Best Schools for Music Composition

<p>My daughter is also a composer and classical guitarist. We ran into some problems with some schools because her instrument was not allowed, at schools that held instrumental auditions for composers. She applied to conservatories (and colleges) where she could study composition without auditioning for an instrument, and where instrumental study was not required of composers, and there are many. She continues to study classical guitar privately. Feel free to PM me.</p>

<p>Thank you for the insightful commentary. When you mention schools with flourishing undergrad programs in composition, do you have any in mind? Also, do you have information on those that are more restrictive and those that are more creative/tolerant?
Thank you!</p>

<p>Hi, I haven’t posted in a year or so. My son is a freshman at Ithaca College with a double major in music composition and oboe performance. He loves it at Ithaca, and they have a strong music program. He auditioned at Boston University, Hartt School of Music (Hartford), UMass Amherst, Eastman and Ithaca-all of them for composition and oboe performance. Ithaca and Hartt were his favorites by far. He ended up choosing Ithaca because it was the best fit for him. He loves it there and studies composition with Dana Wilson. I strongly recommend Ithaca College for music composition and instrumental performance majors.</p>

<p>There’s a good reason that there are UNT ads all over these forums. </p>

<p>The College of Music at UNT is the largest in the country and the composition department is incredibly welcoming and comprehensive.</p>

<p>Fussbudget - Are you a composition student at UNT? If so, please tell us about it. We don’t hear much about studying composition there.</p>

<p>I just saw that David Little is teaching composition at Shenandoah Conservatory - and running their new New Music program. I’m sure he’ll bring in lots of interesting ideas and people to the program and make it a lively place. [Faculty</a> Profile Detail | Shenandoah UniversityShenandoah University](<a href=“http://www.su.edu/a/faculty-profile-detail/?uid=dlittle]Faculty”>http://www.su.edu/a/faculty-profile-detail/?uid=dlittle)</p>