The Peabody Institute, also called the Peabody Conservatory, is associated with the Johns Hopkins University and has been teaching musicians for more than 150 years. The school, in Baltimore, Maryland, has undergraduate programs in areas such as musical performance and composition and graduate programs in composition and computer music, among other fields. Some of the basic admissions requirements for Peabody include a high school diploma or GED and a successful audition. These are common requirements for other music schools as well.
The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University
1 East Mount Vernon Place
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-234-4500
The Eastman School of Music, which is part of the University of Rochester in New York, teaches jazz and classical music. Undergraduates can earn bachelor of music degrees in musical arts, musical performance and music education as well as a certificate in world music, among other options. Graduate students can obtain a diploma in ethnomusicology as well as other fields such as composition, sacred music and music education. At both the undergraduate and graduate level, dual degrees may be earned.
Unique to the school is the Hanson Institute for American Music. Founded in 1964 by the late composer Howard Hanson, the institute promotes music by American composers.
Eastman School of Music
26 Gibbs St.
Rochester, New York 14604
585-274-1000
Indiana University's music school, founded in 1910, has degree programs ranging from bachelor's to doctorates in a variety of subjects such as the clarinet, piano, organ, voice, composition and music education. Students can also earn an associate's degree in string music technology, which can involve such courses as violin repair. Another music technology degree, a bachelor's in the recording arts, is also available. Students can also earn a bachelor's in ballet.
The school has the distinction of having the only university opera invited to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
1201 East Merrill Hall 003
Bloomington, IN 47405-2200
812-855-1583
The University of California at Berkeley School of Music is, according to its website, one of the three top-ranked music departments in the nation. Started in 1905 by an act of the California legislature, the school has had a long-standing community connection with its free weekly concerts. The school offers degrees ranging from bachelor's to doctorates. Students may get a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology or a master's in music education, among other offerings.
The School of Music at Berkeley has resources such as the Jean Hargrove Music Library, which houses about 180,000 books and 50,000 video and sound recordings, as well as the Center for New Music and Recording. An audition is not required for undergraduate admissions, because students are admitted to the College of Letters and Science, not a particular department. Those interested in sending in a sample of performance or composition may submit a CD, DVD, score or video recording to the department of music.
Department of Music
University of California, Berkeley
104 Morrison Hall #1200
94720-1200
510-642-8480