Students seeking an alternative to a traditional college program may choose the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. The school offers different levels of study; students may pursue a full Bachelor's degree in music, a two-year Associate degree, or may take Certificate or Non-Certificate programs that call for no other general education requirements to be met. The programs at the institute focus on contemporary music and are performance-based, allowing students many opportunities to hone stage skills along with technique.
The Julliard School, in New York City, is perhaps the best-known music school in the United States. Vocal Arts at Julliard are taught through the Ellen and James S. Marcus Institute. This department is dedicated solely to vocal performance, with emphasis equally placed on technique, theory and performance. Opera, concert repertoire and chamber music are all areas where students will get to experience many performance opportunities. Diction, breath control and stage movement are all included in a comprehensive program designed to create professional singers.
Oberlin College and Conservatory, in Oberlin, Ohio has one of the smallest programs among the nation's top vocal schools. The Conservatory of Music takes in only around 20 or 30 students each year. Students receive plenty of individual attention to improve vocal technique, performance skills, diction and pronunciation with languages such as German and French. Several choirs, vocal groups and ensembles exist to provide students with many opportunities to perform for live audiences. Graded recitals are also a regular part of a student's performance experience.
The Frost School of Music, at the University of Miami in Florida, offers training in the pursuit of either an undergraduate or graduate degree in Vocal Performance. The school specializes in the instruction of classical, choral and opera performance. At both the undergrad and graduate levels, performance opportunities are abundant; some of the school's performing groups include the Chamber Singers, Jazz Vocal Ensemble, the Frost Opera Theater and the Frost Chorale. The University also offers the Salzburg Program, a summer study program in Salzburg, Austria.
Rice University, in Houston, Texas is home to the Shepherd School of Music. The school offers degrees at the Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate levels. The program at each of these levels is kept intentionally small, to ensure individualized attention and a bond between faculty members and students. Rice offers programs that expose students to unique musical experiences like the Aleko Masterclass Recital Series, which brings professional singers to perform at the school; or the Pack Language Institute, which allows students to study in Florence, Italy.