University of Southern California (USC)

In Brief

Known for its comprehensive music programs and industry connections, especially in film scoring, popular music, and music production, USC stands tall as a premier music school in California. 

Primary Areas of Study

• Choral & Sacred Music
• Composition
• Jazz Studies
• Music Industry
• Music Technology
• Popular Music
• Music Performance (various emphases)

Details

The University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music is widely considered one of the top music schools in the United States. Located in vibrant Los Angeles, Thornton attracts talented young musicians from across the country and around the world. As part of a major private research university, Thornton students benefit from USC’s extensive resources while enjoying the close-knit community of a highly selective conservatory.

Thornton offers rigorous training in classical, contemporary, global, and popular music. Undergraduate majors include Performance, Composition, Jazz Studies, Music Education, and more. The school also provides Master’s and PhD programs in areas such as Composition, Conducting, Music Education, Music Industry, and Musicology. Students have access to state-of-the-art facilities including concert halls, practice rooms, and studios featuring the latest music technology.

A standout feature of Thornton is its highly distinguished faculty of active composers, scholars, ensemble directors, and performers. Students learn from and collaborate with leading musicians such as multiple Grammy-winning choral conductor Dr. Jo-Michael Scheibe and acclaimed cellist Dr. Ralph Kirshbaum. Graduates go on to careers at major symphonies, opera companies, universities, and within the music industry.

Fit

Ideal for students seeking a comprehensive music education with strong industry connections, particularly in fields like film scoring, music production, and contemporary music. It’s also a great fit for students aiming for careers in the music industry, film, and television, as well as those interested in classical performance and composition.

Music Schools in Northern California

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

In Brief

Offers a focused conservatory environment, with strengths in performance and composition, and a high level of individual attention.

Primary Areas of Study

• Composition
• Conducting
• Historical Performance
• Music Performance (various emphases)
• Roots, Jazz, and American Music
• String and Piano Chamber Music
• Technology and Applied Composition

Details

Situated in the heart of San Francisco, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) upholds a rich legacy as the West Coast’s premier institution for classical music education and training. Established in 1917, SFCM enrolls approximately 400 students across its collegiate and pre-college divisions. Highly selective admissions and renowned faculty cement the school’s reputation as one of the top conservatories in the United States.

SFCM offers Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees with specializations in Composition, Chamber Music, Orchestral Instruments, Piano, Voice, and Winds & Brass. The Conducting and Ensembles department enables conductors to hone their craft guiding SFCM’s symphony orchestra, chamber music groups, opera, and choral ensembles. Students also benefit from SFCM’s partnership with the San Francisco Symphony, which provides training opportunities alongside one of America’s greatest orchestras. 

While steeped in tradition, SFCM champions experimentation by integrating contemporary genres into classical training. SFCM Pre-College students, over 500 strong, receive elite musical instruction tailored to their age group and talents. The Roots, Jazz and American Music program, the first at an American conservatory, underscores SFCM’s commitment to diverse, creative musical fluency.

With San Francisco’s vibrant urban culture serving as its muse, SFCM produces visionary classical musicians equipped not only to uphold cherished musical traditions, but push the art form into new terrain. Its graduates secure positions at major operas, symphonies and music schools worldwide.

Fit

Ideal for students seeking a focused, performance-based education in music. It’s well-suited for students dedicated to classical music, whether as performers, composers, or educators. The conservatory environment offers rigorous training and high levels of individual attention, making it a great fit for students aiming for a career as professional musicians.

University of the Pacific

In Brief

The UOP Conservatory of Music offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in music performance, composition, and music education. The school is known for its strong emphasis on classical music and opera.

Primary Areas of Study

• Jazz
• Composition
• Music Education
• Music History
• Music Performance (various emphases)
• Music Therapy
• Music Management
• Music Industry

Details

The Conservatory of Music upholds the legacy of being the first university college exclusively dedicated to music in the United States. As the crown jewel of Pacific’s Stockton, California campus, the Conservatory offers intensive training focused on virtuosic classical performance and opera production.

Undergraduate students pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree specialize in instrumental or keyboard Performance, Composition, Music Education, Music Therapy or Music Management. High-caliber vocalists can join elite choral ensembles while opera standouts refine roles for full-scale productions in the stunning Faye Spanos Concert Hall.  

With guidance from world-class faculty and staff, Conservatory of Music graduates unlock abundant careers at eminent symphonies, opera companies, music schools and organizations worldwide. Pacific alumni compose, conduct and perform the cherished classical works that continually redefine our cultural landscape.

Fit

Ideal for students seeking performance-based education with strong community engagement. The UOP Conservatory of Music supports music students seeking to design their own unique, boundary-pushing career paths. For the enterprising, UOP makes space to flourish.

Music Schools in Central California

The University of California, Santa Barbara 

In Brief

Offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in performance, composition, and musicology. A unique music and media program allows students to explore composing music for film, TV, and gaming.

Primary Areas of Study

• Ethnomusicology
• Interdisciplinary Studies
• Music Performance (various emphases)
• Western Art Music

Details

Distinguished College of Letters and Science houses a Department of Music with faculty acclaimed for creative scholarship. Undergraduates may pursue a Bachelor of Music focusing on Music Performance or Composition. Alternatively, the Bachelor of Arts in Music offers concentrations in Musicology or the innovative “Music and Media” program.

The Music and Media track spotlights how music interacts with emerging visual mediums. Courses guide students to compose, synchronize, and produce original music and sound design for film, TV, video games, virtual reality, and beyond. By examining technical film scoring techniques alongside music’s psychological impact on audiences, graduates are fully equipped to excel as modern Hollywood composers and audio engineers.

UC Santa Barbara’s Music Department ensembles foster collaborative artistry performing compelling works, often written by UCSB student composers. On any given night, gifted instrumentalists, singers, and percussionists entertain audiences at one of the university’s state-of-the-art venues. Faculty actively lead and compose for groups ranging from the large-scale Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble to contemporary rock bands.

Fit

UCSB suits adaptable music students eager to explore a multifaceted musical education through cross-collaboration between world-class music training and other fields like technology, social sciences, and film. With abundant interdisciplinary courses, research opportunities, global performing ensembles, and an innovative campus culture, UCSB empowers students to integrate music with other academic and career interests creatively.

Conclusion

California boasts an array of esteemed and inventive music institutions, which offer a diverse selection of programs to cater to various musical interests and career ambitions. Whether you’re drawn to garde contemporary music and multimedia composition at schools like CalArts and UC Santa Barbara or prefer the rigorous classical training provided by esteemed conservatories like Colburn and SFCM, there are exceptional options available throughout Southern California, Northern California, and Central California for those seeking a music education that aligns with their creative aspirations. With faculty members, state-of-the-art facilities, numerous performance opportunities, and access to the thriving entertainment industry in the state music schools in California provide students with the opportunity to refine their talents while acquiring practical skills that will enable them to excel as performers, composers, scholars or educators in an ever-evolving musical landscape.

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FAQ about Music Schools in California

What California music schools focus on contemporary or popular music?

Schools with excellent contemporary and popular music programs include the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), USC Thornton, and UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.

Which music schools in California have strong classical programs? 

Leading California schools for classical music include San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), Colburn School, the University of Southern California (USC) Thornton School of Music, and the Bob Cole Conservatory at CSULB.

Which California music schools have notable alumni working in the industry? 

The music schools boasting high-profile industry alumni are University of Southern California (USC), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).

What California community colleges have strong music programs? 

Some of the best California community college music programs are at Santa Monica College, Pasadena City College, College of the Canyons, and Fullerton College.

Doctor Fish Says
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