Has art class always been the best part of your day? Have you always been the standout of your high school concerts and plays? Then you might want to consider foregoing the typical college route and go to an art or music school. Going to an art or music institute is the perfect way to turn what you may now only consider to be a hobby into an actual career (it’s not just for Hilary Duff in Raise Your Voice!). Intrigued? You should be! Read on, because HC has the inside scoop from collegiettes who made the decision to pursue the arts full time at their unique schools.
1. What is an art or music school?
You’ve probably heard of renowned institutions like The Juilliard School, Mannes College of Music, Rhode Island School of Design and Berklee College of Music. But what makes these different than any other college?
An art or music school has a specific focus on training its students for a career in the creative arts. Most of these schools don’t include general disciplines (gen eds). Students who attend these schools have a very specific artistic career goal in mind and are dedicated to those goals, just as you would be if you went to a culinary school to specialize in the culinary arts.
“The major difference between the two types of schools lies in the community,” says Lucy King, Associate Director of Admissions at RISD. “Because every student is an artist or designer, a level of collaboration and understanding exists between our students that might not be found at a traditional college.”
Collegiettes at art and music schools study the histories of their respective crafts. Music students focus heavily on researching and performing music, and art students can become experts in subjects such as painting, sculpting, photography, graphic design or illustration.
2. Who should go to a music or art school?
Lucy says when it comes to who should attend one of these schools, it’s all about dedication.
“Our students are intelligent critical thinkers who are passionate about art and design,” says Lucy. “The type of student who does well at RISD is the student who is dedicated to their studio work and curious about the world around them.”
Collegiettes also have input about who should go to one of these schools. “Someone who knows exactly what they want to do,” says Cassie, a freshman at Columbia College Chicago in the Theatre BFA Directing Program. “At most arts schools, you audition or interview for a specific program and basically have to stay in that program until you graduate. My school isn’t like that; you are allowed to move around to different departments and majors, but you still have to be very dedicated to your craft in order to get the most out of it.”
Attending a music or art school is for students who have a precise goal and know exactly what their dream career is. A collegiette needs to have her future mapped out, because there isn’t much wiggle room in terms of classes. Programs are rigorous and specific, so it’s important to enter school knowing exactly what you want out of your education. Liz, a junior majoring in illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), agrees.
“The arts have to be a top priority in your life,” Liz says. “People who flounder in art schools usually only have half their heart in their work. Those who succeed are committed to the fact that although a career in the arts might not pay as well or have as many job opportunities as others, [art] is still an important facet of life everywhere and it’s okay to want to be a part of that… You have to have tough skin when it comes to the arts.”
Unlike most schools, auditions and prior experience are a vital part of the admissions process. “Music schools usually require an additional audition, and for art school, a portfolio might be submitted as well as the normal application of essays and recommendation[s],” explains Tessa, a junior majoring in music therapy at the Berklee College of Music. “Because of this, experience in your craft is required before attending, unlike most majors, where a high school education will suffice.”
Most collegiettes at an art and design college or music conservatory say that having confidence in their artistic work and the drive to sell themselves to future employers are top characteristics in their school’s student body.
“In the arts, you can’t slack off,” says Liz. “Everything has a deadline, and every skill needs to stay sharp. You’re a creative athlete. And you need to know how to present yourself, your work and your skills.”
3. What’s it like to go to an art or music school?
Attending an art or music school is a very unique experience. Liz, a RISD student, explains that often students’ workloads and time in the studio are more important to them than going out and partying. “People usually opt to work in [the] studio over weekends instead of going out,” says Liz.
Liz also says that there are lots of opportunities to have fun outside of class, but it’s important to maintain a good balance between fun and academics. “We have plenty of clubs to participate in that sometimes join forces with students at Brown [University],” she says. “It’s very easy to get involved, but sometimes very hard to give enough attention to extracurriculars because of studio workloads. Time management is key.”
Liza also delves into what sets an art school apart from your typical college. “The student body is very unique, and sometimes likes to show it by wearing interesting clothing, hairstyles, piercings and tattoos,” says Liz.
Cassie is having a slightly different experience than Liz, as Columbia College Chicago is in the middle of a huge city. “My school has performances and events going on at all times, so it’s really easy to meet people and network, which is what a lot of being an artist is these days,” Cassie says.
Tessa also reveals that it’s easy to meet people in an open-minded environment like music school. “The people attending music and art schools are, in my experience, very open-minded and creative,” says Tessa. “In an artistic community, there is a willingness to accept people for who they are, rather than negatively judging them for not fitting into a particular group. Also, being surrounded by a group of people that have similar passions as you makes it easy to make friends!”
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4. How does it differ from a traditional liberal arts school?
The main difference between a traditional school and an art or music school is the level of focus that goes into the arts as opposed to more general courses.
“There’s that joke that people who like math and science just don’t come here, and it’s kind of true,” says Cassie. At Cassie’s school, her gen ed requirements (e.g. math, science and history) are minimal and don’t play as big a role in her education as her artistic classes.
Liz also feels that even when you do take liberal arts classes at an art school, there’s still a difference between them and liberal arts classes you’d take at other schools. “We take studios on top of our liberals,” explains Liz. “Students here are usually very self-driven and passionate in the arts, so liberal arts classes are very student-driven. It’s an environment where everyone learns from each other just as much as we learn from our professors.”
Students are so driven because they often know what they want right from the start of their college careers. “I feel that going to a school that specializes in one particular craft makes the students at the school very focused on their career from the beginning,” says Tessa. “Sometimes students go to college to try and figure out what they want to do professionally, whereas students attending a music or art school usually know or have an idea of what they want to focus their career on and have been practicing their skills for a while.”
Tessa also gives insight to the types of activities collegiettes can expect to find on campus. “Because it is a school that specializes in music, we do not have sports or Greek life,” says Tessa. “For most art and music schools that are not part of a larger college or university, this typically will be the case. We do have clubs that can be an outlet for other interests, but mainly the schools’ programs focus on music.”
5. How do you know if it’s not for you?
Sometimes, you may have a passion for the arts but realize that it’s more of a hobby for you than a career path.
“I considered applying to music schools when I was in high school,” says Katharine, a junior at the University of Rochester. “I decided that although I love playing piano, I wasn’t committed enough to make it through the competitive music world. Plus, I couldn’t imagine taking only music classes in college. I’m studying the liberal arts, although I still take piano lessons and play as an extracurricular activity.”
In short, attending an art or music school isn’t something you decide to do on a whim. If you have talent, determination and an ultimate goal for a career in the arts, go for it!
So now you’re ready to send out those applications and go on to become a Broadway star or a modern-day Picasso! Or maybe you’ve realized that an art or music school isn’t for you. Either way, educating yourself on all of your higher education options is the smartest thing you can do. It’s all about finding the perfect fit for you. Best of luck to you, future collegiettes! Make HC proud and find your perfect college fit!