<p>Hi.</p>
<p>I am a high school freshman, and my DREAM is to go to USC for composition and Film Scoring.</p>
<p>I have been interested in music composition for some time now, but I have never taken formal lessons or learned music theory. As you can probably tell from my username, I play the flute. I am pretty good at the flute, and I spent last summer at Interlochen Arts Camp. (The best summer of my life!) :)</p>
<p>Anyway, I am sooo scared that I have waited too late to start my composition studies. I'm kinda freaking out. </p>
<p>What should I do in order to prepare myself for USC? Would it help for me to go to Interlochen for school or even attempt to go to Juilliard Pre-College? Are there any online opportunities anyone recommends?</p>
<p>Any advice? It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.</p>
<p>Where do you live? What are your plans for this summer?</p>
<p>FluteGurl, if it is possible for you to do something such as attending the Interlochen HS, of course that would give you an advantage – although it is not necessary if you can find private resources to pursue composition within your community. Film scoring is a graduate degree, so you main focus would be to prepare to get accepted for compsotion undergrad program by portfolio. Search around this site for folks such as Spirit Manager and Compmom to name a few for advice. Also, check the accepted threads to get the names of people accepted into composition programs and pm them for advice – note that you will want and possibly need to apply to more than one program. Mainly, just be sure to compose, look for opportunities to get your compositions played, enter composition festivals, get private lessons and use summer opportunities to assess your progress/meet composition profs etc. You might also enjoy brushing up keyboard/piano skills and getting familiar with composer software, though most require an handwritten composition in portfolio as well, and many schools are not in love with getting a midi version of the score.</p>
<p>I suspect you have a lot of time to use well (since I know of many who started later than you 
, but I defer to folks with more direct composition experience.
Good luck!</p>
<p>Interlochen Academy is not exactly the same as Camp, though a certain percentage have attended both (as in the case of our students). You will have some sense for what it would be like.
Yes, I highly recommend looking into Academy for the rest of your HS education. You will meet people from all over, really expand your horizons!
Music composition is one of the music majors at Academy, and I am aware of composers who have gone on to significant college programs for composition (admissions can tell you exactly which ones). I’m sorry I am not highly knowledgeable about that major to offer specifics; but you can speak with admissions and visit Academy to learn more about it. In our experience, the music faculty at Interlochen are extraordinary. Their music theory is excellent. They also have a film major (again, out of our domain, so I am not an expert about it), so you can ask admissions about that, too.
There’s a lot to Academy…they bring in guest faculty…the academics are strong…their are performances all the time. Living away from home will make you more independent and capable of travel, etc., useful skills for musicians who need to seek out opportunities wherever they may occur.
Many students transfer into Academy during their HS years. Attending all four years is unusual. A certain number come in just for senior year, but that makes for a very busy year. Based on personal experience, I would carefully look into Academy now with an eye to attending junior-senior years.</p>
<p>FluteGurl - not too late at all. Some composers don’t even start until they are already in college. Some perhaps even later. Please see all of our collective advice in the referenced threads above. No need to go to an academy at this point, but definitely helpful to either get a private teacher or join a composition class. Study theory. Listen listen listen. And write music like crazy and get it played.</p>
<p>As for USC - that is 8 years off for you at this point - for film scoring. That is a one year grad program only. There are many threads on this forum discussing what one should study to become a film composer. Many many routes to get there. No one way.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the responses. Your advice has definitely given me some peace of mind. :)</p>
<p>Flute1298–I live in the Washington D.C. Metro area. I plan on taking music theory, ear training, and music business courses this summer at BerkleeMusic. Hopefully I’ll start piano as well!</p>
<p>You might want to also check out the Peabody summer programs. Many teachers run masterclasses there. I know Marina Piccinini is having one for flutists in July. My D did it last year and it was fantastic.
I also thought that they had a “pre college” program there. Might be worth looking into.
You’ve got time.</p>
<p>Peabody has a great composition department. You could contact them for advice and references to teachers in your area. Just email the composition professors or head of the dept.</p>