<p>I'm 27 and researching some schools to enroll in for composition. I'd like to break into the film scoring business. I have no previous college education, just 16 years of playing, writing, teaching, and performing on several instruments. My main interest is in jazz and classical. I have a strong knowledge of music theory. I'd like to find a school that will really allow me to focus of original music and less on performance. Any suggestions are welcome ( ...and I mean any, I love to travel).</p>
<p>How about Mannes? They have some wonderful composition professors including in their adult extension program if you didn't want to enroll in a full program.</p>
<p>Mannes is sort of the redheaded stepchild of the New York conservatories, and to be honest, I don't think their composition faculty is anything to write home about. For you, I'd suggest trying to get in at Berklee or one of the California schools (UCLA or USC). Do as much research as you can, and email A LOT of professors to get info.</p>
<p>USC and UCLA are both traditional academic undergraduate experiences. UCLA is a BA, requiring lots of general ed requirements. I didn't get the impression that the OP was all that interested in a traditional college experience. He could always apply to those universities for their graduate film scoring programs once he has a degree under his belt.</p>
<p>As for Mannes, I think you're doing the professors there a huge disservice. I'm not sure what you're using as criteria to judge a composition professor.</p>
<p>There are a number of composition threads that can be accessed by searching. The posters WindCloudUltra and MahlerSnob both were undergrad composition students who don't post all that often anymore, but each had specific experiences and good program knowledge. The OP can search for their threads and posts using the search feature.</p>
<p>In all probability, they can also be reached directly through cc's email feature.</p>
<p>As all too often the case with this forum, I would like to see posters stop 'giving plugs' to programs which they have some sort of affinity (or even connection) towards, while denouncing programs that may be possible rivals. I suspect some of the posters here have affiliations with specific programs and only post here to boost that programs' reputation, instead of actually legitimately helping answer queries.</p>
<p>Mannes, USC, and UCLA are all good composition departments. Mannes is a conservatory; the Californian schools are large universities; anybody with half a brain will be able to figure out the differences between the experiences at these schools. Berklee is a 'contemporary' music institution.</p>
<p>Composition at Mannes is quite an academic feel. The department there is very concerned with composing 'concert' music, and is very in-touch with the current American academia scene. The faculty there is, depending on your perspective, either very 'intellectual' or very 'snobby'. This may not be what the poster was looking for. Whatever the case, they certainly ARE composers worthy of writing home about. I enjoy gms5207's "honesty", but unfortunately honesty is not a substitute for actual knowledge on what one is talking about.UCLA is much more liberal, happy-go-lucky department, with significant connections amongst the Hollywood film scoring scene. Berklee also offers film scoring.</p>
<p>PS - personally, I myself am a composer, and would choose to study on the east coast at Mannes over the Californian institutions any day. That is just my own preference. I am not a film composer.</p>
<p>There is USC's Scoring for Motion Picture and Television graduate certificate program. It is a one year program. It is extremely competitive and if you have professional experience you don't need a degree. Here is a link to their website: THE</a> PROGRAM</p>
<p>Thanks for all the posts!
stephmin, I was hoping you might elaborate on a couple things for me...</p>
<p>What type of music do you compose and where is it used?
Did you also enroll in school a little later in your life?
Where did you go to school and what was the application process like?
What was your major?
What specifically is your preference of east coast schools over west coast? </p>
<p>Any more info would be greatly appreciated. As I'm sure you are aware school is quite expensive and I'm trying to do as much research as possible.
Thanks for your time!</p>
<p>I think NYU might have programs you would be interested in.</p>
<p>Do you want a degree? Some conservatories have continuing education programs, and some universities will take someone like you as a 'special student." Is your goal a degree, or a job writing for films regardless of degree status? What kind of music have you been writing?</p>
<p>Berklee offers a wide range of options, from classical composition to jazz to rock. You study theory there, rigorously, and the professors are great, I have heard. I agree with the previous poster that Berklee might be a good place to look.</p>
<p>If you want to post a little more detail about what you have been doing, and what you want to do, maybe there would be more suggestions that could be more helpful...</p>