Im looking to graduate without a mountain of student debt. Recently got back into the swing of school. I know that working with audio is a tough industry to get into, super competitive and such but i don't give a shit because its really the only job i could see myself gaining any personal satisfaction from. I went to CCSF for a while and their audio/broadcasting programs are a fucking joke. My last disappointment was taking an electronic music lab, Their "Lab" consisted of 6 or so computers running reason 5 and adobe audition. They had one mixer, an external audio interface, a couple pairs of 75$ studio monitors, 0 functioning hardware controllers. They did have two analogue synths but both were in need of repair and out of commission . There was literally no Curriculum. My teacher was nice, but it was his first semester ever teaching. He seemed to have some good information the physics of sound, and some basic synthesis techniques, but I failed to see any of his knowledge applied in practice. Im interested in Computer science, music theory, composition, technology, sound design, broadcasting etc. I love producing my own music, but don't expect to "Make it" in that sense, rather would want to learn techniques and skills that overlap with my thirst to further my own music, As well as applying said skills to a field where i can get semi-decent paycheck (working for minimum wage sucks) . Ex film scores, Live sound, video game soundtracks etc. There are many schools i want to go to, but cannot afford ( Art Academy) And there are some i can afford, but have heard mixed things about ( ex. Expressions).Im having a hard time deciding on whether to pursue a series of certificates now, or if I should put my interests on hold for now, finish my GE requirements and then transfer to a school that has a good program relevant to my passion. I am able to relocate anywhere in CA.

Thanks for your time!

Any suggestions, comments, personal experience, etc are most welcome

 

I was planning to move to CA for same reason. Will check up here to see if there is any relevant info for me too

 

Anything worth half a shit is in the L.A. area. However, God help you. Hold tight to your soul, convictions and money in that hell-hole of parasites.

 

the words "good" and "affordable" are rarely used to describe the same thing.

your best bet is to try to get an internship in a small studio. you won't get paid, but you won't have to pay either.

 

@ Wild child right. my Sister's boyfriend who does film in the UK was supposed to Plug it with an internship In La because he works a lot down there, which would totally be worth the $ to move, but they haven't gotten back to me in time as next semesters start in early jan.My friend is attending American River community college in Sac. He's in the audio engineer program they have and says its decent so I'm thinking about heading up and checking it out. I'll probably move down to La by next year regardless if i land that internship or not.

 

Should have gone with Half decent lol Ya I'm on that internship grind for sure Id like to do that along side school

 

An internship will teach you more than most schools will...

 

Also keep in mind that it's very expensive to live in LA/CA. While landing an internship in a studio would be an awesome opportunity for hands-on education, working for "free" doesn't pay bills, unless money is not an issue with you!.

 

I have told every friend I've ever known to pursue a marketable degree instead of a music degree. The people I've known with music degrees have all wished to some extent that they had a business or sciences degree instead. You need a masters in music to make any practical use of a music education, which is mostly limited to teaching. That would be quite fulfilling for people who truly want to teach music, and it's an important and admirable profession, but very few music degree holders I've known were destined to teach.

As for 'certificate' and 'proprietary degrees' from degree-mills like Fool Sale Yooniversity (or most trade schools), they're absolutely unmarketable. It's neither a university nor is it regionally accredited. Regional accreditation is the important one, the recognized one, the marketable one - not the 'national accreditation' Fool Sale touts. What you will walk away with is unsurmountable debt and still be no closer to studio work than if you were mowing their lawn.

If you really must test these waters, go to a community college. Or is that what 'CCSF' is? I took 'Synthesis 1' at a community college. I was looking for an easy A, but ended up really liking it because the professor (a legit Ph.D even at a community college) was passionate about teaching it. Not enough to trade my business major for an audio certificate, but enough that the professor and I are still friends years later. By the way, I was on the Advisory Board later and prevented them from adopting Reason as its software state-wide. I advised a different software package which is still in use today, with students learning actual (albeit modeled) synthesis.

Think this decision through really, really thoroughly. For what it's worth, I've worked in the industry since the 90s and only took that one synth class... after I was already working. Maybe I was lucky. But I have a business education to go to when the industry doesn't need me.

 

Maybe it would be a good idea to take up something related with programming (maybe music or games related?) and use that to feed your music side until (and if) you feel comfortable dedicating yourself to it or you break it somehow. Plus, from what I've seen, game devs would be way more interested in someone who knows how to integrate their own music or do/understand some programming-related things than someone who just makes the music. They're more valuable assets.

Do some searching and reading so that you're at least mentally prepared.

 

If you decide to become a musician (classical or electronic) and it's the one thing you want to do, there is no better way to success then absolutely dedicate 100% of your time and energy to achieve that goal. No ifs, ands, or buts.
If you need to work for a living, do a part-time job that pays the rent and food and for the rest of your time work constantly and consistently on your music.
If you're successful with your music, nobody (repeat: nobody) will ask for your degree. If you fail, nodody will ask either. Success is the only thing that counts in the field of music and there is no other way than fully dedicating yourself to it.
Deciding to pursue an education in a different field so you can have a secure job and work on the music in your leisure time will lead to failure. You will be exhausted, drained from energy and depleted. Because you're not doing what you love, and you're not doing it with your heart. It will be impossible for you to be on the pinnacle of your creative flow - which is neccessary for you to achieve your goal and be a successfull musician.
If you want to get a degree in music, get a degree in music. Don't settle for anything else than your heart wants. Life's too short for decisions like this. Although I state again that a degree in music is not needed for success (unless you want a career in classical music, which you don't from what I gather).

For the right mindset, I recommend to you Vesper's (Warp Academy) course "creative mastery". You can find it at the usual suspects. It will get you on the right track

 

words of wisdom.

 

Understand the difference between reality and dreams...

its IMPOSSIBLE to dedicate 100% of your life to something unless you have a rich family/spouse that will support you all the way.

Food, bills, ect never go away.

doing one thing to earn money while doing music IS NOT a stupid idea at all, the money i made working in a normal job for a few years paid for all of my gear and gave me the finance to persue my ultimate dream which was music...

i now earn my income from the biz but if i had dedicated my ENTIRE life to music i would still be twiddling with synths in grotty apartment telling everyone how dedicated to the cause i was...

Dreams and reality bro...know the difference.

Fuck music/audio engineering degrees too.