Composition programs...and what we have learned so far

College Majors Music Major
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<p>I posted a question last spring about summer composition programs for my daughter, who was a rising hs Junior and got excellent feedback. So, I thought I would update with where we are now, six months later, as we have gone through the process of trying to prep for a potential composition major. I feel as though we have learned so much that we would have never learned if I had not spent time reading these discussions. I believe our experience may be especially helpful to anyone just beginning on this journey, who may be somewhat naive, and also somewhat intimidated by the kinds of things they are reading on these forums. We certainly were! I know that there must be others out there reading these forums, who are feeling overwhelmed.</p>

<p>Some background - DD is a hs Junior at a strong academic hs, good student with Honors and AP classes, 4.3 GPA, 28 on her first ACT in September (we were pleased though, bc she typically does not test well!). Has played the piano for 10 years, viola for 6 years (now in Honors Orchestra at hs and also regional orchestra), and the guitar for almost 3 years and discovered that she loved composing about a year ago. Strong ECs and community service. Currently taking AP Music Theory, and has a 97% average so far - the class is the highlight of her day and she just can't get enough! Last year we realized that if she was going to be serious about pursuing Composition, we needed to get her into a summer program.</p>

<p>So, we sent her to CIM's program, as a starting point and it was eye-opening for her and changed her thought process a great deal! She had to send in a couple of scores and recommendations to be accepted, and was flattered, but also confident when she got accepted. But, she was literally the only student there (of 12, one all the way from Singapore!) who had never taken a private composition lesson. And she learned that the "way" that she composes didn't seem to align with the way anyone else there composed. She learned that they all had "favorite" composers, whom they listened to on their iPods...she didn't even know who they were talking about half the time. And while she loved being around fellow composers, she didn't feel like they were "her people." The composer in residence was really encouraging to her and praised her music, but she was not at all impressed when he described his lifestyle as one of "getting by." (Never mind that we had already tried to tell her that aspect!)</p>

<p>So, she came home with a beautiful recording, but feeling completely lost and stressed about what to do, questioning whether composition was the right major for her. (SOOO glad this was before her Junior, rather than Senior year!) We live near CCM, and her viola teacher gave us the name of a professor for private composition lessons. And what we have learned is that it's probably a little late in the game for her to try to memorize composers and gain the depth the students at CIM had, but there is more than one way to become a composer and her way is not wrong! We have learned that a Conservatory environment as a Composition major is probably not where she belongs, nor where she would want to be. Among other colleges, we visited the Jacobs School at IU, and she just felt like the program was still "too stuffy" for her, although she loved the campus environment. And then we went to Belmont in Nashville...and she felt like she found the perfect home! She can apply as a Music Business major, in music composition. She will still need to submit recordings and audition, but the whole vibe is different. CCM also has a new major this year, in Commercial Music, which is modeled after Belmont's program and we may give that consideration as well, although she is not a fan of the urban environment. And, we can't ignore that there may be more internship/college job opportunities available in Nashville, as compared to Cincinnati.</p>

<p>Obviously, as a Junior, she hasn't applied or been accepted anywhere, so we are still in the early stages. And, she will probably try to attend Oberlin's program this summer, just to get something else on her resume'. (She is fortunate though, that she also knows plenty of great musicians with who can play her pieces, and who own the recording equipment she needs!) But, the point is that through this journey, she learned that there is a college where she will fit, and where she can do what she loves, but with a "practical" side to it, which she also wants. If anyone knows if there are other colleges that may be similar, we would love to hear about them.</p>

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<p>I would recommend researching the summer program at Oberlin further, as I suspect it is very different from what appealed to her at Belmont. Her musical scores, and perhaps the interview, are what will matter in her college application - not where she attended a summer program. I would recommend looking into Walden for their summer program - as it is less likely to be focused on a particular aesthetic or direction - and, I’m guessing here, more about letting the student explore & expand their own creative voice. I don’t know if there’s any summer composition program oriented more towards commercial music, but others may know of them.</p>

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<p>Just to add - I’m not putting Oberlin’s program down in any way at all - but if she didn’t feel like CIM or a conservatory would be her ‘people’ - I’m not sure Oberlin would be the way to fill her summer.</p>

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<p>My son attended both the CIM and Oberlin programs two summers ago. He thought CIM’s program was more academic whereas Oberlin’s was more about the composing but with a requisite base of knowledge at least equal to that of CIM. Several of the students at Oberlin also had done the CIM program the week before. While the focus of CIM and Oberlin may have differed in my son’s mind, it still attracted the same type of student interested in composing concert pieces. Most of the students in the two programs who later applied to one or both of the conservatories did not get admitted. The competition is severe for both. One of the essays for Oberlin requires a discussion of the student’s musical influences (composers) and how those influences have developed the student’s compositions. Your daughter’s passion for composition seems to go a different direction from either CIM or Oberlin. I agree with SpiritManager.</p>

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<p>Has your daughter considered a college environment? Not to confuse things further :slight_smile: But many composers study music in a college, for a BA, or in a double degree program. There are many ways to study music, and also many ways to do music, while in college.</p>

<p>You said she is not interested in urban environments. I would also recommend looking at Bennington College, in rural Vermont (check out their music department page), particularly the course listings [Bennington:</a> Courses](<a href=“http://www.bennington.edu/Academics/AreasStudy/Courses.aspx?dCode=MUSIC]Bennington:”>http://www.bennington.edu/Academics/AreasStudy/Courses.aspx?dCode=MUSIC) For a multifaceted kid like your daughter, schools like Bennington, Sarah Lawrence, Vassar and Hampshire might be interesting fits, especially since she does not like “stuffy” places. Bard has both a college and conservatory and might also work. Spirit Manager could advise.</p>

<p>There is a parent on here who is at Hartt, the music school at U. of Hartford, doing composition and music technology, I believe. Northeastern has a music business major of some sort, as does UMass Lowell.</p>

<p>For summer programs, I agree w/spirit manager that Walden accommodates a variety of kids, and kids with a variety of musical and other interests, very well. The final concert there includes classical, avant-garde, electronic, jazz and rock for all kinds of arrangements of instruments and/or voices. </p>

<p>I am not sure how your daughter was made to feel about the “way” she composes. Do you mean process, or product? Just curious. </p>

<p>Auditions for composers are really about the music itself, not the number of summer programs or classes at conservatory prep or lessons or anything else. And at the undergrad level they are looking for potential, especially a personal vision, even if not polished yet.</p>

<p>Overall, there is really no need for a composer to go to conservatory. It is a preference, and many student suffer conflicts about this and apply to both conservatories and colleges. Your daughter could do that. With her varied musical interests, and good academic performance, she could do well in many environments. Does she have other interests as well? (Some parents on here have found their composer kids found other unexpected “passions” at college either instead of or in addition to conservatory, the latter meaning a double degree.)</p>

<p>Sorry to add to confusion, just wondering if such a broad-based talented kid could open up her possibilities some, but if she loved Belmont and it felt right, that is all she needs!</p>

<p>p.s. I would also want to make sure she is not making choices because the summer program made her feel intimidated. Students there may have had composers they were listening to, but that kind of knowledge can be quickly gained and I think the majority of college and conservatory students are not well-versed in modern and contemporary music, so she would not be “different” in many places in that regard. That said, it can be really helpful to listen to a lot of composers and start to think about what she wants to compose in the future. In our experience, teachers have been most useful in providing recommendations and CD’s for this. It is a shame that she felt out of place for this reason, because it really is superficial and has nothing to do with her talent and musicianship.</p>

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<p>Thanks for everyone’s replies! Very helpful, as always! </p>

<p>Compmom, you always offer great advice and information! Yes, she has considered a college environment, and that’s the direction she wants to go - thus the appeal of Belmont University. While visiting their school of Music Business, she also got excited about other aspects of music that she has never considered. And while they are a college with plenty of non-music majors, it seemed as though 50% of the kids were carrying instruments or sitting around playing them. Right now, she certainly can’t imagine doing anything non-music related, but you’re right, I don’t know if it can be entirely ruled out. For instance, she also loves AP Psych and loved Chemistry last year…so who knows? </p>

<p>I’m not sure that the CIM program intimidated her, as much as discouraged her, if that makes sense? With the help of her viola teacher, we kind of had to “re-program” her when she came home, and make her understand that, as you said, there is absolutely a place for a kid who has the talent to compose (and all her music teachers seem to agree that the she does and that she is right to pursue it), but not the years of training behind it. We had to explain that not every kid who is a Composition major fits a certain mold, as she came home thinking. It’s just a matter of finding the school that is the right fit for that kind of student. The other kids at the CIM program seemed to like her product, but according to her, they were a little mystified about the process she uses. While she tends hear a song in her head, then sit down at the piano and play it, refining as she goes, later adding the cello or violin or whatever else she “hears”, I guess they took a more technical approach to composing - for instance, “I’m going to compose a song in B-flat in X style.” I asked her if she was CAPABLE of doing that (seems important as a composition major!) and she says that she is, but that’s just not her general approach to composing - she said she just writes what sounds good to her. It’s only through AP Music this year that she is learning that there are terms for the things she does in her music! ;)</p>

<p>Bartokrules, I believe CIM changed their program this year, or at least that is what we were told. I’m not sure why they decided it needed to be changed. To be honest, I think she would have preferred academic, but there was minimal instruction time. They only got two fairly brief sessions with the musicians performing their work and they really didn’t spend any time doing much with the piece that they had to write prior to attending the program. However, they spent 3 hours each afternoon just listening to music - no discussion about it afterward or anything. I will say that the composer there was very supportive of both her process and her product.</p>

<p>SpiritManager, I hear what you’re saying. I assumed that Oberlin would be fairly similar to CIM, but then again, I assumed they all would be. I’ll definitely check into Walden for her…thanks for that suggestion.</p>

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<p>I am a little surprised fellow students found your daughter’s method unusual. I’m not sure it matters what your starting point is as a composer. There’s no denying that composition does have a very technical side to it - which is why all the classes in theory/orchestration/etc are important. However, whatever inspires a composer to write is part of an individual’s creative process.</p>

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<p>I have attended concerts w/panels afterward in which student composers describe their process. The variety is stunning. </p>

<p>It is quite possible that your daughter has an unusual gift that she was born with, in that she “hears” her music. Others may, instead, for lack of a better word, “construct” it.</p>

<p>With a gift like your daughter’s, theory will help her realize her vision for a piece, help her get down on paper what she hears, and help her craft the final version. But she does not need the background in theory to hear it in the first place. At least, that was what I got from what you wrote.</p>

<p>I hope she understands that she is fortunate to have this gift, and also that others may not understand it. She may feel different in her process, but she should realize this may actually be a sign of something positive :)</p>

<p>It does seem that some of the most gifted young composers (I am going by some grad students, and even prof.'s, we know, at least) are not the most proficient with theory or with piano, but have a natural talent for hearing and writing music.</p>

<p>If she were to have a composition teacher, particularly one who understands a student like her, I think this is the kind of thing that would come up in discussion, and she would feel affirmed.</p>

<p>It’s cool that she knows great musicians and has access to recording equipment, and cool that she feels comfortable at Belmont. It sounds like exciting things are ahead. I just wanted to say a few things about her apparent gifts and the way in which she was comparing herself to others. Good luck!</p>

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<p>My son had a similar experience to the OP’s D when he attended BUTI in high school–the other students had a lot more experience in composing, and most had private composition teachers and/or were in pre-college programs. (The portfolio he sent in with his application contained all the music he had ever composed.) While this was daunting, it really was about the music. He went on to be a music major at Yale, and is applying now to grad schools for composition. So it’s certainly possible to get a late start, but to catch up.</p>

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<p>Hunt, those 4 years went fast! Good luck to him in his grad applications!</p>

<p>(and similar experience here w/ “late” start)</p>

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<p>

They sure did. It seems like only yesterday that I came here cluelessly asking about summer composition programs for high school kids.</p>