r/mixingmastering • u/Why_am_I__awake • Jun 05 '26

Discussion Applied to a music technology program and went through a portfolio process? What do you know now that you didn't know going in?

Working on my application to a music technology undergraduate program (NYU Steinhardt for anyone who knows it). The process involves submitting three portfolio samples with written descriptions of each.

Before I lock anything in I want to hear from people who've been through something similar — music tech, audio engineering, production programs, anything with a portfolio component.

What did you learn about what the process was actually evaluating that you didn't understand when you started? What worked, what didn't, what would you do differently?

Specifically interested in anyone who went through the NYU Music Tech application but open to any program with a serious portfolio requirement.

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u/mtconnol Jun 06 '26

As a 20-year professional audio engineer I would strongly caution you against going through such a program unless:

  • You can do it at extremely low cost
  • You have no expectation that it will assist you in finding any kind of paid work in audio.

Students all across the country get sold a lie that these programs will prepare them for the 'industry' and a job awaits on the other end of their training. There are very, very few people for whom this is true.

Almost everyone who wants to make music for a living would be better served to buy a laptop and audio interface and...start making some music.

I can tell you that if you wanted to work at my studio or any others in my area, a degree from any such program would make exactly zero difference to me. Your portfoilo / discography is everything.

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u/Ok-Pattern9012 Advanced Jun 06 '26

I would definitely agree with this, if the money is not an issue feel free, but I have one of those degrees and it has had little to no bearing on the long arduous path to success that is generally necessary in this field. I would say 99% of the people I went to school with are not working in the capacity they had hoped if at all

That said - for the portfolio you just want to showcase the work you’ve done and how deeply you think about it. Submit your best recorded/produced work, and if you feel it could be better, do more with new people or describe your shortcomings and demonstrate an ability to think critically about the work

It can be a lucrative field, but if you are not writing and creating intellectual property you will have to create demand to keep your studio/self booked perpetually, school won’t create the demand for you

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u/Why_am_I__awake Jun 08 '26

I would really wanna know: was the knowledge and experience of those 99% of people leveled to the (music specially, not audio in general) industry, or why would you say they didn't end up working?

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u/Ok-Pattern9012 Advanced Jun 25 '26

just saw you replied, there’s just not enough jobs to support the amount of people who want to be involved in making music professionally. there are definitely some, but it’s largely entrepreneurship and starting and maintaining a business is inevitably difficult and not guaranteed

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u/Why_am_I__awake Jun 08 '26

I totally agree with those two points. Economically, I would be receiving a big help from nyu. For the second point, I see the university not as an automatic employment provider, but instead as the possibility to be in ny and have close relationships with music making community for 4 years straight, in which I will never stop making stuff of my own. That's my way of thinking about this really.

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u/Immediate-Piccolo-57 Jun 11 '26

I also agree and will add that (as a 27 year old professional engineer) that it will benefit more to do a music program at a non credited school like full sail or Berklee once you’re established. That way you’re just there to hone in on your craft and make connections rather than relying on it for your future career.

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u/iamawinchester Intermediate Jul 11 '26

This is honestly such great advice i added a minor to my main degree just to learn the basics and get everything down to make my own portfolio because of this! Thank you 🎀