I am an International Student planning to major in Composition in a conservatory.
What are the programs that do not require the SAT?
From what I've known, the SAT has two parts, namely SAT I and SAT II. SAT II is customizable, if I'm not mistaken. What then, are the syllabus or curriculum that the universities or conservatories that offers a composition program are looking for?
What are the universities/conservatories that offers music scholarship?
I will get a pre-university diploma (from an institution of my country) at August 2016, am I able to apply as a transfer student?
How can I gauge if my portfolio is up to the standard the school requires?
Please advise me. I hope to enter the program as soon as possible. :">
ykcomp - There are a number of conservatories which do not require the SAT I, and there are some colleges which are ‘test optional’ such as Bard College. What level of experience do you have, and how much can you afford to pay? Yes, there are some colleges which will admit music transfer students - but you probably will still be required to take their sequence in theory, aural skills, analysis etc. Are you looking for a stand alone conservatory - or would you consider a music school within a university, such as University of Missouri at Kansas City, or University of Indiana?
The SAT II are subject tests and not required by all schools which require the SAT I or ACT - which are the main tests. As an international you will also need to pass the TOEFL exam.
In terms of the standard and current students - there will be some information about that on the webpages of the individual departments. In general, the larger a composition program is, the less competitive it will be for admission - due to sheer numbers admitted. So if a department only has 5-6 undergrads in total, you can count on it being competitive - unless it is an unknown off-the-radar program.
My level of experience regarding music composition is pretty basic, but I do study on my own through online resources.
I don’t think I can afford any program that does not offer scholarship. Currently, my aim is to enter Lynn University, Conservatory of Music as it offers free tuition to all admitted students. However, I wish to increase my chances by applying to other schools as well.
I prefer a program with more emphasis on music and less on liberal art (ie. Bachelor of Music), but I don’t mind taking a BA program either.
As for whether I prefer a stand alone conservatory or a music school within a university, I don’t really have a preference as long as I get to learn the art and craft of music composition and enter a graduate school upon graduation.
There are posts like this fairly often, from someone who wants to learn composition. It just struck me that one way to explain how composition admissions work, is to compare it to performance on an instrument. If you had only very “basic” experience on an instrument, you would not be applying to conservatory or music school, for a BM. You would already know that your chances were too slim. BM’s in composition aren’t really intended to teach people how to compose. Successful applicants are already composing, just as instrumentalists have already been playing, and go to school for guidance, resources (musicians, concerts, studios) and a chance to develop. I hope this doesn’t sound harsh. I just don’t want you to waste time and energy when there are other ways for you to achieve your goals.
I am going by your own description of your composing, in the last post, as “basic” so if this is misguided, please forgive.
Composers can benefit greatly from a BA program- even those who have extensive experience and awards etc. make this choice. You can apply to any school that has a music department with classes that interest you. Many composers in BA programs also continue to develop by writing music, in or out of class, having it performed- and studying with a teacher in school or privately. Summer programs help too.
You can even major in something else and do all of the above, though taking music history, theory and composition classes are obviously helpful. I would argue that studying art, poetry and cultural history can really help a composer as well, and technology classes can expand skills too.
Composers get into grad school from all different paths.
Check out Loren Pope’s books “Colleges that Change Lives” (also a website) and “Looking Beyond the Ivy League.” Another good book is “Creative Colleges” but, sorry, I cannot remember the author. It lists good music programs.
