List of Top Singing and Voice Colleges
While a degree in singing and voice is not required for a singing career, students in a degree program can learn the technical skills needed by most professional singers. A program in singing and voice includes coursework in music theory, history, conducting and performance. Most programs encourage students to learn a musical instrument in addition to voice, and vocal recitals are usually required to graduate. Those with a degree can work in vocal performance or education.
Best Colleges for Singing and Voice
1. University of Southern California in Los Angeles
University of Southern California (USC) is located in the center of Los Angeles, where students have opportunities to work with organizations like the Los Angeles Opera, the GRAMMY Foundation and the Recording Academy.
USC features undergraduate and graduate-level programs in classical voice and opera. The Bachelor of Music (B.M.) in Vocal Arts program stresses strong technique and offers classes in diction, music theory and conducting. A Master of Music (M.M.) in Vocal Arts program focuses on ensemble, cantata and oratorio, vocal literature, music history and pedagogy. Earning the Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in Vocal Arts requires performing four recitals.
Rock, pop, R&B and folk, Latin and country performance are featured in the B.M. in Popular Music program. Coursework includes songwriting, keyboard and harmony. A Bachelor of Arts in Choral and Sacred Music is also available.
U.S. News & World Report ranked USC the 23rd best national university for 2011 and the 37th best graduate fine arts program in 2008. USC is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASAM)
Contact Information
- Address: University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089
- Phone Number: (213) 740-2311
2. Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Temple University, founded in 1884, is located in downtown Philadelphia and houses the Temple Performing Arts Center. The Boyer College of Music and Dance offers the B.M. in Voice Performance and the B.M. in Jazz Voice Performance. The former program focuses on choral music and opera, while the latter centers on jazz studies. Both degree programs prepare students for careers in performance and vocal education. Classes include ensemble, piano, music theory and conducting.
Earning an M.M. in Voice prepares students for professional performance or further doctoral study. Specializations are available in musical style and performance, vocal literature, language and diction skills, acting technique and music theory. The D.M.A. in Voice program is ideal for those who want to further specialize and attain the highest level of skill in vocal performance. Classes include chamber music, music history and pedagogy. Students must perform with an orchestra or perform a major role in an opera to graduate. An M.M. and D.M.A. in Opera are also available.
Temple University was ranked 14th among graduate fine arts programs in 2008 by U.S. News & World Report and 132nd among national universities for 2011. Temple is accredited by the NASAM.
Contact Information
- Address: 1801 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19122
- Phone Number: (215) 204-7000
Good Schools with Singing and Voice Programs
| College/University Name | Total Student Enrollment | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington - Seattle Campus | 45,943 | 1400 N.E. Campus Pkwy., Seattle, WA 98195 | (206) 543-2100 |
| Pennsylvania State University | 45,185 | 201 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802 | (814) 865-4700 |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | 43,881 | 601 E. John St., Champaign, IL 61820 | (217) 333-1000 |
| Temple University | 36,507 | 1801 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19122 | (215) 204-7000 |
| University of Southern California | 34,824 | University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089 | (213) 740-2311 |
| Brigham Young University | 34,130 | Main Campus, Provo, UT 84602 | (801) 422-4636 |
| Boston University | 31,960 | One Silber Way, Boston, MA 02215 | (617) 353-2000 |
| University of Cincinnati | 31,134 | 2624 Clifton Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45221 | (513) 556-6000 |
| Portland State University | 27,901 | 724 S.W. Harrison, Portland, OR 97201 | (503) 725-4433 |
| University of Delaware | 21,138 | Newark, DE 19716 | (302) 831-2000 |
| Northwestern University | 19,853 | 633 Clark St., Evanston, IL 60208 | (847) 491-3741 |
| University of Miami | 15,629 | Coral Gables, FL 33124 | (305) 284-2211 |
| University of Nebraska at Omaha | 14,620 | 6001 Dodge St., Omaha, NE 68182 | (402) 554-2800 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 11,197 | 5000 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213 | (412) 268-2000 |
| Southern Methodist University | 10,891 | 6425 Boaz St., Dallas, TX 75275 | (214) 768-2000 |
| Abilene Christian University | 4,813 | 1600 Campus Ct., Abilene, TX 79699 | (325) 674-2000 |
| SUNY at Purchase College | 4,192 | 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase, NY 10577 | (914) 251-6000 |
| Columbia College | 1,444 | 1301 Columbia College Dr., Columbia, SC 29203 | (803) 786-3012 |
| The Juilliard School | 980 | 60 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023 | (212) 799-5000 |
| San Francisco Conservatory of Music | 415 | 50 Oak St., San Francisco, CA 94102 | (415) 864-7326 |
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