Best Schools for Music Composition

<p>Hello. Just doing some research on the best programs for Music Composition. I have an amazingly talented student and am trying to help guide him into the best program, for him. Looking for a diverse setting in a larger, eastern area (NJ resident), although "big city" is not essential. He is academically outstanding as well as artistically gifted. GPA and SAT are off the staff (music pun). Any thoughts/suggestions greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>The key words are “for him”. I’m not sure that there is any “best” school for composition because the prof(s) and the department heavily influence the style in which a young student will work for the years at the school. Therefor, it’s really extra important for the student to do his research to find the “best fit” for him by meeting with teachers and talking to students at the schools that interest him.</p>

<p>What kind of program is he looking for? Conservatory/music school BM or college/university BA? Double major, double degree? Here is a good essay on types of degrees, for him to read: [Double</a> Degrees | Peabody Conservatory](<a href=“http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html]Double”>http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html)</p>

<p>What kind of composition? Classical, jazz, popular? Has he been exposed to a lot of “new music”? Any study already in theory? Any summer programs? Has had music played by good musicians so that a portfolio will be possible?</p>

<p>Is he a senior?</p>

<p>Does he enjoy other areas of study?</p>

<p>Top east coast conservatories include New England Conservatory, Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes/New School, Peabody, Curtis, Hartt, Ithaca, Eastman. Cleveland Institute, Cincinnati Conservatory, Indiana/Jacobs, Oberlin and Lawrence in the midwest. </p>

<p>For conservatories that are free standing, the portfolio is the most important: grades and scores don’t figure that strongly in the application.</p>

<p>There are many programs in colleges and universities that offer excellent BA programs, some without any performance involved for composers. Grades and scores are important in those applications, and the student can include an arts supplement with scores/CD, resume, programs, and letters of recommendation from teachers.</p>

<p>Every school’s aesthetic and curriculum is different. Sometimes the best thing to look for is a school that allows each student’s “individual voice” to develop rather than a strong, uniform aesthetic to follow. Attending concerts can really help with this: are the pieces all different?</p>

<p>Websites are really useful. The student can look at the courses and requirements, read faculty bios, and listen to faculty works. Sometimes student works are available as well.</p>

<p>Hope this is helpful.</p>

<p>There are lots of good composition programs, at all sorts of different settings - from stand alone conservatories, to conservatories and schools of music connected to a college, to just strong music departments within a college. So much depends, as the others have said, upon what kind of composition program he’s looking for - both in terms of aesthetics, and in terms of the curriculum offered.</p>

<p>There are many threads in this forum discussing different aspects of studying composition at the college level. This is one thread you might want to start with: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/497283-best-schools-music-composition.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/497283-best-schools-music-composition.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>For an academically talented composer, Ivies to consider would be Yale, Princeton and Cornell. If he would like to pursue both music and academics at an equal level - i.e. the double degree route - on the East Coast Johns Hopkins/Peabody, Bard College Conservatory, Tufts/NEC, and Eastman/Rochester stand out. Oberlin College/Conservatory and Lawrence University if he’s willing to go to the midwest.</p>

<p>Tell us more and we’ll be happy to share what we know (which is quite substantial!)</p>

<p>There are so many colleges with excellent music programs, and composers can consider music degrees with or without performance, unlike instrumentalists or vocalists. Some schools will have auditions, many colleges won’t. And some conservatories.music schools will require that the composer audition on an instrument, some won’t. Just research!</p>

<p>If the student doesn’t want conservatory, then I think he or she can apply to schools based on many criteria: location, size, academics, “vibe”, as well as the music dept.</p>

<p>Sometimes it is wise to apply to a variety of options if the student is undecided about what kind of degree to go for. Lots can change in a year. Then the final decision can be made in the spring of senior year.</p>

<p>Since Ivies were mentioned: Harvard has an excellent BA program in music. It is unusual for a BA program in that 50% (or even more) of a music major’s courses are actually in music. In some schools, you will find the major is 1/4-1/3 of course work. Also Harvard has fewer distribution requirements than Yale, for instance. These are some of the details to look into on websites.</p>

<p>Harvard has a double degree program with NEC as well. Tufts’ is a BA/BM and Harvard’s is a BA/MM. </p>

<p>While grad schools have definite aesthetics, we have found that at the undergrad level, that is less of an issue. For instance, at Harvard, the PhD program is considered Eurocentric (Oberlin undergrad and UCSD share this reputation) but the music classes for the BA are foundational and student composers are pretty diverse in their musical styles.</p>

<p>Also, do keep in mind that great teachers may not always have music that matches what the students want. A great teacher, regardless of his or her own style, is one who encourages a student to be him or herself. So, again, I think diversity in an undergrad concert is a good sign. (At the grad level, you would look for a closer match with faculty aesthetic I think.)</p>

<p>Look at whether or not a school has concerts for undergrad composers. But also know that information can be hard to find. Harvard does fund an undergrad composers group, including hiring excellent musicians, but this is through the Office of the Arts and the Music Department, both, not just through the Music Dept. </p>

<p>I think that going to concerts is a great way to evaluate schools, and websites are also essential resources.</p>

<p>Sorry, Compmom that I left Harvard off my list!</p>

<p>Did a smiley face but it’s too short. Now I can do one. :)</p>

<p>A correction of sort: news is that Harvard is going to have the Parker String Quartet in full-time residence starting fall 2014, a big change indicative of a new push to improve performance and composition opportunities:</p>

<p>“Thanks to the Blodgett Artists-in-Residence Program, we have been fortunate to have had a Quartet-in-Residence for four weeks a year since 1985,” said Music Department chair Alexander Rehding. “However, the role of performance in the music department and the University has changed significantly, and this is the right time to bring professional musicians to campus as full-time residents. We are confident that the extended exposure to the string quartet will be highly beneficial to our students, especially our many talented undergraduate performers, allowing them to engage in the practice of chamber music on an unprecedented scale. We welcome the Parker Quartet to Harvard with immense pleasure.”</p>

<p>The renowned Parker Quartet (Daniel Chong, Ying Xue, violin; Jessica Bodner, viola; Kee-Hyun Kim, cello) will, as part of the expanded Blodgett residency, present free concerts each year for the general public and recitals as part of the Dean’s Noontime concert series. They will teach, participate in class demonstrations, read and perform student compositions, and coach Harvard undergraduate chamber ensembles in weekly master classes for Harvard credit. The Parker Quartet’s full time presence in the program will allow for the expansion of the chamber music and performance study opportunities for students in the Harvard University Music Department.</p>

<p>I’m not especially qualified, but I’ve heard very mixed things about Harvard’s undergrad music. For non-electronic music, their main teacher was John Luther Adams, who has now returned to Alaska. I know that it’s very strong for the “European-style” (whatever that means) PhD program, but I’ve heard few solid things about their undergrad program. The comment about the Parker quarter doesn’t really seem to have much, if any, direct impact for undergrad composers.</p>

<p>John Luther Adams was only visiting for a semester.</p>