The Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music is an undergraduate program only.
If you have already earned an undergraduate degree, you are not eligible to apply to the program. Students looking for graduate study are referred to NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions. It has graduate programs in Music Business, Music Technology, and Music Composition.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GO TO NYU?
Estimate of Expenses for Full-Time Undergraduate Students, 2009-2010 academic yearTuition: $40,370.00
Registration and Services Fee: $2,179.00
*Room and Board: $11,720.00 (average)
Books: $700.00
Personal expenses: $1,000.00
Total: $55,969.00
* Includes up to 14 meals per week
Recorded Music students may also be required to pay a non-refundable lab fee each semester.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID?
Students are encouraged to apply for financial aid electronically - the fastest and most accurate method of completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You may find more information online at the Tisch-Financial Aid website.HOW MANY APPLICATIONS DO YOU RECEIVE?
We receive approximately 300 applications each year.HOW MANY STUDENTS DO YOU ADMIT EACH YEAR?
Each year we admit 32 students.WHAT ARE THE AVERAGE GPAs AND SATs OF ACCEPTED STUDENTS?
GPA: 3.5 – 3.7, SAT: 1300-1500 (per older version SAT)HOW DO THE RECENT CHANGES IN THE STANDARDIZED TESTING POLICY AFFECT ME IF I AM APPLYING TO THE RECORDED MUSIC DEPARTMENT?
NYU has recently changed its testing policies to give students more choice in what exam results they can submit. The new testing options apply to all NYU applicants. Now, all applicants must select from one of the testing options, which include:- The SAT Reasoning Test and two SAT Subject Tests; or
- The ACT (with Writing Test); or
- The SAT Reasoning Test and two AP exam scores; or
- Three SAT Subject Test scores in non-language tests (one in literature or humanities, one in math or science, and one of the student’s choice); or
- Three AP exam scores* (one in literature or the humanities, one in math or science, and one non-language of the student’s choice)
DO YOU GIVE INFORMATION SESSIONS OR TOURS FOR THE RECORDED MUSIC DEPARTMENT?
Yes. Department tours and information sessions are held selected Fridays at 11:00 am at 194 Mercer Street, 5th Floor. You can reserve a spot by contacting Brianne Powell at 212.992.8408 or brianne.powell@nyu.edu. Please provide your name, phone number or email address, and possible date(s) you are interested in attending.HOW CAN I SIGN UP FOR A GENERAL NYU INFORMATION SESSION AND CAMPUS TOUR?
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions offers information sessions and tours of the NYU campus twice daily, generally Monday through Friday at 10 am, 1 pm, and/or 2:30 pm. Please call 212.998.4524 to make a reservation or go to the NYU Undergraduate Admissions web site to schedule a visit online.I HAVE ALREADY ATTENDED THE GENERAL NYU INFORMATION SESSION AND CAMPUS TOUR. ARE THERE ANY GENERAL TISCH TOURS?
No. Because the nature of each program at Tisch differs so much from one another, we do not offer general Tisch tours. However, you may reserve a space for either of these by calling the Tisch-Office of Student Affairs at 212.998.1900. A limited number of spaces are available.- Undergraduate Division, Kanbar Institute of Film and Television tours during the academic year
- Undergraduate Drama Information Sessions year-round
DO YOU HOLD OPEN HOUSE PROGRAMS?
Yes. Our Open House programs offer the most comprehensive visiting experience. You will learn specific information on our programs, admissions and financial aid. Typically, faculty, school officers, student life offices, current students, and the deans of the Tisch School of the Arts all attend Open House programs. We hold these programs for freshmen during the fall. If you are already on the NYU mailing list, you will receive an invitation to our Open House programs. Dates for these open houses become available at the end of each summer. Please visit the NYU Undergraduate Admissions web site for more information.WHEN IS THE APPLICATION & CREATIVE PORTFOLIO DEADLINE?
Early decision: Received November 1 (notification after December 15)
Regular decision: Received January 1 (notification after March 1)
*Note: NYU offices will close for winter recess from Dec. 24-Jan. 3, and will reopen on Jan. 4; any creative portfolios delivered during that time will be re-delivered to our office on Jan. 4)
Internal Transfers: Received March 1 (notification after April 15)
External Transfers: Received April 1 (notification after April 15)
I WANT TO APPLY. HOW DO I GET AN APPLICATION?
All undergraduate applications are distributed by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. You can call them at 212.998.4500 for more information or apply online. You may also click here to be put on the NYU mailing list. Make sure that you list one of the departments at Tisch in order to receive Tisch-related information.Please remember that, as a separate step, you must also complete your Recorded Music creative portfolio. There is a special section at the back of the undergraduate application called "Special Admissions Requirements". This section lists what you must submit for your specific program at Tisch. All Tisch programs require a creative review. For more specific information on the Recorded Music creative portfolio, click here.
I AM AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AND WOULD LIKE TO APPLY. DO YOU ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, AND WHAT REQUIREMENTS MUST I COMPLETE?
Yes, we do accept international students. There are approximately 350 international students currently enrolled in the Tisch School of the Arts. They come from more than 60 countries, representing virtually every continent. Please view the requirements and steps to apply on the NYU Undergraduate Admissions website - International Applicants. In addition, all applicants must complete the required creative portfolio for admission to The Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music.
CAN I AUDIT OR SIT IN ON A CLASS?
No. Because of the participatory and creative nature of many courses at Tisch, all departments do not permit prospective students to observe classes. However, students are welcome to come and visit other NYU classes throughout the year. Classroom visits are offered Monday through Thursday. If you are interested in sitting in on a class, come to the Jeffrey S. Gould Welcome Center, 50 West Fourth Street, for a list of classes that are open for visitation. You may also call 212.998.4522 for more information.CAN I MEET WITH A RECORDED MUSIC FACULTY MEMBER?
The administrators within the Department of Recorded Music are more than qualified to answer any questions you have about the department. In the case that they cannot, you will be referred to the proper faculty member.CAN I APPLY AS A TRANSFER STUDENT TO THE RECORDED MUSIC DEPARTMENT?
Yes. The Recorded Music department does have a transfer admissions process. However, the department does have a six semester residency requirement. Transfer students must spend a minimum of three years in the department in order to complete the 128 credits needed to obtain the BFA degree. The maximum amount of transfer credits that a student could bring to the department would be 32 credits, typically awarded towards general education and elective requirements. For more information on transferring to NYU, please go to the Undergraduate Admissions website.HOW DO I APPLY AS AN INTERNAL TRANSFER FROM ANOTHER DIVISION OF NYU TO TISCH?
If you are a student from another division of NYU, you can pick up an internal transfer application form at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 22 Washington Square North. Students must be enrolled in the division to which they were originally admitted for one full year before they may transfer to another division.HOW DO I APPLY AS AN INTERNAL TRANSFER FROM ANOTHER DEPARTMENT IN TISCH?
You can pick up a yellow Tisch internal transfer application form at the front desk in the Office of Student Affairs, 721 Broadway, 8th floor, or you can click here to download the form. Students must be enrolled in the department to which they were originally admitted for one full year before they may transfer to another department.I ALREADY HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE. CAN I APPLY?
No. NYU does not allow for second bachelor’s degrees (except for Nursing). However, the Music Technology and Music Business programs at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development do offer graduate programs.DO YOU OFFER CLASSES FOR NON-MATRICULATED PART-TIME STUDENTS?
Unfortunately, we do not currently allow visiting or non-matriculating students from other universities to take classes in the Department of Recorded Music. However, we do offer a limited selection of classes that are open to all currently matriculated NYU students. Please check our website for our current selection of courses offerings for non-majors. We also offer a wide variety of summer courses available to anyone who is interested. Click here to view more information about our summer program online.I AM A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AND WANT TO TAKE CLASSES IN YOUR DEPARTMENT. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
As a high school student, you may currently enroll in any of our Recorded Music summer courses. To do so, please contact Tisch-Special Programs at 212.998.1500. Additionally, we have just launched Future Music Moguls for tri-state area high school juniors to begin in spring of 2010. Information can be found on our website!CAN I APPLY TO TWO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AT NYU SIMULTANEOUSLY?
No. You must choose one, and if you are denied admission to one department, you cannot apply to another in the same admissions cycle.I LEFT TISCH A FEW YEARS AGO AND WANT TO COME BACK. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?
Students wanting to be readmitted to Tisch can pick up a blue readmission form at the front desk in the Student Affairs office, 721 Broadway, 8th floor; or you can call 212.998.1900 and request that the form be mailed to you; or you can visit the Academic Downloads page to download the form.WHAT SHOULD MY CREATIVE SAMPLE INCLUDE?
If you are sending media, please limit it to 5 minutes of material. The creative sample is a substantiation of your talent, so if you are a performer, we should hear you perform. If you are a composer, producer, or budding entrepreneur, show us evidence of that. The bottom line is: show us who you are in a creative, professional, and succinct way. Specific details are included on this web page.WHAT IF I HAVE LIMITED EXPERIENCE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AND DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO SING A SONG OR TO MANAGE A BAND? HOW WILL I BE ABLE TO SUBMIT A CREATIVE SAMPLE FOR THE PORTFOLIO?
You do not need to have experience in the music industry nor do you need to have access to resources to demonstrate your vision, creativity and passion and your potential for success in the music industry. For instance, you might take a popular recording artist and write us a letter detailing how you would have used your creativity and vision to differently market or promote that artist or write us a letter about how you would have recorded that artist differently in the recording studio. You could also discuss what types of programs or events you would create in your hometown or high school to provide greater opportunity for engagement in the music industry, or submit a collection of writings showcasing your music analysis or criticism. Be creative!WHAT ARE THE CORE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MUSIC BUSINESS OR MUSIC TECHNOLOGY IN STEINHARDT AND RECORDED MUSIC IN TISCH?
The primary difference between the Steinhardt Music Business and Music Technology programs and the Tisch Recorded Music program is the degree that students receive upon graduation. The Steinhardt Music Business and Music Technology students receive a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) and Tisch Recorded Music students receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.).Steinhardt Music Business and Music Technology undergraduates participate in a core music curriculum in music theory, history, and keyboard skills, along with a rich liberal arts foundation. Music Business students take classes in the Stern School of Business and follow an intensive sequence of specialized music business courses. Music Technology students take a sequence of courses offering a solid foundation in all areas of music technology, while giving the flexibility to obtain specialized expertise in a specific area of music and audio technology. As a part of the audition process, students are required to sing or play one piece of music in addition to an interview and music theory test. For more information about the artistic review please visit Music Business Auditions or Music Tech Auditions.
The Recorded Music B.F.A. undergraduate program is designed to provide professional training for students who aim to succeed as creative entrepreneurs in the music industry. Whether aspiring executives, producers, performers or critics, all Recorded Music students develop their entrepreneurial skills by taking core courses in three areas: business, production and history-criticism. Students learn about business and legal issues and they are expected to become proficient in a range of recorded music practices through practicums in the recording studio. Concurrently, students explore critical writing and music journalism, delving into the cultural impact of recorded music and the history of contemporary musical genres such as rock, R&B, hip-hop, and pop. By senior year, all Recorded Music students hone their skills as music entrepreneurs by developing a comprehensive creative plan to launch a music business venture such as a record label, production company or new media enterprise. As is the case with all Tisch programs, professional training is combined with a solid liberal arts education.
For information about the artistic review please visit Recorded Music Portfolio Information.
For more information about Steinhardt Music Business or Music Technology, please click here.
CAN I DECLARE A DOUBLE MAJOR OR MINOR?
Yes, but it can be very difficult if it is with another Tisch major. Because all Tisch departments are studio-based, their curriculum follows a strict schedule. As long as your double major or minor does not interfere with your department work it is not a problem. All incoming students are assigned a departmental advisor who will assist you with any curricular questions. If you are interested in pursuing a double major or minor, you should start by researching the major/minor requirements online, then speak with an advisory in the secondary department.To double-major in any department where there is an approved second major, you must first discuss the requirements of the major with the chair or director of undergraduate studies of that department. You must then pick up a green double major application form at the front desk in the Tisch-Office of Student Affairs, 721 Broadway, 8th floor, or you can visit the Academic Downloads page to download and complete the form. After an advisor from the second department completes the appropriate section of the form, the form is then submitted to the home department for approval. Once approved, the second major is recorded on the official transcript.
MAY I STUDY ABROAD?
Yes. During the Spring semester of your Junior year or during any Summer semester, you may choose to study abroad with either a Tisch program, or you may choose to do an “academic semester” abroad with any of the College of Arts & Science programs. In this situation, you would be fulfilling general education requirements only.WILL I BE TRAINED AS A MUSIC EXECUTIVE WHILE ENROLLED IN THE DEPARTMENT?
Taken alongside courses in production and history-criticism, our complement of business courses will give you the necessary training to function in a professional music industry environment. Our program's special entrepreneurial focus will encourage you to think creatively and with an innovative lens about opportunities for growth in the music business.
WILL I BE TRAINED AS A PRODUCER OR ENGINEER WHILE ENROLLED IN THE DEPARTMENT?
Taken alongside courses in business and history-criticism, our production courses are designed to give students the essential training to operate in a variety of professional audio recording situations. Students who have graduated from our program who have a special focus on producing have gone on to pursue careers as producers, engineers, and mixers among other professional positions.
I WANT TO BECOME A PRODUCER ENTREPRENEUR. WILL I ONLY HAVE TO TAKE COURSES IN THE RECORDING STUDIO?
No. Our goal is to train well-rounded students holistically in three areas: business, production, and history-criticism. As a result, all students in The Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music are required to take common core courses in business, production (including music theory and songwriting) and history & criticism, and toward their training as music entrepreneurs. By the end of the second year of study, students are expected to begin to specialize in one of the areas toward completion of their capstone projects.WILL I BE TRAINED AS A PERFORMER WHILE ENROLLED IN THE DEPARTMENT?
While we do not currently offer specific classes in performance training other than ear training and music theory, there are a large number of performance and craft-oriented classes outside the department at NYU that are available to students to take for credit. While enrolled in the department, your advisor will be able to direct you to these courses.I AM A SINGER AND WANT TO BE A RECORDING ARTIST. IS THIS THE PROGRAM FOR ME?
If you are a performer and you are primarily interested in developing a brand and honing your business acumen and production skills in the effort to establish yourself as a music entrepreneur, this program might be right for you. If your interests, however, are solely devoted to performing, you may be better served at a performance-training program since we do not have a formal performance component. Many of our students, however, are performers but are interested in the production and promotion aspects of the industry. They perform for their class projects and collaborate with each other outside of class, but they are responsible, for the most part, for finding an outlet to perform. There are opportunities for performance training outside of the department in one of the many courses offered throughout the University, which students are encouraged to pursue.WILL I BE TRAINED AS A MUSIC JOURNALIST WHILE ENROLLED IN THE DEPARTMENT?
The Department of Recorded Music offers a progression of history & criticism courses that students are required to take toward the completion of their major. We also offer a variety of history & criticism electives. Beyond these courses, students may also elect to do a minor or double major in the CAS Journalism department. Speak to your advisor. While enrolled in the department, your advisor will be able to direct you to these opportunities.WHAT IF I FIT IN TO MORE THAN ONE CATEGORY?
While a small subset of multi-faceted music industry titans - like Prince or Moby - are several types rolled into one, we encourage students to narrow their focus while enrolled in the program and specialize in one of the areas: executive training, production training or history-criticism. However, we encourage flexibility: a student who enters the program training to become an executive entrepreneur might discover a love for recording and ultimately emerge as a producer entrepreneur, or vice-versa.IS THERE A TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENT FOR ADMISSION?
We do not require our applicants to have prior recording production experience. Many do, but we have admitted students with no experience whatsoever. We will train everyone once they arrive.WHAT SORT OF EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE DOES THE DEPARTMENT USE?
The department runs exclusively Macintosh computers (G4s and G5s) using ProTools HD and LE. Our Studio 505 console is a 24 input SSL (Solid State Logic) XL 9000 K Series. Our new Studio 510 console is an API Vision 5.1 Surround Sound mixing board with 48 inputs. Both studios are also equipped with a Studer 827 two-inch analog tape recorder and state-of-the-art package of gear and microphones.Additionally, we have ProTools editing suites using G5s, Digidesign 192 I/O interfaces, and Triton rack modules that students can check out for individual editing assignments. We also have a new 14-station Pro Tools and programming lab. Each station is equipped for an Intel iMac with Pro Tools LE, Logic, Reason, and Abelton Live software.
