Has anyone gotten an interview date for Computer Music or know when they will be letting people know when and or if they are being offered an interview?
You could call or email….
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Called today after my son was rejected from his first choice. He is going there on Feb. 21 for interview/audition day. Now looking for info about what he can expect on that day so he can prepare.
@Leao114 What will he be auditioning for? What instrument? Music education or performance?
It’s actually computer music he submitted all his work on line so I think it is more of an interview/discussion of his music, etc.
Tell him there is probably no reason for nervousness. Peabody has a supportive atmosphere and computer music, like composition, can often mean a relaxed interview. He should be able to discuss his process and intentions in his work and so on, what he wants to learn and achieve, that kind of thing, Maybe some of the composers he admires. But it will hopefully be a “nice chat” kind of thing.
Daughter received acceptance today!
Congratulations to her!
My son was accepted to Peabody today, too. He passed screens to two programs – Composition and Music for New Media. But he was only accepted for the latter. Wondering if anyone is familiar with the new Music for New Media major, which is only a year old? Apparently it is part computer music, part recording arts, and part composition. My son is excited about it, but also disappointed about not getting in for composition (he was hoping to double major). He received acceptances for composition at other conservatories; just not Peabody. He wants to attend grad school for film score, and I’m thinking an undergraduate degree in classical composition would be best. But I don’t know. Thoughts or experience with this?
I am going to guess that this new program is pretty selective, and that admission to both Composition and Music for New Media is redundant, mutually exclusive so to speak. The core courses of theory and ear training etc. are the same. But the Music for New Media student works for traditional instruments are realized electronically, rather than in a concert hall, and the focus is very thorough on writing for film, games and so on.
If your son stated that he wants to do film scoring, this is a great option. Film scoring and composition actually veer off into very different aesthetic directions.
If your son really wants to write for enembles and orchestra, not film, at least foundationally, maybe he could talk to Peabody. Even USC with its renowned grad program for film scoring, likes students to “ get a foundation “ as undergrads. I suspect he qualified for both programs and the school put him in his articulated area of interest. I don’t think he was rejected so much as diverted to the other branch of the road. Film scoring is highly technical, obviously. This program DOES include traditional courses for composers and there may be a chance to switch. I think it would be helpful for him to talk to Peabody before choosing a school.
@compmom Thank you so much for this insight!
My son definitely wants to score film (also video games). Given his background in musical theater, he has even mentioned pairing up with a lyricist to write a Broadway musical. While I don’t think his goal is to write for ensembles and orchestras for a career, he does want to be trained classically this way. He wants to attend grad school for film score at USC Thorton, NYU or Berklee. And from what he tells me, they require a portfolio of live orchestral work (I’m not sure if this is a fact or an assumption).
My son has been accepted to BoCo (for composition), as well as Berklee. He also got into MSM for a different department. And NYU. I was surprised he didn’t get in to composition for Peabody, but being “diverted” as you say does actually make sense. Is this a normal practice? At one school, he passed his prescreen for jazz composition, but not classical (and he trains classically!). Turned out that jazz composers have to play in a jazz ensemble, and my son is not a jazz player. He just likes jazz and write for it. Needless to say, he was not accepted. Perhaps he would have been if he was afforded an interview for classical composition.
Anyway, someone recently explained it to me like this: If you want to go to law school, you major in a traditional humanity subject like English, History or Philosophy where you gain writing, research and analytical skills highly valued by and needed in your law program. These foundational majors would serve you better than majoring in something like Legal Studies. Although majoring in Legal Studies might prepare you for a legal-industry job right away, it’s probably not the best way to go for law school.
So that’s kind of what I’m thinking with regard to my son majoring in Comp vs. Music for New Media. Peabody is close to home and there are other advantages that make it appealing (the financial offer was the best, to be frank). But I would hate for him to give up offers at other conservatories to take this one and then find himself unable to get into grad school for film score. I encouraged him to reach out to Peabody with this concern, but he doesn’t want to offend anyone and seem ungrateful, because he very much is! He loves the idea of Music for New Media… but wanted comp, too.
The Music for New Media program has the foundational courses that the composition program has. The question is whether he can get any acoustic performances.
I have never heard of a requirement for orchestral pieces for grad school, among the schools I know anyway. But a portfolio of performed pieces is often required- for grad composition.
Maybe he should check with USC, NYU and Berklee to see what their requirements are.
I certainly understand the parallel with English instead of prelaw. In fact, I often argue that a broader education might serve people well before they focus. But I would talk to Peabody and ask questions. They won’t be offended. It is a new program. He can say he was hoping for composition and why, and they can either agree or convince him.
it does look like a great program and an argument can be made that this is quite different from the English before law school argument. This is less about a broad versus narrow approach, perhaps, and more about two branches of the same river. Sorry for mixed metaphors. And I am only guessing, I don’t really know!
Then again, if this is primarily a studio, applied, commercial focus, that would concern me too.
Peabody has the reputation for being nurturing, not cut throat.
Then again he got into so many great schools. I don’t know how much finances matter. I know kids who went to BoCo and did some film work at Berklee not that they have merged. NYU is good too. I don’t know what department of MSM he got into so cannot comment.
I would really investigate because this program could be a perfect fit if it is NOT a narrow, studio course but provides a good foundation with some breadth.
If your son feels driven to write acoustic pieces, that is important. He can do that at BoCo and get started with film scoring. But the Peabody program seems to lay it all out.
And maybe ask the grad school folks, particularly USC, what they think. Good luck!
@compmom Again, your insight is wonderful. Thanks!
Hi there. Did your son decide to go to Peabody? My son just had an interview today with Prof Dolby as a late applicant. They are looking for one more student for the program.