Initially called the Institute of Musical Art, part of what would become The Julliard School, was founded in 1905 by Dr. Frank Damosch. He was the godson of the famous Hungarian composer and virtuoso pianist Franz Liszt. The school was meant to provide American students with an education which rivaled those of European conservatories. The school opened in 1910 and quickly moved to a new location due to the high demand for quality musical education. The school received its name from A.D. Julliard, a wealthy textile merchant who bequeathed a very large sum of money for the advancement of music education in his will. In 1924, the trustees of the bequest opened the Julliard Graduate School to allow musicians to complete their education. In 1926, the Julliard Graduate School and the Institute of Musical Arts merged to become The Julliard School of Music. Columbia University professor, John Erkstine was the first president.
The school offers many areas of artistic study including drama and dance. However, music is the largest division at the school. As students already come with a high degree of artistic abilities, the goal of instruction is to hone the craft of the student artists. For instance, singers are taught to connect the lyrics and their voice to achieve a personal rendering of the music.
Undergraduates may earn a bachelor's degree in music, drama or dance. Undergraduates may also get a diploma, as opposed to a bachelor's degree, which does not have a liberal-arts component. Graduate students may only get a diploma or master's in music. The Master's Diploma, a performance-based, non-academic degree, is also offered. Students may obtain a non-academic diploma in play writing, jazz studies and opera studies at the graduate level. No graduate programs are offered in acting or dance. The school also offers a Doctor of Musical Arts degree or the Artist Diploma in Performance. (See Resources 5)
The New England Conservatory (NEC), located in Boston, Massachusetts, was founded in 1867 by Eben Tourjee. Like The Julliard School, the founding of this conservatory made it possible for American musicians to get a high-quality musical education in the United States, rather than having to study in Europe. The school offers a variety of programs that other music schools offer, including preparatory classes for children, a youth orchestra, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, professional training programs for piano trios and string quartets, continuing education classes for adults and children, as well as 5-year programs in which students can get a combined degree. The latter degrees are obtained through joint participation from area universities. For instance, the NEC has partnered with Harvard University to offer a bachelor of arts degree from Harvard and a master of music degree from NEC.
The NEC has not only educated students,but also impacted the musical life of its home city. The founder of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Henry Lee Higginson, looked to the school faculty for section leaders of the orchestra when organization was started in 1881. (See References 3)
Located in Rochester, New York, this school was inaugurated by the founder of Kodak Company, George Eastman, in 1921. It was the first professional school associated with the University of Rochester. Eastman currently enrolls more than 900 students and offers bachelor's of music degrees in composition, applied music (musical performance) and music theory, among other areas. Graduate degrees are also offered in which students can obtain a certificate in orchestra studies, world music and a diploma in ethnomusicology, among other degrees. Graduate students can also get a combined master and doctorate in areas like musicology. (See References 4)
Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Curtis Institute of Music opened a few years after the Eastman School, in 1924. Founded by Mary Louise Curtis Bok, the school was started as means to provide a quality, musical education to students. Her work with poor children on Philadelphia's South side inspired her to create the school, which today still does not charge tuition for its students. They are accepted only on their artistic merit.
The school offers degrees such as a bachelor's of music and a professional studies certificate in opera, among others. Both undergraduate and graduate degrees may be obtained. Famous alumni include violinist Hillary Hahn, composers Samuel Barber and Leonard Bernstein and pianist Jonathan Biss. (See References 5)
The Peabody Conservatory is part of The Johns Hopkins University. They have provided musical education for at least 150 years. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, the school offers undergraduate degrees in the recording arts and sciences, musical performance and music education. Students who are interested in such majors must also audition and be accepted into certain major programs which include computer music, early music instruments, composition and voice among others.
The school does not offer programs that are part of the cirriculum at other schools like ethnomusicology. It does offer students that chance to double major in their areas of interest like the recording arts and sciences. (see Resource 1)
The Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, graduates performers of contemporary music. Originally called Schillinger House the school was founded in 1945 by Lawrence Berk. It was the first American school to teach jazz music. Later in 1954, it obtained its current name, the Berklee School of Music. Students can obtain degrees in one of 12 majors including composition, film scoring and jazz composition. Students can also have a dual major by combining the majors. Like the dual majors at the NEC, these take five years to complete. The school also offers a master's in business administration through a partnership with Suffolk University. Berklee has the distinction of having the highest percentage of graduate students from outside the United States with about 22.8 percent, for any U.S. college or university, according to its website. The school also has various international programs through which it partners with institutions outside the United States for various goals like promoting the contemporary music education and more.
Additionally, the school offers music education and musical certificates online. Classes on the music business, music production, songwriting and more can be taken from your computer. The school also boasts a large worldwide network of musicians. (See Resources 2)