<p>Composition - music education - conducting - performance
These are some of the possibilities, I gather, for students wanting to major in music (not even sure if conducting is possible for undergrads). Do all students audition on an instrument for colleges regardless of what aspect of music they are headed toward?</p>
<p>And is there such a thing as an "undeclared" music major -- someone who loves music but hasn't yet decided which of these paths they will take?</p>
<p>Or is it necessary for every student hoping to major in music to know very early what they want to specialize in? HOW early?</p>
<p>There is an enormous range of possibilities, depending on the school and the degree program that you are in.</p>
<p>Some (not many) schools have conducting majors at the undergrad level. Many of the best conductors I have come across, however, did not have degrees specifically in conducting. They had performance or musicology degrees and learned by doing.</p>
<p>Not all programs require auditions, particularly for a BA degree in music. Even within a BA there can be some specialization towards music history, music theory, performance and so forth. A BA degree will typically consist of a quarter to a third music classes with the rest being taken to satisfy the distribution requirements that the school has for all BA degrees. Many schools have programs that will allow any matriculated student to declare as a music major. Some require demonstration of aptitude or ability before a music major may be declared.</p>
<p>Performance majors usually result in a BM degree and have some key differences. Most if not all require auditions for admission and have periodic juries that must be passed to continue in the program. Music classes account for two-thirds to more than three-quarters of all classes. Depending on how competitive it is to get into the school, a few years of private lessons and dedicated practice may suffice or considerably more may be required. This can vary a lot from one instrument to another even within the same school.</p>
<p>Music Education majors often require both an audition and an interview. Depending on the school, the audition can hold applicants to the same standards as performance majors at the school, or the standards may be not quite as stringent. The interview is generally designed to weed out those who look at teaching as a not very desirable plan B and really want to be performance majors. Music Ed curricula tend to be very full, with little time for electives other than perhaps a choice between a vocal and an instrumental emphasis.</p>
<p>Composition programs often require a portfolio of compositions, sometimes with specific requirements on the type of piece and whether they are presented in typeset or hand written scores. Some require recordings of a performance of one or more works. Some require an essay concerning compositional interests and influences.</p>
<p>It is not absolutely necessary to have started an instrument at an early age if you wish to be a music major, although that can certainly help a performance major on the most competitive instruments like violin and piano. I have known voice students who started as late as sophomore year of high school and were able to get into top programs. There are so many variables involved that there just are no hard and fast answers to many of your questions.</p>
<p>Hi lastbird. I saw in your other post that your DD is a sophomore in HS. Now is a great time to make sure she is getting good private instruction aligning with her interests. That may mean a change in her current teacher(s?). If she is beginning to get interested in composition, there are others here who can help with a good path for that. Also a good time to start looking at summer programs for next year so she can explore her potential. She has a couple of years to settle on her path.</p>
<p>I think that other posters have given very thorough info so I am just adding a bit, and maybe repeating some too. </p>
<p>You mention “colleges.” Your daughter may not know yet whether she wants to go to conservatory or college, but for colleges, you don’t even have to know whether you want to major in music, let alone what part of the music curriculum most interests you. Many students apply and include a CD, or score, to show their musical abilities in order to boost their chances, but even doing that does not mean that the student is obligated to pursue music once there. Entering as undecided is fine, and changing majors to be a music major later on is okay too.</p>
<p>Most colleges offer a “music major,” and many do not have any performance major, though those schools of course offer performance opportunities and often lessons as well. Some colleges do have strands for concentration within the general music major, such as composition, ethnomusicology or technology in music (Brown, as an example).
Sometimes there are auditions once on campus, for the performance ensembles/orchestra.</p>
<p>Conservatories are a very different course, and applications for each specialty have particular requirements (for composition, often 3-4 pieces, preferably recorded, a theory exam, and interview, sometimes, as said previously, an essay). For conservatories, students do have to be focused on one specialty (or can later double major) and classwork in music is very intense, though 1/3-1/4 classes are liberal arts usually.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments. It’ll give me a lot to think about. I think first on our list is to figure out possible summer programs for next year! No doubt I’ll ask that question later…first I need to research those threads!</p>