<p>My 12th grade son does not know what music school to choose. He has a passion for music and cannot see himself doing anything else in life. Dad and I have encouraged him to do a double major, and he understands the importance of having another major and has agreed. He plays the trumpet, but will major in composition. He has taken Music Theory and Ear Training Lab I and II at the community college and will take III and IV starting in the fall.He has composed on his own and is currently taking private lessons in composition. Years ago, his goal was to play in an orchestra. Now, he has no plans for trumpet performance except to accept opportunities to play as a way of making extra money. He is a solid performer - not 1st chair, no state competitions (not allowed because he is home-educated), no solo repertoire except for solo & ensemble festival at the district level, plays in youth orchestra. He will have an opportunity to have compositions played and recorded through his private instructor. He wants to compose as a career. His goal is to compose film scores. I cannot assess his talent as a composer because I am not a musician. After looking at the score of an orchestral piece he wrote himself, his private teacher feels like he has an underdeveloped talent. She recommended him for their school's honor program. But I've had another composer look at the same piece and (in so many words) say that he wasn't impressed except for the fact that he completed an entire 20 minute score for a full orchestra. Needless to say, I'm confused as to whether or not he has potential. That is beside the point, though. I'm here to ask about universities with good/great music programs with especially good composition and brass instruction. My son does not want to attend a conservatory because he plans to double major with a non-music subject. We live in Maryland and would like to stay within 300 or so miles (MD, NY, PA, VA, DE, NC, etc.) from this area; although he is not against going further. As a matter of fact, he'd like to attend USC, but he is not willing to jump through their hoops for homeschoolers. ANY advice would be appreciated. Oh, my son is solid academically - 3.87 GPA, college courses with 3.85 GPA, several courses taken through outside providers, very good SAT/ACT scores (well above national averages, but not full-ride scholarship worthy).</p>
<p>Please post this in the Music Major forum. There are many parents of composition majors posting there, myself included. Whenever anyone discusses double majoring with music - we like to direct them to the invaluable Peabody post about the differences between double majoring, double degrees, a BA in Music and a BM in Music. [Peabody</a> Institute - Conservatory Admissions: The Double Degree Dilemma](<a href=“http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/doubledegree]Peabody”>http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/doubledegree)</p>
<p>If he wants to ‘double major’ he’ll want to pursue a BA and not a BM. If he’s willing to take 5 years for a double degree - then he can get a BM in Music Composition and a BA in something else. (My son is at Bard College Conservatory where every music student is required to get a second degree in the college in an area other than Music - and it takes five years.)</p>
<p>For an interest in writing film scores - he should definitely check out NYU’s program. Also, there is no reason he could not study composition as a BA in Music in a liberal arts setting - such as at Swarthmore, Williams, Tufts, Goucher, or any number of schools including your state flagships. Almost every music program offers an emphasis in composition and music theory. Most programs for film scoring are graduate certificate programs. The other suggestion often made for those interested in writing for film is to go to a college with a strong film department and make friends with the incipient filmmakers there! Connections, after all, are everything when it comes to the film business.</p>
<p>If he wants a technologically focused approach to composition - then the PAT program at Univ. of Michigan is something he should look at. Multimedia, engineering, computer programming with a composition emphasis. There is a very knowledgeable poster in the Music Major Forum whose son is currently in the program. There are some similar programs offered elsewhere, as well.</p>
<p>There are many many threads about how to choose a school for music composition - do a search within the Music Major Forum to get started. Then, once you have more specific questions, we’ll be able to help you narrow down the field or give you suggestions.</p>
<p>Thank you SpiritManager. I am new to this site and had some trouble figuring out the forums. As you suggested, I posted on the Music Majors. </p>
<p>My son and I have read Peabody’s info about double major/double degree. I think that I may go back to refresh my memory. </p>
<p>I will take your advice and do a search within the music major forurm.</p>
<p>My D had a friend in a similar situation and he will be attending Bard next year. He also liked Skidmore and didn’t get into Oberlin.</p>
<p>Indiana University, but admission to Composition is very difficult.</p>