<p>The USC site says that graduate applicants are “encouraged to submit submit a piece for large ensemble such as orchestra or wind ensemble .” Don’t worry about that at the undergrad level.</p>
<p>Here is the text for undergrads:
“Students are required to submit scores and recordings of three contrasting pieces of varying instrumentation. Students should submit works that best represent their creative abilities. Pieces in a popular music or jazz idiom may be submitted as an extra element of the application, but the primary focus of the USC Thornton composition department is concert music (contemporary classical music).” It also says there is no pre-screen or audition.</p>
<p>Listen to many composers, including those of the 20th and 21st centuries. But try to develop your own “voice.” It is early to do that, but basically, others are right, I think, in that an individual musical vision may be more important even than competence.</p>
<p>You need three pieces. A string quartet and piece for wind ensemble would be great. Have you looked into summer programs or other ways to get your pieces played by excellent musicians? It is late in the game but there are still a few programs with openings.</p>
<p>ps Entrepreneurial studies are often part of a music program these days (NEC has a good example). Could be a class or could be part of the career office, or other approaches, but you will have ways to explore how to market, promote, network etc. in various ways as you study music, do internships and work.</p>
<p>I realize what the website says for undergraduate applicants. However, after emailing (don’t think I’m allowed to say his name) he recommended that in order to maximize my chances, three large ensemble works of significant length would increase my chances rather than three short pieces for piano. They said that originality, versatility, and breadth are also critical as well as being a good student. I’ll see how possible it is once I get to LA to double major, but I think any formal training in business would give me an edge whether I become a film composer or a contemporary composer. I seem to recall an article on film music magazine that schools that teach film scoring need to add more emphasis on the business side of things. Besides, some training in business would put my parents at ease I think. </p>
<p>I contacted some of the USC graduate film score students on Facebook to see if they could give me the contacts of undergraduates who got into the program. </p>
<p>I haven’t looked at summer programs because I’m working all summer to raise money for college, but I’m emailing people like crazy to put things together. I’m also going to put together a funk/fusion piece for the USC audition as well. </p>
<p>I really think I can put all of this together. There has to be a way to get a large ensemble to play a piece I write. My choir is already on board for my choral piece. </p>
<p>Just being in LA I think would give me a lot of connections with whatever I decide to do.</p>
<p>Perhaps this USC professor may have told me wrong about large ensemble pieces? I don’t know I’ll contact him again.</p>
<p>I’m not taking AP Calculus or AP Physics by the way. I don’t really need those classes anyways.</p>
<p>Three short pieces for piano are not a good idea, it’s true, but I really don’t think you need to write for a large ensemble. String quartet, wind ensemble, that kind of thing, will work fine. Generally the schools listen to your best 3 minutes, but it is also true that along with a certain level of complexity (multiple instruments), length is good too. I know students who have done well with admissions with 3 pieces ranging from 5 to 25 minutes, just for an idea.</p>
<p>I think if the prof is one who has listened to the applicants to that specific program made the recommendation and you’re able to pull it together, then obviously it may increase your chances. But don’t let his suggestion interfere with the quality of your other pieces (eg don’t let the time involved detract from the time you spend on your strongest existing pieces for example) because its always possible to be selected based on very strong shorter pieces. </p>
<p>Does your school have a strong, upper level wind ensemble or symphony? If so, why not ask the conductor if its possible to perform and record in the fall? This was not uncommon at my son’s high school, though admittedly it was a gifted-talented school with high level performers.</p>
<p>My son’s case was different than yours in that he was not applying to strictly comp programs and he had a lot of technical requirements to fulfill in the portfolio as well. But I will say that he went a good bit “beyond” the standard requirements of the program and I suspect that helped him win one of the four spots in his discipline. Comments on his portfolio during interview centered around the wide, versatile, range of styles and his musicality. However, another successful applicant was just as likely to have been chosen for depth, so take that with a grain of salt 
Budget your time carefully this summer and good luck!</p>
<p>My school’s choir is really top notch and consistently takes home first for all of the categories at Disneyland’s Music in the Parks so I’m not worried about my choir being able to sing what I write. My problem is that next semester the concert band doesn’t meet because we do marching band during class and then transition into a concert band the beginning of November. The band is really top notch as well and has a superior with distinction reputation, but I need to have my portfolio in by November 1st and there wouldn’t be enough time to put what I write together. My school’s orchestra is okay. They went from being a string orchestra to a full orchestra this last year and playing in it I know what these players can do. They finally got their first superior with distinction of the century and if I could I want to try and get better ensembles. I was thinking about emailing NAU, and although a lot of the people know me over there I don’t know if they would just play one of my pieces. I was thinking about paying for an orchestra recording service. Or perhaps finding professional ensembles to record what I write. But that costs so much money and I’m trying to raise money for college and an LDS mission. </p>
<p>Speaking of an LDS mission, the church has changed the age for when young men and women can go. 18 for young men. There’s no way I’m applying to BYU. I don’t like their professors and it’s away from all of the action.</p>
<p>I’m trying to find schools that defer admission. Pretty much only USC and Occidental seem worth applying to. Is it possible to apply to say UCLA, go there for one year and then take off two years for a mission? I probably need to be asking people that have gone through this situation, but I love the advice offered on this forum. Thanks again :)</p>
<p>Percphreak, I’ll say it again: a midi recording will suffice for a large ensemble piece. And, yes, my son was admitted everywhere, including USC, using a midi recording of an orchestral piece. Including winning an NFAA Young Arts award. It’s the quality of the piece that counts, not the quality of the recording. If you have two of three of your pieces as live performances, that will be sufficient.</p>
<p>You really won’t need an orchestral piece or a piece for a “large ensemble” if your compositions for smaller ensembles are good quality.</p>
<p>And sometimes musicians will work for next to nothing for a composer in high school.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the great advice everyone!!!</p>