<p>I am a Junior in high school looking for colleges\universities\conservatories that offer composition majors without an audition on a principle instrument. I am a percussionist, but I don't think I'm good enough to make most percussion programs. For those of you who know about percussion I'm at a level where I can play marimba pieces like Michi, and A Cricket Sang and set the Sun, and am learning Bach's G minor fugue for violin on marimba; which is probably a little advanced for a typical high school-er. On the other hand I struggle to play pieces from Portraits in Rhythm on snare drum and have a terrible time playing any tympani piece that requires tuning mid performance; which is really quite horrible for a junior that wants to major music. On the upside, I start percussion lessons at a local university Monday.</p>
<p>I'm very confident in my ability to compose and my private teacher (who is a professor at a state level university) says we can put together a portfolio to get into any school. I'm also concerned about my grades because as of now I have a 3.2 unweighted GPA and 3.5 weighted. Because of that I am thinking that conservatories are probably my best bet. I don't know many good music schools any and the only ones I know of that doesn't require an instrumental audition is Julliard and Oberlin, which despite what my teacher says I think it's a stretch. If it helps at all I am looking to go for my doctorate and become a prof. at a university or conservatory while composing as my long term goal, so I'm not too picky about going to a prestigious school for undergrad since I have my graduate studies. Oh, and I live in Fl. and would prefer to study somewhere less oven like.</p>
<p>If I were you I would look at the composition departments which are of interest to you, because of the professors int he department, the fellow students, the performance opportunities, and the general aesthetic - and then I would worry about the instrumental audition. It’s quite possible you could get in with a relatively mediocre audition - I doubt it would keep out a student the composition department had an interest in. Your grades are a much bigger issue as they will rule out some of the best composition departments or , at least, make them a long shot. USC, Michigan, Indiana, NYU, for instance. Although you want to leave Florida, look into FSU. Check out Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, UC Boulder, and Univ. of Missouri, Kansas City. There are so many good programs out there - composers need teaching gigs so you’ll find good ones all over the place! How much can you afford? What kind of environment do you want? Do you want to take only music classes? Do you have a strong sense of your own aesthetic at this point? For conservatory ideas - look at Peabody, NEC, Ithaca, CIM, CCM, and Eastman. You could also get into a BA music program with a composition track - but there your grades will determine your admission more than your composition skills. If you weren’t applying for a major in composition - where would you want to go?</p>
<p>Btw. undergrad will make a difference for grad school - in terms of your development as a composer, your portfolio for admissions, and the networking that you do. However, you can supplement with summer programs.</p>
<p>I could list so many places - you need to think clearly about what would be your ideal environment.</p>
<p>Thank you for the feedback, I have a lot to think about. I’ll answer the questions I can</p>
<p>What I can afford: Well, I don’t have a college fund and I my family is unsure of our financial situation. They should be able to help with moving and books\supplies, but other than that we don’t know. Financial aid\scholarships is a big part of this decision. </p>
<p>Environment: I would like to go someplace that is in or close to a fairly large city but that isn’t high on my priorities… I think I would do best in a setting that is more open to different ideas, a social kind of melting pot. </p>
<p>Classes: I would prefer to take as many music classes and as little other classes. I think a BM would be my best fit.</p>
<p>Aesthetic: By aesthetic do you mean as who I am as a composer? If so, I don’t know exactly what genre I would fall in but my music is most influenced by David Lang, Julia Wolfe, and Michael Gordon from Bang on a can and Yale, which is out of the question sadly; Wolfgang Rihm and Helhut Lachenmann, both are German and only one teaches; Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon, Eastman; and Baljinder Sekhon who teaches at USF. I only listed people that are living to give you better idea of the schools I know about.</p>
<p>I will look at all the schools you suggested tonight, thank you again.</p>
<p>Yale is only out of the question because the School of Music is grad school. Undergrad at Yale college for a BA in music - yes, would be out of the question, but that’s a different set of professors. NYU is Julia Wolfe and Michael Gordon - but expensive and your grades could be a problem. It sounds like you need a lot of financial aid. USC has a terrific composition department, but, again, your grades will make you borderline - although possible. Their aid is pretty good, though. But will include loans. Missy Mazzoli is at Mannes - but, again, finances might be an issue. Definitely look into University of Missouri, Columbia - it’s an exciting program and they offer a full ride scholarship. As mentioned earlier: Indiana. CCM at Univ. of Cincinnati. Peabody. Also Hartt would be worth checking out. They give good scholarships and have some interesting composition professors.</p>
<p>I’ve looked into all the schools you suggested I think Univeristy of Missouri, CIM, NYU, NEC, and USC are worth considering as I narrow down schools. </p>
<p>According to Missouri’s website all I need to be admitted is a 1050-1080 CR+M and be in the top 52% of my class and I will be admitted; which should be easy because I got a 1090 CR+M in 7th grade. I like that they have a lot of ensembles, including an ensemble dedicated to performing new music. I think it would be a good safety net if I can’t get into or afford the schools I really want.</p>
<p>NYU, Juilliard, Eastman, and USC are all great schools, but they are all long shots for different reasons.</p>
<p>I think I stand the best chance of getting into CIM and NEC. I’m going to approach this by talking to my teacher to narrow it down some more then when I do apply I will apply to 1 or 2 of the long shot schools, 2 more likely schools, and a safety net school. I want to keep options open but at the same time I don’t want to be scrambling to meet the different requirements of a bunch of schools.</p>
<p>The problem with NEC and CIM will be financial, if you get in. You’re looking for what is basically a full ride - and those are few and far between. There is a limit to the amount of loans you can take on yourself. The composition requirements will be similar at most schools. I wouldn’t worry about that. And, when you say Univ. of Missouri - do you mean Columbia or Kansas City? They both have strong composition departments. I would look again at CCM @musician34 is there now in composition and could give you feedback. You should take another look at Harrt - they offer good aid. I would recommend SF Conservatory, but again aid will be an issue and living expenses in San Francisco are high. Also, why did you write off Peabody? It’s one of the top programs.</p>
<p>I meant Univerity of Missouri Columbia. I didn’t write off Hart or Peabody, there on my list but I just forgot to mention them in the reply. I’ll look at CCM again. I was going to do a summer program at eastman this past summer but some medical issues came up. I will definitely be doing one this year, I remember being interested in Tanglewood, Walden and Yellow Barn. Thank you again you’ve been a tremendous help. </p>
<p>CIM is highly competitive for Composition and requires pre-screening as well as:</p>
<p>“Two video recordings (uploaded separately) demonstrating technical and musical accomplishment on an instrument or voice. These recordings should present two (and only two) contrasting selections of your choice.” </p>
<p>If your playing level isn’t pretty high, I have doubts about you making it through the pre-screening since they only accept 2-4 students. You’re a high school junior, and it’s great that you’re investigating things early, and hopefully the lessons you’re starting will boost your playing level. The competition for places at good conservatories is tough and not all private teachers are well versed on what’s needed; I’m leery of any teacher telling you that you can put together a portfolio that “can get (you) into any school”.
Try to come up with a list of schools that will include a safety or two but which will give you all the preparation that you need for graduate school. It would be good if you can visit a few of the schools which really interest you so that you can get a feel for the departments. Again, congratulations for starting early!</p>
<p>Thank your thoughts! I was aware of having to play two pieces but I wasn’t too concerned because I get to pick which instruments they are on. However, I wasn’t aware of how selective it was. I was thinking of 10 or 12, so that’s a huge difference. I’m still going to apply because I love everything I’ve read about CIM. My parents have said we could go visiting schools but we’ve always thought about going the summer after my senior year if I got accepted to more than one school. Would it be better to go before I applied? Again thank you.</p>
<p>The summer after your senior year is too late–you will have already chosen a school–you have to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to any school that accepts you by May 1. So…best to go before you apply, or use the audition time as your visit. </p>
<p>You will definitely want to visit before now and next May - and for many schools you will be required to, as an interview is required if you pass the prescreen. (For some, not all.) In the meantime I recommend you start researching the professors at the schools of interest to you. Any program which only as 2-3 composition professors will only enroll 4 or fewer students - perhaps accepting up to 6. Larger programs like Indiana, UMKC, Michigan might accept up to 15. USC used to enroll 8 entering freshmen. Bard Conservatory where my son attended has never accepted more than 3 and usually fewer, and might enroll only one.</p>
<p>I’m not sure why CIM seems like a dream school to you - the composition professors have nothing in common with the Bang on a Can aesthetic. What is it you’ve read that was so appealing? I’d be interested to know how you’re evaluating what you’re reading on the websites.</p>
<p>My son started visiting schools spring of Junior year, and emailing the professors at schools of interest. He had meetings with the chairs of the composition departments beginning in the fall of senior year and throughout the application period. He had to audition on an instrument for two schools, and submit a recording for another. He had to interview with the composition departments at three of the four schools he applied to - the fourth school admitted him without an interview but he had already met with the head of the department previously. He did visit one school only after he was admitted, but he had met with the composition professor separately.</p>
<p>You will want to get accepted to more than one school, as you need significant aid! You have no real way of knowing at this point which school will give you the best offer. You may get accepted somewhere, but not be able to attend for financial reasons. So you’ll need choices next May 1st. This may seem daunting now, both in terms of time and the money involved in traveling to schools for auditions, preparing portfolios and prescreen tapes etc. However, you need merit money and financial aid - and this is the only way to get it. So think of it as one of the best investments you could possibly make.</p>
<p>Thank you SpiritManager and Clalirmom! for your time. I’ll talk to my parents about visiting earlier. I didn’t know programs were so selective. I thought most of the small ones would take 5 at the least and bigger ones would take close to 15. I guess it’s good that’s programs are small for learning. I liked everything I read so far about CIM, the amount of performances, the electronic music studio, the partnership programs and the biannual film project. I hadn’t listened to the faculties music yet, which I should probably do first from now on.</p>
<p>Ok so as far as what i can do now, I am going to get my grades up, continue my lessons, take the SAT and ACT, and look into visiting schools I am interested in. I’m glad I got started early, this is a lot to take in.</p>
<p>Whoops I just read that your timing is between now and next May - what I really meant was May of your senior year! You’ll be sending in your prescreens in November of your Senior Year. Auditions will usually be in Jan/Feb/March - although places like Oberlin (which you should also explore) offer an early review in the fall. Then you’ll hear from the programs in March & April, for the most part, of senior year - and need to put down your deposit by May 1. So you’ve still got a good amount of time. If you can only afford to visit for the auditions, then use email well! Professors will respond and you can get questions answered, and get a sense of the programs as well as the faculty with whom you’d be working. My son sent some mp3’s to get a feel whether his music would be well received. About half the professors listened to it and responded, while the other half said they would only listen to his music in a formal application. He ended up not applying to those programs!</p>
<p>Another program I haven’t mentioned, as I don’t know about their financial aid, that I recommend you explore is CalArts in Southern California. If you’re interested in electronic music, that’s a great place. As is Oberlin.</p>
<p>I agree with SpiritManager re: CIM and Bang on a Can. I also agree on UMKC, Missouri-Columbia, Hartt, Indiana. You might also look into SUNY-Purchase, Lawrence, Univ of Illinois.</p>
<p>If access to electronic music studios is important. Look closely at what they actually offer. Look at the equipment and software they have available. Maybe even more importantly look at the courses and course descriptions. Look at what kind of courses they offer that involve electronic music and in what ways they use electronic music. </p>
<p>Some electronic music studios are no better than what you might already have on your laptop. Some programs don’t emphasize electronic music at the undergraduate level but are heavy into it at the graduate level. Some are focused more on recording arts, some on midi/sequencing/notation, some on hardware electronics and synthesis. It varies quite a bit. </p>
<p>I talked to my parents and we agreed to look into visiting for either summer or fall before my senior year. I’ll defiantly send out audio once I get some pieces recorded. As far as electronic studios go, I don’t currently do much with electronic music, and what I do is ambient or edm-ish not serious composition, but I want to change that. I’ll go back and look at the specific courses that the schools offer. Thank you both.</p>
<p>The problem with visiting in the summer is that the point of visiting will be to meet with the composition faculty, perhaps attend some classes, and to meet some of the other students. None of that can happen in the summer as there’s no one there. Spring break, and fall break are two good times to go as usually college schedules are different than one’s high school. Again, it’s fine to save your visit for the audition dates, if money is an issue. There is a lot you can glean from corresponding with faculty. Ask about performance opportunities, number of students in the program, how one is assigned to a composition professor, where the graduates of the program usually go, do undergrads get to have an orchestra piece performed and, if so, is it a competitive thing or a guarantee, if there’s financial support for outside activities like traveling to premieres or attending summer festivals, if there’s a student run new music ensemble, and, if not, how hard would it be to start one, what is the general attitude of the performance students and administration towards new music (i.e. do they mostly work on Brahms et,. al.,) are there opportunities to learn conducting, etc.</p>
<p>SUNY Purchase is affordable, and a great program, and I would add that some smaller liberal arts schools, like Bennington (google Bennington College Music) give great financial aid. Many freestanding conservatories, such as NEC, do not.</p>
<p>My daughter only applied to schools and conservatories that did not require auditions for instrument or voice, only a portfolio and interview (and placement exam, and in the case of Manhattan, an overnight assignment). Just check websites carefully.</p>
<p>My daughter visited in conjunction with the “audition” interview with no previous or subsequent personal contact with anyone and did fine with admissions. It really is about the music.</p>
<p>Aesthetic is important but not all important at the undergrad level necessarily. Just make sure it is a program where you can be yourself musically and develop your own “voice.”</p>
<p>I know the Boyer College of Music at Temple U. does not require an instrumental audition, nor does Temple have a high GPA cutoff (yours is definitely in range), and it is going to a SAT-optional application this year. However, the composition program is very competitive. My son applied there in 2011 and they only admitted 6 out of 27 applicants. He really liked the program and the facilities though. It is not too strong on electronic music though. Fairly affordable as well.</p>
<p>I would not restrict myself to no-audition programs. As long as you are reasonably good at your instrument and can play standard repertoire it isn’t a gigantic factor in composition program acceptance; your compositions matter much more. It’s especially good if you can play something you have written for your instrument. I would think there are few composers auditioning on percussion and that might even make you stand out. Most are pianists. </p>
<p>It’s also possible to transfer in to composition from other music majors if you don’t get into the program you want but do get accepted at the school. Be sure to ask about that when you visit. There was a parent here a few years back whose student was initially not accepted into Temple’s program but went in as a BA Music major and was able to re-audition and got into the comp program. My son went to Belmont as a Commercial Guitar major but switched to comp his second year. He had to make up a few lessons last summer but will graduate on time next spring. </p>
<p>You might want to take a look at Belmont, my son’s roommate is a percussion major and raves about the faculty (and he has gotten a lot of playing gigs around Nashville), and my son has had a wonderful experience with the composition faculty. It has amazing electronic studios, and a New Music Ensemble that features student compositions in concerts. It’s not a world-renowned program but might be a good fit for you. Also pretty affordable and a very nice campus with beautiful new dorms. </p>
<p>Thank you everyone for taking the time to help me. I’ve talked to my parents and we decided to use auditions as the visits. We also decided to go about looking at schools by grouping them into groups like safety, want to go to, and long shot. I’d I apply to two or three of each. Fall of next year, once I have some good recordings I am going to start emailing professors like spiritmanager suggested. After my lesson Monday I still think my best shot is with minimal instrument auditions but I might stand a chance otherwise. We talked and it seems my main problems are performance anxiety and snare drum. Both of which we can work on. Thanks again everyone.</p>