Quick answer: The South pairs powerhouse music-industry cities with deep university programs. Belmont University in Nashville is a leader in contemporary, commercial, songwriting, and music business; the University of Miami’s Frost School is a jazz powerhouse with a standout modern-industry program; Vanderbilt’s Blair School offers selective, conservatory-caliber training in Nashville; and Florida State runs one of the largest comprehensive programs in the country. Add UNCSA and the region fits classical, jazz, commercial, and industry-bound musicians alike. As always, the best school is the one that matches your genre, goals, and audition — here’s the map.
The top programs, and who each fits
Belmont University — Nashville
A leader in contemporary and commercial music, songwriting, and music business, in the heart of Music City, plus a highly selective musical-theatre BFA.
Best fit for: songwriters, commercial/contemporary musicians, and future music-industry professionals who want to be inside Nashville’s industry.
University of Miami — Frost School of Music
A jazz powerhouse with world-class faculty, plus the industry-focused Modern Artist Development and Entrepreneurship (MADE) program for musicians building a career today.
Best fit for: jazz musicians and career-minded contemporary artists. (See our Frost acceptance guide.)
Vanderbilt University — Blair School of Music (Nashville)
A small, selective conservatory-style school inside an elite university — strong classical training with Vanderbilt’s academics behind it.
Best fit for: high-level classical musicians who also want a top academic university (and Nashville).
Florida State University — College of Music (Tallahassee)
One of the largest and most comprehensive music programs in the country, from bachelor’s through doctorate, spanning traditional, commercial, and world music.
Best fit for: students who want vast program breadth, ensembles, and resources at a major university.
Also worth a serious look
- University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA): a true conservatory for classical performance.
- University of Georgia (Hodgson School) and Loyola University New Orleans: strong programs with jazz/industry strengths and merit-scholarship potential.
How to choose among them
- Industry/contemporary or classical? Contemporary/commercial/songwriting → Belmont; jazz/industry → Frost; classical → Vanderbilt Blair or UNCSA.
- Big program or intimate conservatory? FSU is large and comprehensive; Blair and UNCSA are smaller and selective.
- Do you want to be in a music city? Nashville (Belmont, Vanderbilt) and Miami (Frost) put you inside working music scenes.
A ranking can’t tell you where you’ll thrive or get in. A best-fit list balances reach, target, and likely programs against your actual playing.
Want an expert’s read on your Southern list?
Dr. Fish can evaluate how your audition matches these programs and build a balanced, best-fit list. Book a free intro chat.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best music school in the South?
It depends on your goals. Belmont leads for contemporary, commercial, and songwriting in Nashville, the University of Miami’s Frost School is a jazz and industry powerhouse, Vanderbilt’s Blair School is a selective classical conservatory, and Florida State is one of the largest comprehensive programs.
Which Southern school is best for the music industry or songwriting?
Belmont University in Nashville is a leader in music business, songwriting, and contemporary music, and the University of Miami’s Frost School has a strong modern-industry program.
Which Southern school is best for jazz?
The University of Miami’s Frost School has one of the country’s strongest jazz programs; Florida State and the University of North Texas (in Texas) are also standouts.
What’s the best music school in Nashville?
Nashville is home to both Belmont University (contemporary and commercial) and Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music (selective classical), serving very different musicians.
Written by Dr. David Lee Fish, Ph.D. — professional musician, former music department chair, and the recurring cover-story author on the best music schools for In Tune Monthly. Book a free intro chat.