including Bachelor’s, diploma, and associate degrees.
And they offer courses for students interested in starting their careers as audio engineers, sound editors, audio/visual technicians, game audio specialists, and so on.
Their programs are focused on practical, immersive training, creative collaboration, and learning in industry-relevant studio environments.
7. Columbia University in the City of New York
Columbia University in the City of New York offers undergraduate programs in music and courses focused on music production.
In fact, there’s a course focused specifically on the history and techniques of music production.
Generally, the Columbia University Department of Music offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs in academic areas such as composition, music theory, and ethnomusicology.
They also offer music performance programs.
All in all, this respected NYC school offers a wide range of music-related courses and it’s therefore ideal for students who want to gain broader knowledge.
8. University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is an excellent choice for students who want to study music production in New York.
Whether you want to pursue a degree or take courses in audio and music engineering, get a Ph.D. in electrical engineering programs, or get involved in a Music Research Lab, the University of Rochester has got you covered.
Their Audio and Music Engineering (AME) Program combines studies in engineering and applied sciences with music and audio production.
Apart from well-designed courses, Rochester AME students get an opportunity to build a project portfolio throughout their studies.
9. Ithaca College
Ithaca College provides excellent courses focused on music technology and production.
Their courses in Music Technology serve as support courses for all departments within the School of Music.
And within their Bachelor of the Music program, students are being trained in the latest recording and mixing techniques in Ithaca’s state-of-the-art facilities.
Plus, they have a chance to complement their studies with courses in Audio Production, Theatre Sound, and Physics.
And one of the program’s highlights is definitely an internship in the field during the senior year and the possibility of high-profile internship placements.
10. Juilliard School
We don’t have to make a special introduction to this school – Juilliard is by far one of the most prestigious music schools on this list.
Founded in 1905, Juilliard is known for producing many musicians who have become legendary artists, such as Miles Davis, Renée Fleming, and Yo-Yo Ma.
The school offers a Bachelor of Music, a Master’s of Music, a Doctorate of Music Arts, and various combinations of the three.
And although it’s primarily known for classical music performance and composition, students also get a chance to learn about different production fields.
Juilliard is extremely selective and demanding, but it can serve as an example of a top-rated music school that attracts the world’s top talents.
Should You Go to Music Production School?
All of these study programs are very popular among students because music production requires a unique set of skills.
It’s a multi-stage process that includes creating, recording, and fixing music before it can be distributed.
This usually involves:
- Songwriting
- Arranging
- Recording
- Mixing
- Mastering
So, music producers need to be familiar with all the equipment, digital tools, and DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) in order to produce a song.
Even though there are different types of careers available to music producers, being a music producer generally requires a lot of knowledge, patience, and an eye for detail.
Although it’s possible to learn how to produce music via short courses and online lessons, a music production study program will help you do that on a whole different level.
Music production degree programs are designed to equip students with all the necessary knowledge and skills to enter the field.
And they’re usually focused on the latest tech and tools for producing music.
That said, if you want to become a successful music producer, enrolling in a music production study program would be a great first step.
After all, these kinds of programs would also allow you to make connections, collaborate with other aspiring producers and artists, and generally help you find your own unique path.
So if you’re still wondering whether applying for music college is something you should do, you should think about your goals and dreams.
And as long as you find a music school with a learning format and curriculum that aligns with your goals and interests, we’re sure you won’t regret it in the end.
How to Choose a Music Production School?
There are many outstanding schools and universities with music production study programs in NYC.
So how are you supposed to make a choice?
Well, what program is the right choice for you depends primarily on your career goals and what you’re interested in – from music genres to types of music-producing jobs.
So one of the first things you should do is to shortlist all the schools that offer what you’re looking for.
And then you can make that list even shorter by making sure you meet all of their requirements.
When making a list of potential music production schools, consider the following factors too:
- Exact location
- Tuition fees
- Courses
- Learning Format
- Facilities
- Student experiences
Once you’ve narrowed down your list, you can start checking for application dates.
Meeting the deadline for each aspect of the application is crucial, and that’s why you need to be organized and well-informed.
Therefore, try to prepare everything you need in advance, and make sure you don’t send your application at the last minute.
Most schools require an essay, letters of recommendation, and some kind of music portfolio, and some of them require you to complete an audition too.
Applying for music college can seem daunting, but if you’re organized and you approach the whole process one step at a time, you’ll realize it’s not that difficult.
Best Music Production Degree Colleges in New York – Final Thoughts
We hope our list of the best music production degree colleges in New York helped you narrow down your list.
All of the schools we mentioned today provide excellent facilities and well-designed music production courses taught by expert teachers.
You just need to find a program that meets your needs and then check its requirements and application dates.
Enrolling in the right music production degree program will undoubtedly bring you valuable experiences and opportunities, and it will equip you with all the skills needed to become a successful music producer.
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