<p>Good advice...
hey Mahlersnob, how's the scene there at NEC? I really should come to some concerts since I'm so close and I feel really bad...any coming up soon?
I'd really wish there was more support for composers among the community.</p>
<p>I'm actually conducting a piece on a composer concert tomorrow in Jordan. It's the Tuesday Night New Music (the NEC new music series) for graduating composers, and I'll be doing a piece for two string quartets and trumpet. Fun stuff, though I don't really have to do much.
There is almost always something going on at NEC, and the performances are almost always free. Student recitals happen most nights, large ensemble concerts ae typically on Wednesday nights. Check the NEC website (<a href="http://www.newenglandconservatory.edu%5B/url%5D">www.newenglandconservatory.edu</a>) for specifics.</p>
<p>Spirit, Wesleyan is ur back up right? It's only good for back up.</p>
<p>Mahlersnob, thx for all those advices.
Do you know anything about Berklee's composition department?
I always thought Berklee was one of those contemporary schools that has mostly jazz, pop, rock, etc. I actually read their information paragraph about their composition major and it seems like they teach traditional techniques as well. Is it good for a traditional composer to go to Berklee? Their 4000 undergraduate student body and 38 composition faculty drew my attention.
Also, what's the difference between their composition major and contemporary writing and production major. For some reason, my computer won't load the pdf file that has the BM's requirement page.
Maybe someone can post BM requirement page on here.</p>
<p>San Francisco Conservatory has 315 students total(157 undergrad) including all of their majors and 8 composition faculty
I don't know about having a small composition department because they have 8 composition faculties just like NEC. They have small amount of total students compared to NEC (789 total students) though. That's partly because NEC has jazz studies while San Francisco doesn't.</p>
<p>I don't recommend Berklee for music composition...film scoring maybe...but not composition...</p>
<p>Is Eastman undergraduate program good?</p>
<p>Eastman has a very good composition programme from what I know. Milton Babbitt used to teach there I think.</p>
<p>(edit: Samuel Adler, not Milton Babbitt.)</p>
<p>Saying a composition department is good and then following that with a mention of Milton Babbitt seems strange...lol
Anyway...Babbitt is a good teacher and still teaches at Juilliard. I know he used to teach at Columbia and Princeton but I'm not sure if he ever taught at Eastman. Anyone? I also am not sure if keven17ym knows who Babbitt is.</p>
<p>oh gosh, I'm so sorry. I meant Samuel Adler. how could I have confused them!!! anyway.</p>
<p>this is a very interesting topic. you guys seem to have a lot of knowledge of most (if not all!) composition departments across the country. I'm an aspiring composer too, interested mostly in late 19th C - early 20th C, late romantic, symphonic music. I love the works composers such as (and it's a big range) Wagner, Mahler, Vaughan-Williams, Korngold, and most of the Russian 20th C composers (Shostakovich etc). </p>
<p>I was trained classically as a violinist, have been playing the piano for pretty long, and for the past year I have attended a conservatory. now I desire to study music academically instead and hopefully(!) have a shot at composing. I'm currently planning to transfer to study academic music / Composition.</p>
<p>do you have any suggestions?? thanks.</p>
<p>Hey yw37, what school are you at right now?
Send me a pm if you want. Best, E.</p>
<p>Adler and Babbitt seem to look alike. They are currently at Juilliard.
I heard rumors about Juilliard that they don't focus more on undergraduate.
I think Juilliard will be a good option for graduate.</p>
<p>they're both extremely well established composers/musicologists. but elderly too, so yeah... I don't think they would care much for undergrad students.</p>
<p>Anybody have experience with Yale's department? I have very little composition experience but a strong percussion, piano, and theory background and have always wanted to start composing seriously. I enjoy just about every genre of music and want experience in them all, but am particularly drawn to the Romantic composers (Brahms!) as well as newer comoposers (Prokofiev, Ives, Cage)</p>
<p>brahms0788
Yale university does not offer a BM program. They only offer BA which is not really a professional degree because the curriculum is lighter than BM. Also, Yale is very academic. Even though you are a music student, they will want high GPA, SAT scores, etc... If you are academically strong, it's fine.
Yale, to me, seems better for graduate although people tell me they have a great BA program.</p>
<p>Also, another information request :)
Informations on Manhattan School of Music BM Composition program please!!</p>
<p>Kevin,
Thanks. I probably should have been more clear though; I've been accepted there and am making my college decision in the next days. I was just trying to see what opportunities that I could find there.</p>
<p>brahms0788, I strongly recommend going to Yale. They have a wonderful undergraduate music program and it is very possible to have a lot of interaction with the graduate performers and composers at the graduate level.</p>
<p>I am SURPRISED that no one mentioned Cincinnati Conservatory of Music,which is part of the University of Cincinnati. They have a fabulous music program and is very strong on composition.</p>
<p>My wife's uncle,who was a Tony award winning composer, could have gone to any music school that he wanted. He ended up at CCM with a full scholarship.By the way, they have a lot of money for scholarships. All of his life, he raved about their program. His name,by the way, was Albert Hague. You can look him up. He was also the professor in the movie and show "Fame."</p>
<p>One of our son's college music profs (a wonderful performer) started out at Cincinnati Conservatory for undergrad and then to Juilliard for grad.
I had never heard of Cincinnati before son told us of this.
Glad to hear it's a great program.</p>
<p>Maybe I should suggest son put it on his list for grad school.....</p>
<p>I auditioned at CCM (Cincinnati) when I was looking at undergrad programs. Cincinnati has a beautiful facility, and it seems to be - generally - a good music school. However, I did not like the composition faculty in my interview. One faculty member in particular seemed to be one of the most unpleasent people I've ever met. Also, Cincinnati is a terrible place.</p>
<p>Ehh...CCM? Currently (for composition), it is both unknown and uninteresting. I've looked at the profiles of the composers on the faculty; its just doesnt look very interesting. </p>
<p>Taxguy, the program may have been very strong at once, but departments such as these quickly change in quality depending on the roster of faculty members.</p>