Top Lists
Top 10 Best Music Schools in the World
The top 10 best music schools in the world are in various countries like the US, UK, Spain, and France. Check out the top 10 world list.
It is not all the time that students search for the best schools to study a particular course. Many simply want to attend some schools because they are prestigious. For music enthusiasts, however, it is important to understand that the art is taught in many schools around the world but there are schools that have made a name for themselves as masters in the field of music.
In this article, RNN will highlight the top 10 best music schools in the world. Here they are.
10. University of Southern California Thornton School of Music
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Founded: 1884
The University of Southern California Thornton School of Music was founded 4 years after the University itself. It is one of the oldest music schools in America.
The institution is widely known for accommodating not just musicians but other music industry personnel who may want to focus on the business side of music or other technical aspects. USC School of Music reportedly has strong connections with the film-music industry.
Popular alumni of the institution include Herb Alpert, James Newton Howard, and James Horner.
9. Conservatoire de Paris (a.k.a Paris Conservatory)
Location- Paris, France
Founded- 1796
Conservatoire de Paris (Paris Conservatory) is one of the best music schools in the world with a variety of courses and an incredible structure. Its main areas of study include Dance, Music, Sound Engineering, and Pedagogy. Other popular programs in the institution are Jazz and Improvised Music, Musicology and Analysis, Vocal Disciplines, and Early Music.
The France-based institution also features study areas in Sound Engineering for people who have an interest in the field. Paris Conservatory is open to students from all countries.
8. Curtis Institute of Music
Location: Philadelphia, PA, United States
Founded: 1924
Philadephia is not one of the cities where you find music enthusiasts in America but thanks to the presence of the Curtis Institute of Music, it has become a place where many people seek to study their course of interest- Music.
For a long time now, the nearly-one-hundred-years-old college has produced some of the world’s best and most successful musicians like Leonard Bernstein, David Brooks, and Lang Lang.
Curtis Institute of Music is however one of the hardest music schools to get into as it accepts less than five percent of all applicants.
7. Royal College of Music
Location- London, United Kingdom
Founded- 1882
The Royal College of Music is totally different from the Royal Academy of Music (which we will see later in this article). Although they are both based in England, the Royal College of Music is usually a second option for prospective music students who may not want to go to the Royal Academy of Music.
The College is notable for its research-based style of teaching which has produced notable musicians in the world today. Some popular alumni from the institution are Andrew Lloyd Webber, James Horner, and Vanessa-Mae.
6. The University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna
Location- Vienna, Austria
Founded- 1817
Named as one of the best performing arts schools in the world by CEOWORLD magazine, The University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna unarguably deserves the title. Despite being over 200 years old, the institution has maintained its prestige and is known for attracting students from all over the world like its counterparts.
The University is one of the world’s largest music, film and theatre institutions. It offers a range of courses like Music and Instrumental Training, Music Therapy, Computer Music and Electronic Media, and Respiratory, Vocal, and Physical Education. The institution also offers Ph.D. degrees.
5. New England Conservatory of Music
Location: Boston, MA, United States
Founded: 1867
The New England Conservatory of Music (NECM) is another prestigious music college based in Boston, U.S. The institution is notable for its focus on instrumentation, thus becoming one of the best music schools in the world.
NECM is the go-to school for people who want to become one of the world’s best in woodwind, string, and brass instruments. Some notable alumni from NECM are Neal E. Boyd, Aoife O’Donovan, and Vic Firth.
4. Royal Academy of Music, London
Location- London, England
Founded- 1822
The Royal Academy of music is the oldest music school in the world. The school offers musical theatre, composition, performance, creative music administration, and jazz.
One interesting feature of the Royal Academy of Music is that it offers junior programs for musicians under the age of 18 and fosters music-related and practice-based research. It equally offers Open Music Academy projects and activities for interested persons across all age grades.
Sir Elton John is one of its most famous alumni.
3. Yale School of Music
Location: New Haven, CT, United States
Founded: 1894
Yale University is one of the most prestigious higher institutions in the world. It has 12 professional schools and its school of music is one of them. Yale School of Music offers three graduate degrees- Master of Music (MM), Master of Musical Arts (MMA), and Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA). The institution equally offers a joint Bachelor of Arts—Master of Music program in conjunction with Yale College, a Certificate in Performance, and an Artist Diploma.
Yale has produced some of the world’s best musicians. Among them are Marco Beltrami, Michael Daugherty, and Matt Brubeck.
2. Berklee College of Music
Location: Boston, MA, United States
Founded: 1945
Berklee College of Music is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. It is most popular for its jazz and modern American music courses. The private music college also offers contemporary and historic styles of musical courses like rock, hip-hop, salsa, reggae, bluegrass, and heavy metal.
Berklee is one of the few musical colleges to operate another campus outside its country. The institution has a campus in Valencia, Spain.
No musical college has produced the most alumni with Grammy awards like Berklee. The institution’s alumni have won over 309 Grammy Awards and 108 Latin Grammy Awards.
Some of its notable alumni include Melissa Etheridge, Quincy Jones, and John Mayer.
1. The Julliard School
Location: New York City, NY, United States
Founded: 1905
The Juilliard School is regarded as the best music school in the world. Julliard offers a number of courses in the field of dance, acting, and music which it is best known for.
The institution however does not stand alone as it is affiliated with the prestigious Lincoln Center which hosts some of the best live performances in the world. Julliard is best for students who want to learn to compose and play in an orchestra. Contemporary music enthusiasts can still attend the institution but their music focus is more on classical and opera music. Its acceptance rate is 8%.
Some notable alumni from The Julliard School are Barry Manilow, Yo-Yo Ma, and John Williams.
Top 10 Best Music Schools in the World (Summary)
Here are the top 10 best music schools in the world as highlighted in this article.
- The Julliard School
- Berklee College of Music
- Yale School of Music
- Royal Academy of Music, London
- New England Conservatory of Music
- The University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna
- Royal College of Music
- Curtis Institute of Music
- Conservatoire de Paris (a.k.a Paris Conservatory)
- University of Southern California Thornton School of Music