<p>Just curious - does anyone have any experience with the Brevard summer program? DS is playing with the idea of going this summer - he was accepted, but not as a TA, which was his goal. We're not sure if he should go to Brevard and basically "go to camp" for the summer while writing music in his spare time, or whether he'd be better off taking some teacher-training type programs at different schools, which would offer certifications that would actually enhance his resume. He's supposed to call Brevard and try to find out what the composers actually do all day, since they don't play in ensembles or have rehearsals to attend, but he's in the middle of editing a piece of music for performance in a couple of weeks, and I suspect he'll forget about Brevard until the day he has to tell them that he is or is not attending. Any information about the program would be appreciated.</p>
<p>My S attended Brevard a few years ago, while in HS. He had a fabulous time. Studied an instrument, but we paid extra for composition "lessons" as well. He had an excellent comp. teacher -- from Indiana U., I think. Well worth the money. The comp. students spend a lot of time in the computer lab -- I can't remember which program they use. Finale, maybe? They also have their own recital. Brevard also has a rep. orchestra, which performs the students' compositions. </p>
<p>From your post, I'm assuming your S is older. There are a bunch of orchestras, which students are officially auditioned for, but actually, the HS students end up in the lower ones, and the college students end up in the higher ones. Many of the college students are counselors in the cabins. None of my S's teachers (instrument, theory, and composition) were students -- they were all college teachers or professors.</p>
<p>The most positive thing my S took from camp was the networking. It was also beneficial to him to have "assignments" as opposed to writing music on his own. But if your S is studying composition in college already, that may be less important to him. As my S was still in HS, he also benefited from the college fair, meeting and working with different teachers, meeting college students from different places (to hear first hand), and so on.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information, Binx. We just got off the phone with DS, and the decision has finally been made that he will not attend Brevard this summer. Yes, he is older, he's graduating conservatory with a BMus in Composition in May, although he'll still be completing a second BMus in Music Education as well as a MMus in Composition. He did actually call Brevard today, and spoke with someone who identified himself as a Dean or Director (can't remember which) of the summer program, and they had an informative conversation about what kind of schedule and "program" the older comp. students participate in. To a large extent it sounded like he would basically be on his own, with occasional opportunities for Master Classes with guest composers and sporadic lessons with the in-house senior-student comp. prof, the hiring of whom hasn't been finalized yet. There don't appear to be regularly scheduled lessons of any kind for the senior comp. students, and they seem to be pretty much left to their own devices - if they feel like writing, they write. DS did hear about the rep. group that would be available to perform their compositions, and he was told that one of the orchestras would be available to do a reading of an orchestral piece that he has just begun and must complete as part of his Masters. Otherwise, there didn't seem to be much, if any, structure to the program, and that concerned us all. </p>
<p>Instead of Brevard, DS has decided to attend a variety of summer programs at different schools, working for certification in Orff, Kodaly and other teaching methods. We all feel that, in the long run, this is likely to be more beneficial to his teaching career than spending the summer schmoozing with other composition students at Brevard, as much fun as that would doubtless be. As you pointed out, the networking would have been useful, but hopefully he'll have lots of opportunities to network at the different programs and schools as well. LOL, I can't wait until this kid completes all his degrees, graduates, and gets a job! Then maybe we can all stop worrying about how he'll spend his summer.</p>
<p>binx, was your son's prof Don Freund? I think he teaches at Brevard and IU. Wonderful composer and interesting human. I studied comp. with his son for 3 summers, and he came in and lectured to us some and played his music. Very playful style.</p>
<p>Yes, it was Don Freund. My S really enjoyed him, and learned a lot from him.</p>
<p>MarcyR - I think in your S's situation, I would have made the same decision.</p>