<p>I was just wondering what good music colleges are out there? I've been researching a lot lately but can't find too many that seem to "fit me"</p>
<p>Berklee sounds amazing, but that's all i know so far, not to mention its extremely hard to get into!
NYU had good-seeming majors, but its really expensive and I've heard the music department is not very good....</p>
<p>What I'm looking for:
-composition majors that aren't just "composition" but specific and seem appealing, such as "songwriting" "film scoring"
-schools that also offer quality education in other areas, as I may double major, one in music and one in something else
-somewhere i can get in for my composition skills, not my piano-playing skills (classical - not very good, doesnt stand out AT ALL)
-not too expensive (under 50k) / where i can probably get financial aid/scholarship!</p>
<p>I have a 4.0 GPA, am going to take full IB diploma, have a few strong-ish extracurriculars, and lots of music-related activities (independent music study during study halls, performing, competition achievements). also a few leadership positions, and random class awards</p>
<p>thanks in advance!!</p>
<p>Can you tell us a little more about your composition experience and interests? What types of competitions are you referring to? Have you had performances?</p>
<p>From what you have written so far, it sounds like you would like a liberal arts college where you could study music, or study something else w/some music electives, and also do music as an extracurricular.</p>
<p>You would not need to audition or provide a portfolio for most LAC’s but could provide examples of your work in an arts supplement in addition to the common application.</p>
<p>If you tell us a little more, people on this forum will suggest particular schools.</p>
<p>This essay can be helpful in clarifying different ways to study music: <a href=“http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html”>http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html</a></p>
<p>Thanks for the reply and for the link! It was really useful:)</p>
<p>I like to write pop music I guess - well, I write a lot of lyric music, accompanied with a piano, and strings sometimes too. That’s the stuff I’ve been performing, but I’ve only started performing a lot since last year, when I started high sccool. I’ve been performing in small events for school mainly, like festivals and open houses and when other teachers visit the school … And talent shows and stuff. Not major performing. My vocalist partner and I were planning to audition for Americas got talent but scheduling got in the way and we couldn’t…</p>
<p>I am also studying with a Rice university student (next year professor), I study classical and composing. But I don’t really enjoy/try in classical, but love composing! Right now I am studying orchestration (strings/brass/woodwinds etc)</p>
<p>Competition-wise, I used to do a lot of in school talent shows and stuff, but last year there was a composition contest between a bunch of schools (meritas composition contest) and it was open to any genre. I won as a freshman in the Hs Division</p>
<p>Like i said, my composition started to become really major last year and we are planning to be more serious about it (more major performances, going public maybe, etc)</p>
<p>So if I was going to double-major, I would like one to be either in songwriting or film scoring, as those are the areas I would love to pursue. I don’t want to just take any “composition” degree…</p>
<p>I think I will look Into some liberal arts colleges though, that particular idea never occurred to me but it makes a lot of sense! Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Some liberal arts colleges may suit you very well (east coast examples, Bennington, Vassar, Skidmore, Sarah Lawrence, Clark University, Tufts, others…). I hear good things about College of Wooster. Look at the Colleges that Change Lives website, which can be very helpful.You have plenty of time to look at websites and check out music departments to see where you might head.</p>
<p>For a BM as opposed to BA, you could look at Berklee of course, Belmont in Tennessee, Cal Arts, and there is a school in Florida but I always forget which one, that is good for popular music. Someone else can come on here with a better memory! You seem to be thinking of doing “songwriting” or “popular music” and there are programs for that, but you may change direction as you go along.</p>
<p>So I think it’s great you are also studying classical composition, and hope you continue. There are many contemporary composers you might enjoy, and listening to 20th and 21st century composers may help you see that rock and jazz and classical often intersect these days. It is still early in high school so continuing with the teacher at Rice preserves your options. Many film composers start off with classical training, of course. Check out Alex Ross’ book, “The Rest is Noise” or PM me and I will give you some composers to listen to. Maybe look at Oberlin’s conservatory program…</p>
<p>You sound really realy talented, to be honest. And enterprising. You will have lots of options. Let yourself explore and develop while keeping your options open for now. Lots can change. Ttryiing to decide too early may actually limit you.</p>
<p>p.s. any chance of doing a summer program next year? I highly recommend Walden School in Dublin NH (google it), where you could combine your songwriting and classical and work with other creative teens :)</p>
<p>Thanks so much!!
And I will definitely check it out :)</p>
<p>I know University of Cincinnati has film scoring or a similar degree. I’ve heard it’s pretty good. </p>
<p>The Media Writing and Production program at the University of Miami seems absolutely right up your alley. It fits pretty much all of your criteria- it is very expensive, but Miami tends to be generous with academic merit aid to good students like you, and awards it in addition to music scholarships. I am a student at UM and wouldn’t be going there if not for a very generous scholarship.</p>
<p>thanks to both! :)</p>