• Aspiring pianists learn a varied repetoire in order to progress to more challenging performances.piano keys image by Annika from Fotolia.com
  
  Music colleges in Southern California focus on educating and developing an undergraduate's ability to surpass their own individual talents with a musical-oriented career upon graduation. College programs vary but encompass music education, composition and theory and performance, to name a few. Graduating students who master their talent may find a place at the New York or Los Angeles Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, Boston Pops or become jazz vocalists, part of an ensemble or pass down their love of music through education.
  
  

CalArts: The Herb Alpert School of Music

• The Herb Alpert School of Music at California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, California, is an integral part of the "internationally renowned" CalArts. This school of music offers programs in composition, jazz, performance, music technology and musical arts. Admission to the music program is highly competitive. Applicants must give a live audition or a recorded audition portfolio. Aspirants on the technical side must provide portfolios specific in their area of study. Prospective students receive rigorous training with low student-faculty ratio as they work toward their Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA). Advanced students have the opportunity to work in an integrated composition and performance program culminating in a final performance recital and completion of a professional-grade composition portfolio.
  
  Herb Alpert School of Music
  California Institute of the Arts
  24700 McBean Parkway
  Valencia, CA 91355
  661-253-7817
  http://music.calarts.edu
  
  

Bob Cole Conservatory of Music

• The Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University (CSULB) in Long Beach offers undergraduate programs in symphonic and concert band, wind and brass symphony and orchestra, including jazz. Other programs include vocal, opera and choral programs, composition and theory, keyboard studies, musical education and history to name a few. Prospective students work toward a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Music (BM) with a focus on music education, music history and literature and music theory and composition. After submitting an online application, prospective students give a live performance audition in addition to undertaking a theory placement exam. Graduates may pursue a Master of Arts or Master of Music with placement exams or auditions required before application.
  
  Bob Cole Conservatory of Music
  California State University, Long Beach
  1250 Bellflower Blvd.
  Long Beach, CA 90840-7101
  562-985-4781
  http://www.csulb.edu/~music
  
  

USC Thornton School of Music

• As the "oldest continually operating cultural institution in Los Angeles," The University of Southern California Thornton School of Music offers programs with 16 undergraduate majors. Students work toward a Bachelor of Music (BM), Master's of Arts or Music or Doctoral of Musical Arts. Courses include choral and sacred music, vocal arts and opera, organ or keyboard studies, early music performance, jazz studies and popular music. Other course selections include motion picture and television scoring, musicology and history or music industry. Thornton also offers a selection of signature programs that cover a diverse range of subjects to supplement the music education curriculum. Depending on musical focus, applicants must give a pre-screen recording and, based on review, a live performance audition.
  
  Office of Admission
  PIC 212
  USC Thornton School of Music
  Los Angeles, CA 90089-0851
  213-740-6935
  http://www.usc.edu/schools/music