<p>Great advice above from spiritmanager and violindad. Focusing on Canadian schools may make the most financial sense. I know a couple of student composers from the US who have happily gone to McGill.</p>
<p>You are most definitely not too old.</p>
<p>Are you mainly looking at BM programs, or both BM and BA programs? Composition is more of an academic major and can be studied at a conservatory/music school for a BM or at a college/university for a BA. For a BM program, you would apply with a portfolio of 3-4 pieces, preferably played by excellent musicians, and then go for an interview. Some programs also require an instrumental audition, some don’t. For a BA program, you would apply as any student would, but could send music CD(s) as part of an arts supplement. At least, in the U.S. Some schools do have insturmental auditions, but most don’t, and then there are auditions on campus for participation in extracurricular ensembles and so on.</p>
<p>A BM degree would be 2/3-3/4 music courses. A BA degree would be 1/4-1/2 music courses. A Bachelor’s degree in music, whether BA or BM, is a bachelor’s like any other and you would have access to many jobs, whether in music or not, and also access to any grad work, including law and medicine. In fact, music students as a group have had the highest rate of admission to med school, according to a statistic I read a few years ago. Granted, someone like your Dad would be happier with the BA. Maybe you could have a teacher speak with your Dad.</p>
<p>Many composition programs of all kinds include technology and music, electroacoustic composition, that kind of thing. I believe Hartt at U. Of Hartford has a program that could combine composing and production. UMass Lowell has a music production program, as does Northeastern in Boston. But a focus on this as a major may mean choosing between that and composing, at some schools. Others know more about this than I do.</p>
<p>You should know the difference between a BA, BM, double major, double degree and major/minor. [Double</a> Degrees | Peabody Conservatory](<a href=“http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html]Double”>http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html)</p>
<p>I cannot say whether Curtis is a good idea for you. You do not need years of experience w/composing to get into top conservatories. You have done a lot of studies in music and are proficient on the piano, which is good. Your composition portfolio would be the most important thing. At many conservatories, grades won’t matter that much, though they are more of a factor at music programs affiliated with universities.</p>
<p>You could look at SUNY schools, such as Purchase, or other state universities. Tuition is more affordable at SUNY’s than at many conservatories. Or you could apply for financial aid at academic programs: don’t know if you would qualify or if your family falls in the middle ground of not qualifying for aid but not being able to afford the tuition. Hartt might also be a possibility. BU, Oberlin, Bard, Lawrence and Ithaca would have more financial aid than freestanding conservatories, but your grades might be a problem. Most conservatories give merit aid but not really enough to cover the cost, with the exception of course of Curtis, which is tuition-free.</p>
<p>Another thing you could do is finish a year at a community or public college near you, or in the US, and then transfer in. Your grades from the college would supplant your high school GPA, at least as a priority. This could also save you money and take care of some gen ed requirements.</p>
<p>Definitely get a hold of a teacher. You can see a teacher when you need to. For a long time, my daughter went once a month, or even less frequently. It is worth the money and others are right in that this will gain more than composition help: you will get advice on your path and a recommendation as well. And, as I said, maybe someone who could talk with your Dad at some point.</p>