And We're Back (Changing Major from Performance to Composition, etc.)

College Majors Music Major
1

Some of you may remember me (and my son) from last spring. My son, who’d had VERY little formal training in music, applied to and was accepted into SUNY Purchase (and the New School) for Jazz Performance (Guitar). We were thrilled; he was terrified, and people here helped diagnose at least part of his problem as “impostor syndrome.” Thinking that he’d be “found out” as not really having what it takes to go to Purchase’s conservatory, he requested, and was granted, a year’s deferral.

Shortly after that he realized that he’s more interested in composition than performance (although he enjoys the latter as well), and that ultimately he’d love to do film-scoring as a career (and yes–we know how very competitive that field is, but I would never tell him to not at least try doing what he’d love to do!).

Since then he’s been taking some classes at a local college (private guitar lessons, theory, etc.), and writing a lot of music. I’m thrilled to report that he now has the confidence to be entering some of his compositions in competitions (again, he’s aware how competitive those are as well, but I think it’s great that he’s willing to start putting stuff out there, as his lack of confidence in his abilities has been a big stumbling-block).

This morning he told me that after attending Purchase for a year starting next fall, he may want to consider transferring to NYU or another school with good undergraduate and graduate composition and film-scoring programs.

Again, I’m thrilled that he’s now thinking in these terms. One thing I’m wondering is if he should ask Purchase if he might be able to switch his major from Performance to Composition before he starts attending next fall–is that kind of thing ever done once someone has been granted a deferral?

Also, how much would high school grades matter if he chose to try to transfer after a year? My understanding is that they’d be looking more at college grades, work samples/auditions, etc. (Because of a slight learning issue that was diagnosed kind of late, his high school grades weren’t great.) I was suggesting that he look into Yale, etc., in addition to NYU, but he was concerned about his high school record.

ANY thoughts on any of this would be greatly appreciated–you guys know your stuff, and I’ve been so grateful for your help in the past.

2

Yale does not offer composition as an undergrad major - that is the graduate School of Music only. Purchase has one of the best composition departments in the country - that’s where he should study, IMO. Again, IMO, he should save film scoring for grad school - he first needs a standard undergrad grounding in composition, especially as he’s new to it. On the other hand, if he has no interest in academics, nor classical art music, and only wants to write commercial music - he could look at Berklee. He could also during this gap year start studying composition privately. The local college department should be able to recommend some teachers.

3

Thank you. He actually IS interested in classical composing–that’s what he’s been doing on his own for the past year or so. The pieces he’s sending out to competitions are classical. He’s just thinking of the film-scoring as a way to make a living creating music. And we’ve been looking into private composition teachers around here (the local college where he’s taking theory, etc., doesn’t offer composition classes)–it’s definitely something he wants to do.

It’s good to know that Purchase has such a good composition department. Again–wondering if he would be able to request to change his major there from performance to composition since he was already accepted for the former and then got the deferral.

4

I’d recommend you or your S call/email the Conservatory Coordinator with your questions. She should be able to answer or at least point you in the right direction.

I don’t know for certain, but it is a safe bet that to change his major will require a new audition/portfolio review. Admission to the composition programs is very competitive. There are some students S knows who did not get into the program as freshman but were able to audition in as sophomores. That does not seem to be uncommon, so your S may be able to go that route. But definitely call or email to get firm answers. I’m glad he is enthusiastic about moving forward in music and is gathering information now. :slight_smile:

5

Yeah–I did tell him to call/email Purchase and ask whether it would be possible and, if so, what he’d have to do. No doubt they’d want him to submit a portfolio, etc. Sounds really competitive, though–but good to know that he could try again as a sophomore, if he decided to stay. He still enjoys performance, so it certainly wouldn’t kill him to spend a year doing that (and I’m sure that one skill can only reinforce another)!

I just wanted to get some idea if it was even a possibility to make the change after he’s already gone through acceptance and deferral. I hope they don’t just decide he’s a problem child (although at age 18 I assume that it’s hardly unusual for students to change their minds about things now and then :slight_smile: ).

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First, I think this is a wonderful development and congratulations on such an interesting son who is evolving before your eyes (and ears!)

I think he could think about reapplying to Purchase for composition, submitting a portfolio of some of his works. Have any of them been played by live musicians?

Or, he could go ahead and attend as a performer, take first year theory and so on, take private composition classes on his own, and then try to change majors from within.

If his music is good, I think it would be good to meet with someone in the music and/or composition department at Purchase to get their advice on how to proceed. And maybe show his scores.

Purchase is a top notch conservatory with an excellent composition faculty. Your son is fortunate, he is already in! Great if he can go as a composer, but if not, it will work out in a year. Purchase has a dance conservatory and film school, which means composition students have opportunities to write for both. And no doubt there are informal projects that involve collaboration, as well.

He has a lot of talents and spans at least a few genres. Eventually this will all settle down into a clear focus but personally I love the kids like this, who are interested in many facets of music and are finding their way.

I certainly remember him, and you. It would seem the gap year has been more than productive. I hope he now knows he is the real thing!! Good luck and let us know what happens!!

ps for composition a teacher certainly helps (some will even teach via Skype or email), and summer programs are a wonderful way to connect with other composers and faculty…

7

Thank you so much for your kind reply! Yes, I’m relieved and pleased that he’s using his gap year so productively, and feeling confident enough to think in more concrete terms about what he’d like to do (as you know, last spring it was as if none of it really felt “real” to him). I think that being in a college environment–and out of the high school one–is really helping him to have a stronger sense of the possibilities.

So far none of his music has been played live. I’ve suggested at the very least seeing if the symphonic band at his high school might be willing to play one of his compositions, but they only meet in the spring, I think. It’s only been in the past month or two that he’s had anything that he felt was finished enough to show anyone else, or enter in competitions. (One wonderful thing about composition competitions, from what I can tell, is that entrants receive feedback about their pieces. I don’t think he’s expecting to win any of them, but he does feel that the feedback would be very useful, and we’ve talked about how it’s good practice for developing a thick skin in a very competitive field and just continuing to develop and improve, no matter what the results are.)

I don’t know if he’s contacted Purchase yet about the possibility of changing majors before enrolling, or at some point after that, but he will. I’ve passed along everyone’s comments about Purchase’s wonderful composition program. And your point about the film and dance program collaboration opportunities is an excellent one!

Thanks again to everyone, and I’ll keep you posted. I hope everyone’s kids are having all kinds of fun and success in their musical pursuits!

8

There is an open house on November 11th. Maybe not useful because he is already in, but I just noticed it.

Prescreening for next fall is not due until Jan. 15th so plenty of time. If he has a piece for small ensemble, he might be able to hire musicians from a local orchestra or ensemble. Often they will volunteer for a high schooler or charge less (I know he is out of high school, but still). There are also ensembles that are for hire for exactly this type of thing- research online. I wish I could remember the names of some of them!

The prescreen material can be MIDI, it looks like, but the live audition has to have scores plus recordings of music played by live musicians.

"COMPOSITION
Prescreening audition: Please submit two original scores and recordings, one of which must have been written within the last two years.
Live audition: Please bring three pieces as described below.
Applicants should present three original works notated conventionally, if appropriate, and recorded or performed live (no MIDI, please).
The composition interview/live audition entails a brief ear training exam (interval recognition, chords, pitch matching, and scales), a discussion on general theoretical and/or historical topics and a demonstration of basic instrument proficiency. Students must prepare one short work on their solo instrument of choice. "

Again, I would talk to the composition department. Many applicants have done summer programs or conservatory prep, both opportunities for live performance. For a late starter with talent, as your son seems to have, maybe they can advise him.

If he is excited about composing, I really think it must be possible to switch, somehow, but the college can advise whether it would be better to reapply or transfer once there or some other path.

Yes, lots of fulfilling work for my kid, but she knows that composition is a slow burn in terms of "success "and she is in no hurry.

9

Just a note that I don’t remember my S ever receiving feedback from any of the competitions he entered. But perhaps those are different types of competitions than the ones your S is entering.

Your son must have friends who are musicians, yes? I recommend he write some pieces for them to perform - and then he can record it. If it’s an odd collection of instruments, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, maybe he could consider putting together an ensemble this gap year to perform new classical music - he could play guitar in it. Plenty of pieces written in the last few decades include guitar.

10

Wow–I didn’t know that he’d need live recordings of his work in order to apply (he’s probably aware of it, though). Actually, I’m not sure that he DOES have friends who are musicians and who are still around–the few he knew (again, he didn’t attend a particularly arts-oriented h.s.). But if he’s motivated to try to change the major for the coming year I assume that he can find someone to do it. Very good to know about the ensembles-for-hire, etc. He may also get to know some more people from the college where he’s taking classes now.

The competition he just entered does say that they will provide feedback on all entries after the concert at which the winning works are performed (he found it on composersite.com, although it sounds like a relatively new one and I have to say that the entry fee was quite a bit higher than those for many others I looked at there–I can only assume it’s legit!) I believe that a few of the other competitions I browsed through (just out of curiosity) there also said that they’d provide some feedback. It’s not crucial, I guess, but it would certainly be helpful.

Honestly, he can be kind of cagey/private about things, so I generally wait until he brings something up to discuss it with him or make a lot of suggestions. I just like to try to have a clue for when that DOES happen! But he’s been more enthusiastic about composing than I’ve seen him be about most things for quite some time, and I know that he’s very self-motivated when he chooses to be. (He also did ask me to “ask around” on this site, which is also unusual for him. He seems determined, and it’s great to be able to tell him what you all have been offering in terms of info.)

11

And the next competition he’s entering is for a composition for guitar, so that will be great for him (I’d love to see him put an ensemble together, but he seems to have his own slow and methodical pace and a plan for what he’s doing).

12

Competitions are useful if they result in a performance of a piece.

If he wants a list of legit competitions: http://waldenschool.org/about-us/community-resources/competitions-awards-and-calls-for-scores/ and http://www.composerssite.com/ But right now competitions may not be a priority in terms of use of time.

The priority would be to get three pieces played.

It would just be a reading. He can record it with a Zoom H2 which is a small hand held recorder that really works well. He’ll need one anyway. A nearby college or conservatory may have a “gig board” so that musicians studying there might play a piece for a fee. Or, as I said, a regional orchestra may have members who would help. Believe me, some of this expense is worth it (and I would spend money on that rather than competitions).

In some ways, it’s really not fair that recordings of performances are required. Some people cannot afford it, and also late starters have not been to the programs that result in recordings. But it is what it is. And there are ways to get it done. The expense is often won back via merit aid.

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ps Even a phone can make a good recording!

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I just sent your post to him–thanks!

15

I agree with @compmom - the only reason competitions would be useful to him at this point in his development is to get his work performed. But it’s unlikely that most of the competitions, even if he won, would perform the work before his portfolio is due. Right now his priorities should be finding a teacher, and hearing his pieces performed live.

16

I understand, and I think he understands that too (especially now that I’ve passed along some of the info that you all have offered). I think that he actually does have a teacher in mind; the last few months just got unexpectedly difficult financially so we’ve been balancing the costs of classes, texts, etc.

Just on a personal level, though, I’m pleased that he’s so fully engaged in the writing, and feeling confident about getting stuff out there, regardless of the outcome of the competitions. For a long time he struggled with self-confidence and some depression issues, etc., so this was kind of a big step for him, and I do think it’s good practice for him to enter things while knowing that chances for winning are slim, and being able to bounce back from losses and keep going (as a writer, I’ve had lots of practice with that, and I know the value of learning to not take it personally!).

We will definitely work on finding ways for him to get his stuff performed and recorded.

17

If you can spare it, money spent now will increase chances of merit aid, if Purchase has it. We did not have a lot to spare but gambled in senior year and in fact, it really was worth it. Also there is a lot of good will out there toward high school composers, so just asking professionals or even amateurs may sometimes mean a reading is possible.

I forget if I mentioned it, but my daughter did a pretty darn good recording with her phone! She has a Zoom H-2 also. But I think the quality of her IPhone recording would have been sufficient for undergrad applications to be honest : )

So glad he is happy and that the competitions inspire him at this moment. I am also hoping that he can transfer or reapply and get validation with the results!

18

Just updating–my son did contact Purchase about changing majors before starting next fall, and they seem fine with his auditioning to do Composition. He’s actively looking around for musicians to help him record his work (he thinks that his guitar teacher at the college where he’s taking classes will be the most helpful there, but he did say he’s looking at other possibilities, including the ones mentioned here–I do wish that his high school had been more music-oriented, as it could be a good resource for that, but…).

His one concern was whether Purchase is looking for specific kinds of pieces for the screening. I told him that if they were, they would certainly mention it on the site, and that I’m sure that they’re expecting to get a wide range of works from applicants ( he IS writing classical pieces; I gather he’s concentrating mostly on strings). I encouraged him to stay in touch with them and simply ask if he’s not sure about something, and I’m sure he’ll get to it if he feels he needs to, but I think he’s still a little concerned about “bothering” them with questions that they might think are silly (even if they’re not). I THINK that’s what’s going on, anyway.

As I said before, I’ve learned that the best way to work with him on these things is to offer any information I can WHEN HE BRINGS IT UP HIMSELF, and then hang back and let him work it out on his own. It’s like a whole new world he’s learning to navigate.

But the info that I’ve been able to give him from responses I’ve gotten here has been very helpful.

19

Usually programs would like to see three works, written for different groupings of instruments. If he doesn’t have anything except for strings, that’s ok.

20

Thank you. I believe he does have pieces with other instrument groupings, but just tends to focus on strings more. I will suggest that a bit of variety may be helpful, where possible.