Advice for music composition audition

<p>Please I am in desperate need of all your opinions. I am in the process of applying to Youngstown state, WVU, Carnegie Mellon, and Duquesne for music composition. Carnegie Mellon's deadline is in a month so I don't have much time left to change anything. I've written three pieces, one with an orchestra featuring alto sax, another arranged for a sax quartet, and another one that I have yet to arrange. All three pieces are in 32 bar form. Like I said, two of the songs are completely arranged and notated, and the other one will not take long to finish. I used the program Musescore to notate my scores. I'm worried about being accepted because all three of the songs are jazz, and I'm also worried that what I've written isn't complex enough. But, I do have a good understanding of music theory. So please tell me which of these schools you think I can be accepted to, and please explain if you feel I can't be accepted to some of these schools. Here are links to two of my songs.
Sax</a> Quartet - YouTube
Strings/</a> Alto Sax feature - YouTube</p>

<p>I know you are short on time, but is it at all possible to have one of your pieces played by live musicians with some ability? Even if you have to pay them? Do your school choices mention a preference for some live performances></p>

<p>I am assuming you composed your pieces, so what do you mean by “arrange”?</p>

<p>Do you want to do classical, jazz or contemporary/popular work?</p>

<p>Are you applying to conservatories/music schools, for a BM degree? As a composer, you also have the option of entering a college or university BA program that has no auditions (or auditions, if you prefer).</p>

<p>You have studied theory. Can you tell us a little about your background, studies, performances, teachers, or composers that you like? That might help.</p>

<p>I think you have potential and hope you can get some good help here and wish you luck!</p>

<p>Thanks for getting back to me. I could have musicians play the pieces for me, but I think the sound files are enough. When I say I have yet to arrange one of my songs, I say that because I have a melody and chords written, but I haven’t arranged it for a larger group. I want to study classical and jazz music in college, but all my audition pieces are jazz because I don’t feel comfortable writing classical music yet. I am applying to two state schools, WVU and Youngstown State, I’m not worried about being accepted to these places, but I am worried about being accepted to Carnegie Mellon because their program is primarily classical and they are a conservatory. I’m also worried about Duquesne because they are a very prestigious music school. I’m worried that these two schools will expect full classical pieces for an entire wind ensemble or orchestra. So do you think I could possibly be denied to Carnegie Mellon and Duquesne?</p>

<p>As far as my backround, I am a very accomplished saxophone player and have played piano for four years. I know enough piano to study composition. I have studied music theory, particularly jazz theory, and am at the top of my high school ap music theory class.</p>

<p>ahumbert, I am curious about the reason you are interested in Carnegie Mellon. Are there certain composers you are interested in working with there? Have you looked at their websites and listened to their music? My son applied there as a composer a few years ago but I had the feeling the focus was on classical. I would look at the requirements at all your schools with care. The schools my son applied to clearly said they preferred live musicians whenever possible on the compositions. Good luck.</p>

<p>At the undergrad level, they are often looking for potential. You do not have to write an orchestral piece or piece for a large ensemble. </p>

<p>I strongly recommend having your strings/sax piece or sax quartet played by musicians. Good ones. Here is text from the Carnegie Mellon requirements:</p>

<p>“An audio recording of a live performance of each of the submitted compositions. If a live performance is not possible, an electronically generated audio recording will be acceptable.”</p>

<p>It’s great that you have done piano and theory. And it sounds like an audition on sax won’t be a problem.</p>

<p>Again, as a composer, you have many choices in how to proceed. Here is a good essay on degree options:
[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>Some of your lessons, composing, playing and collaborating can also happen outside of class, at some schools.</p>

<p>Thankyou, both you guys have helped.</p>

<p>I’m interested in CMU because I live in PA, and as you may notice all the schools I’m applying to are relatively close to home. </p>

<p>cellocompmom, was your son accepted to CMU? If he was, you could be of great assistance to me. What did he send for his audition, and could you show me what he sent, if possible?</p>

<p>He ended up withdrawing his application because he had other choices he liked better by then. This was the one school he applied to that did not offer a bachelor or music and we could never figure this out. He was applying as a double major in cello performance and comp. He did meet with someone from comp. faculty before then and went to the audition but withdrew before we heard back. He submitted a work of 7 short songs for voice a piano, a string 4tet, a clarinet solo piece, and a trio for flute, viola and cello. We hired musicians to play on these except he played cello but he is a classical musician and not jazz so I do not know if it is the same. For him Carnegie Mellon was not the right fit and that is not to say it is not a great school. I think finding a good fit is very important. There was another school he was extremely interested in until he realized the focus of comp. department was more electronic music. In the end he ended up picking a smaller school over a bigger name school because he felt he would have more chances to play and have his music play. I think you should listen to recordings of what is coming out of the comp. studios to see if it is a good fit for you. They often have cd’s available when you visit. Maybe you could attend a comp. recital at the schools you are interested in.</p>

<p>We attended concerts of student works and my daughter listened to works by faculty. The aesthetics can be very different at differnt schools. I asked about your favorite composers to see what your tastes might be. Are you familiar with much “new music”?</p>

<p>Some smaller liberal arts colleges also have good music departments for composers, and state universities often have BM programs. You have lots of choices. But it sounds like you have some schools you are sure of getting into. Carnegie Mellon and Duquesne may be reaches, who knows, but you will have a better shot at admission if you have your music played, at least one piece anyway. Sorry to repeat myself. I didn’t think your electronic saxes sounded much like saxes to be honest, so maybe someone else has a technological solution for you if getting musicians is really too difficult at this point-?</p>

<p>I wonder if you could get plug-ins to your software that will enhance the sound of the saxes?</p>