Hi there,
I’m planning on applying to Harvard with the dual music program, and I have some questions for y’all:
I'm more of a composer than a performer, so is NEC or Berklee better? One of my potential career is filmscore writing.
The site said that if I enrol in the dual program I'll receive a BA from Harvard and a MM/MA from NEC or Berklee. I'm wondering whether I can get a BSc or BEng from Harvard instead of BA, since I'm planning on studying math, applied science or engineering at university.
Any other potentially helpful relevant information are also welcomed in the comments
The question may be moot. Harvard does not offer a Bachelor of Engineering degree. Math and Applied Sciences concentrations leads to a Bachelor of Arts Degree. An engineering concentration can lead to either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.
I don’t know if it’s an option. I do know that the S.B. degree (as Harvard called it) has less flexibility, so it might be difficult to complete a dual degree, since you need to fit in classes at NEC/Berklee during your first three years, as well as your courses at Harvard. Even if allowed, it is probably unlikely that it can be done without taking some summer classes or taking more than average each semster.
One of the challenges with Harvard in that for required courses for a concentration (with some exceptions for intro courses) they are only offered once a year and only one section is offered. So your class schedules need to be built around required courses first. Add in the commute time to/from Berklee/NEC and class your options become more limited.
It’s probably premature to ask until one has actually been accepted, but Harvard would be the best resource to ask.
Many composers get a traditional music background before moving on to film scoring at the grad level. Harvard itself has classes in electroacoustic work that give you studio skills. Also, Harvard has enhanced (or at least changed,depending on your point of view) its music curriculum to be more inclusive and flexible, and so that students can pursue their particular interests. In addition there has been more attention to applied arts, including music performance and composition, in recent years, also with more interdisciplinary opportunities. There is a concentration that includes film (dance, theater, film? You can look it up.) and composers at Harvard can work with film students and dancers. There is also an undergrad composers collective that funds concerts, at least one a year with a good professional ensemble.
As a composer, you may not need to do the double degree. You may also want to do grad work somewhere other than NEC. Plenty of composers don’t do the dual degree and some do double concentrations or don’t even concentrate in music. You have a lot of options.
If you want to study privately with a professor at NEC, Tufts, Berklee or other school in the Boston area that might be possible too.
If you want to do science or engineering, by all means ask Harvard or NEC/Berklee about this, but in my own opinion, a double degree in music at NEC and science or engineering at Harvard might challenge anyone’s sanity. Maybe people do it- easy enough to find out.
Also visit all three schools and ask questions.
What is your music like? What is your favored aesthetic?
@compmom I make (and also play) classical music. I create some electronic music too, but I don’t take them as seriously as I take my other compositions. My compositions are close to classical style that could be arranged for an orchestra; people often tell me that it would be a good fit for a film score.
I don’t take lessons though; this is the part that I’m worried about because since I do everything on my own, I don’t have anything to say when I’m asked for education background or current skill level. I’m bit nervous about working with a teacher because it’s something I’ve never done before, but also at the same time I want to learn some techniques for formatting (can’t find a better word) the music.
But the reason why I’m interested in the dual degree program is because I’m potentially thinking of going into music than engineering/science which is another career path I’m thinking of. I expect some degree of official music education as a requirement to be a composer; am I wrong?
Don’t worry about lack of education or background in composing at this point. However, the dual degree program between Harvard and NEC is extremely selective, and I assume the double degrees at the other schools you named are too.
Do you have any live performances to use for a portfolio? I assume you are writing scores. What do you mean by formatting?
You need to know some theory, of course, in order to write down musical ideas and pieces. It helps to know music history to put your work in context. So certainly education helps. If you have already studied piano and some theory, that is great.
I do know people who went on to grad school in composing but did not do it in undergrad. I don’t know any serious concert music composers who didn’t go to college at all. Composition is actually a pretty academic field all in all and most get PhD’s or DMA’s. For one thing, those degree programs are a way to stay funded and have resources like musicians and performance spaces to develop as an artist. Composition is, for most, a matter of long term development.
Composers have more options for undergrad, I think, than instrumentalists. It is fine to go to college and study science, take the music courses you need, maybe study composition with someone and then decide about your path after graduating. It is also fine to go to conservatory and major in composition and then do something entirely different in grad or professional school.
If you want to PM me about your composing, feel free. I am having trouble getting a picture of what you are doing currently and you may want more privacy for details
Just want to repeat that composition is generally done within academia (university or conservatory) for several years. SkiEurope I am curious what you meant Did you mean conservatory rather than “college”?
Oh okay, got it, I agree on that one though the ones I know who did something else for undergrad did go to grad school for composition. For the original poster, it really is true that there are many paths- and timetables
Do not know whether this is useful for a composer or not. When my son, a pianist, auditioned for NEC for the joint program, a NEC piano professor (whom my son knows well and had some lessons before) told my son that the chance of getting into the joint program right away for the freshman year is close to zero; George Li was a rare exception. Most piano joint program students were accepted for their sophomore year and beyond.
