Best Contemporary Composition Programs?

College Majors Music Major
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<p>Hey, just wanted to know people's ideas on the best composition programs in liberal arts colleges and universities... not wanting to go to a conservatory because I plan on double majoring for a back-up. </p>

<p>A lot of the music I've written and had performed has a contemporary edge to it, but can still be considered classical, so I guess I'm looking for a school that has a progressive composition program, but I probably need to get some classical background to give my music a better edge, you know? </p>

<p>Also, how competitive is admissions? I can find barely any information on this online, and although I don't think the music I've written is bad, I know it's not very theory-based. I've been writing music for years, before I started learning theory, but it's still decent I believe. My number one focus has been Ithaca, but I've also been looking at UPenn, Penn State, Boston University, UChicago, Northwestern, Westchester, and Carnegie. Any insight would be great! </p>

<p>Thanks a bunch :)</p>

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<p>In general, the better programs are very competitive. You should probably try to have someone who teaches music at the college level have a look at or a listen to your compositions to tell you whether you might be in the running.</p>

<p>If by Carnegie, you mean Carnegie Mellon, check out their music major requirements and then look at the requirements for any other major that might interest you there. Their music curriculum is not very compatible with doing a second major and it can easily take five or more years to complete the requirements for two different majors there.</p>

<p>If you are competitive for academic admission to Penn and Chicago, also have a look at Princeton, which has some very good composition teachers. Consider Yale as well, which attracts some excellent musicians to their BA music program. Don’t confuse them with Yale School of Music, which is a grad school.</p>

<p>Boston University has a music department that is good in many areas. I don’t know their composition department in particular, but I believe that a double major is fairly possible there.</p>

<p>West Chester has a decent music department, but I think it is a clear step or two down from most of the other choices you mention, particularly in terms of the non-music major. Are you thinking safety here? Realize that in programs that require an audition or a portfolio, safety is a nebulous concept because you can always choke on an audition or run into a teacher who just doesn’t like your compositional style.</p>

<p>I do not know much about Northwestern’s composition department, but they are a school that is frequently mentioned when the subject of a double major or dual degree program comes up.</p>

<p>Note that many of these schools require a portfolio of compositions, plus an interview and some testing in music theory. This kind of information is often listed under audition requirements and it is vital that you understand what each school requires. I would highly recommend some formal study in music theory ASAP if you feel weak in that area. Up to a point, this is a subject that can be self-studied. Once you start working on the ear training part, it helps to have someone to work with.</p>

<p>You might want to check out the first ten or so posts over at <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html&lt;/a&gt; to get an idea of what many students do by way of preparing for a music major. Even though that is about a string performance major, there is some information of use to anyone interested in a good music program.</p>

<p>While you do not want a conservatory, there are some excellent articles over at Peabody that are referenced in one of my posts mentioned above that can help explain the difference in dual major vs dual degree programs and why one might or might not be interested in them.</p>

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<p>You may also want to check out the Master Lists of Music School Acceptances from the past few years and search for schools where others were accepted for composition. It may be possible to send private messages to them if they are still active here on CC and ask what they think of the school. Make sure to read the last complete list at the end of each thread.</p>

<p>Here are some links
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/424909-master-list-music-school-acceptances-fall-2008-a-33.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/424909-master-list-music-school-acceptances-fall-2008-a-33.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/618208-master-list-music-school-acceptances-fall-2009-a-59.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/618208-master-list-music-school-acceptances-fall-2009-a-59.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/817953-master-list-acceptances-fall-2010-a-7.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/817953-master-list-acceptances-fall-2010-a-7.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Ahh thanks a bunch, that actually really helped!
I’ve been looking at other programs over the past few hours, and Oberlin also seems to be pretty great and what I’m looking for, so I don’t quite know… I’m actually acquainted with a music professor at a local college, so maybe I could get with him and see what he thinks about what I have.
Thanks, that was a great suggestion! Do you, by chance, have any insight on Ithaca?</p>

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<p>also, I do have some theory training, it just started after I wrote music. I currently attend an arts school for music half the day, so we do a lot of theory, plus I’m taking theory classes at my school, and I’ve picked up on a lot of things as well.</p>

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<p>Well then, maybe you are OK on the theory end and just need to apply it in your compositions.</p>

<p>I don’t think there is anything I can tell you about Ithaca.</p>

<p>My daughter recently graduated from Oberlin with a degree in bass performance, so I know a fair amount about that school. They are pretty progressive in the composition department, but it is a tough admit. If you are interested in the dual degree program through the Conservatory, be aware that it generally takes 5 years, but you get two degrees - a BM in music and a BA in a non-musical subject. The advantage is that there are a lot of other students in the dual degree program, so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time a problem comes up. You could also choose to study music in the College and get a BA in music with a second major in another subject in 4 years. The problem there is that the College will not let you into the music major before the start of sophomore year. There is no guarantee that you would be accepted into a composition program, and at that point it would be kind of late to transfer elsewhere until at least the middle of your second year. It is a bit risky in that respect.</p>

<p>Some other schools that may interest you are Bard (where everyone in their music school is in a dual degree program) and Lawrence (where there are also a lot of students in a dual degree program.) I do not know much about the composition dept at either of those schools.</p>

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<p>Yet another possibility is combining programs at two different schools. There are specific joint programs run by New England Conservatory and Tufts, New England Conservatory and Harvard, Juilliard and Columbia, Peabody and Johns Hopkins, Eastman and U Rochester, Cleveland Institute of Music and Case Western, and probably a few that I am not remembering at the moment. Most of these are EXTREMELY selective, with maybe two or three people a year going in and fewer than that graduating. The programs at Tufts, Rochester and Case Western are not quite as hard to get into as the others I mentioned, but these are all associated with conservatories that you have to audition into. Note that these also take more than the normal 4 years and some carry a hefty tuition premium because you are enrolled simultaneously in two different schools.</p>

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<p>Was going to suggest Oberlin, Bard, Lawrence, Ithaca (you already have looked into), MacAlaster, Tufts, BU, Sarah Lawrence, maybe Bennington, some state U.'s. Each of us knows something about a few schools, in our case based somewhat on geography, so hopefully you will get a cumulative list from a number of posters.</p>

<p>We bought a book entitled “Creative Colleges” online, which was helpful. Peterson’s also has a guide to Performing Arts schools.</p>

<p>Double degrees take 5 years. Our daughter was interested in that, but once on campus, she actually would rather take 5 years to do one degree! Musicians have extra demands on their time, and if you really want to enjoy both music and academics, it is very time-consuming. She likes going slower not faster, as it turns out- time to savor books, practice and compose.</p>

<p>A double major should be doable. I don’t know much about doing that. It would be good to map it out at particular schools, particularly in light of distribution requirements.</p>

<p>I am not sure about the division you describe between classical and contemporary, in regard to your own composing. Many student composers are encouraged to “find their own voice,” which often ends up in the realm of what is now called “new music.” So you should be fine with that.</p>

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<p>Re: #7,</p>

<p>Just wanted to mention that there is no tuition premium for the Dual Degree program at Tufts/NEC. You pay the standard Tufts tuition but for 5 years. Tufts is pretty generous w/ financial aid but they do not offer merit scholarships and participation in the DD program takes you out of the running for merit scholarships at NEC. So while it’s definitely not cheap, there is no surcharge for pursuing the two degrees (except in lost merit $ from NEC).</p>

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<p>One more thought:<br>
After FA, we are paying just 5K more per year than we would have for our son at the local flagship university (UNC) and he is getting two top flight degrees so we consider it well worth the extra $.</p>

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<p>Would love some clarification about what you mean by contemporary music. Perhaps you could list some of the composers whose work you admire, or give us a more concrete of what vein your compositions are in. No way to know if you’re talking about what we call “New Music” or you’re talking about more popular music. We’ll be able to guide you better once we have a better idea of what you’re looking for.</p>

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<p>Thanks everyone, the response was overwhelming!
I’ve been looking at a few more programs today, and Bard, Tufts and MacAlaster I had heard about but never even considered, so thanks a bunch for the suggestion!
BassDad, Thanks, I wasn’t aware that you couldn’t start until your sophomore year and that’s definitely something I’ll have to take into consideration.
Compmom, I think I’m going to look into that book because it’s been suggested to me multiple times. Thanks!
Spirit Manager, I work primarily with choral composition, and I listen to a lot of Ysaye Barnwell, Moses Hogan, Eric Whitacre, Morten Lauridsen, Frank Ticheli, a bit of George Crumb, John Rutter, composers along that line. I’m inspired heavily by gospel and African influences, but also more modern and “New Music” as some would say as well.</p>

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<p>As Morten Lauridsen and Frank Ticheli are both composition professors at Thornton School of Music at USC, I assume you are considering that, yes? It would be for a BM in composition, though.</p>

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<p>Stegosaurus - that only applies to Oberlin College. If you audition into Oberlin Conservatory, you start your music studies first term.</p>

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<p>Steg,</p>

<p>Given your interest in choral composition and in those particular composers, you may also want to look at St. Olaf. They have and incredible choral program led by Anton Armstrong as well as a very good music department. I do not know much about their composition teachers, but I see that they have at least three of them.</p>

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<p>One good non-auditioned program might be UCSD. Of course the academics are excellent, they focus on “new music” and they have a brand new facility. You might want to have a look. It is extremely selective based upon academics.</p>

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<p>UCSD would be very expensive for an out of state student. Also UCSD is a very specialized composition program - quite influential nationally - but with a firm aesthetic. My guess is it would be a better place to consider as a graduate student when one’s own aesthetic is well defined. But that’s just a guess.</p>

<p>If the OP looks into Bard - I would suggest corresponding with James Bagwell, the head of the college music program, as he is a choral conductor and is now teaching choral conducting in the graduate program. As N8Ma has posted previously, Bagwell is busy developing the college’s choral opportunities. The college music degree is non-audition, btw and one studies with the same composers as in the conservatory. On the other hand, there is a moderation requirement after sophomore year to be accepted into one’s major - sort of like a jury or a thesis presentation.</p>

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<p>I stumbled across this thread while looking up something else, and would like to point out an amazing composition program from my neck of the woods that has not been mentioned.</p>

<p>The Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University is best known for its singers – Kristin Chenoweth, Kelli O’Hara, Sarah Coburn, Leona Mitchell, Marquita Lister, etc. – but has also produced alumni like Midge Woolsey, Gerald Steichen, Linda Twine, Timothy Long and Mason Williams.</p>

<p>Full disclosure: I am a musician by avocation, if not vocation (and whose kids are not yet of college age), who long ago attended classes at OCU’s Performing Arts Academy. Though I have since relocated, I keep up with the school online.</p>

<p>A couple years ago, OCU opened a new $35 million music addition named for philanthropist Wanda Bass. The facilities are state-of-the-art, and the composition program is eclectic and cutting edge. It is run by a protege of John Corigliano (JC was a guest composer on campus a few years back) who has had astounding success at placing OCU comp grads into top graduate programs on both coasts.</p>

<p>I have attended concerts by Project 21, the OCU’s new music group, and was impressed by the students’ professionalism and skill level. Their pieces ranged from classical to pop, including multimedia works and electronica. The school also recently added a commercial music program. </p>

<p>I saw that a 2009 composition graduate won an international prize for her original opera, and that her classmate arranged the grand finale for the 2009 Macy’s Thanksgiving parade. Quite a range!</p>

<p>I will try to add details later. In the meantime, give the place a google.</p>

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<p>University of Michigan School of Music has a nice robust program in general and a well regarded composition program plus ample contemporary opportunities/ensembles to perform contemporary compositions ;). It is possible to dual degree with a fifth year – slightly moreso in composition than in performance. While the rigor and prestige of U of Mich generally is a titch below HYSMP, it remains among a handful of publics highly ranked nationally and internationally.
So if your initial list of schools was chosen based on academic rigor/statistics match, UMich would be on par with most and outrank some. An additional benefit is the size of the school, which enables a lot of choices in terms of the second degree, moreso than Carnegie Melon, to my mind.</p>

<p>What are you considering for your second degree?</p>

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<p>I should add that I don’t know the criteria for your list of schools so far, but note that many of my son’s peers chose among Northwestern, Chicago and Umich, but that Northwestern and Chicago, being private, are also 100% need-met schools, meaning they supply the difference between what your family’s EFC (expected family contribution, a calculation of assets and income that determines aid eligibility) and Cost of Attendance, while UMich is not 100% need-met unless you are in the state of Michigan – which does not mean that they don’t occasionally meet the full need of OOS students at the end of the day. So if that bears on your development of a solid list, you should let us know.</p>