<p>Please forgive these questions if it's either showing my ignorance or truly does not matter in the life of a composition student. I am seriously trying to understand what I clearly do not...</p>
<p>Is not the basis for music composition the study of classical music and theory? </p>
<p>Should a composition student choose to study/focus on one area vs. another -- and attend a college that focuses on one over the other -- and still receive the foundational education necessary to ensure a comprehensive music education?</p>
<p>Why would a composition student select a school that focuses on jazz vs. classical? Is it based on their area of interest, the fact that one is preferred over the other in terms of music preference, or some other factor/s?</p>
<p>I hope my questions make sense; if not, please let me know if I'm totally confused or am comparing apples to shoes. Thanks.</p>
<p>I looked at the site for your son’ s school, and it is a program in jazz composition, for those interested in jazz, pop, contemporary and commercial music (film, for instance).</p>
<p>If you want your son to have a classical background, it would seem to be a place with a little different focus than many classical conservatories.</p>
<p>I seem to remember your son was interested in writing film scores, and there are chances to collaborate with film students.</p>
<p>How does your son feel? Is this what he wants? Did/does he understand the difference between this curriculum and the more classically-oriented schools?</p>
<p>He just started and there is an opportunity for him to pull out, most likely, but if he likes it now, perhaps he could stay and evaluate the program for himself, at least for one semester.</p>
<p>I know this is a source of (understandable anxiety): do you have a teacher or other consultant to talk with about this situation, someone who knows your son and his musical interests?</p>
<p>Sorry, I got interrupted for awhile and cannot edit my post above. I found my glasses and want to correct the “contemporary” above. The site mentions “contemporary classical.” </p>
<p>The school site has the curriculum on it, with courses for each year. The first year covers both traditional and “nontraditional” theory, musicianship and composition, including solfege, piano etc. There is jazz history in junior year, and a general survey music history class in senior year. There is a course in collaboration with other disciplines, one on music business, one on basic conducting, and continued theory and composition practice…etc. </p>
<p>One third of the classes are liberal arts. First-year writing is the only non-music class listed on that page, and perhaps your son tested out of that-? Liberal arts classes are with students in many other arts disciplines, which is probably fun and interesting.</p>
<p>Again, he can see how he feels about 1) the narrower focus on music in a school of music, as opposed to a college and 2) how he feels about the focus on jazz, pop, contemporary classical, and commercial music at this particular music school.</p>
<p>It may help to remember, and I speak from hard experience not from platitudes, even steps forward that seem to be mistakes are still steps forward, and often clarifying.</p>
<p>Thank you – all very well said and spot-on.</p>
<p>So as long as the courses are similar in terms of establishing a solid composition foundation, does it matter little whether the focus is on one type of composition vs. the other? I suppose that knowing that classical <em>appears</em> to be the foundation upon which jazz and perhaps other types of music exists, that having a focus in this area would be essential.</p>
<p>PM’ed you with info specific to your son’s major at this particular school. Trying to respect your desire to keep the name of the school off the forum.</p>
<p>If anyone else has more info on all this, they can chime in. I really don’t know that much about jazz composition. It is hard for people to help without more specific info, but it is understandable that you are not posting more!</p>