<p>My 7th grader has been composing on the piano for two years. His songs are truly amazing. Any advice on how to nuture that talent? Any programs you recommend? Most programs don't start until high school.</p>
<p>Where do you live (what part of the country)? There are plenty of pre-college programs around the country, you might want to look into one of those.</p>
<p>When you say songs - is he interested in popular music? Or are you looking for classical programs?</p>
<p>As for age - my son started private composition lessons at 8, so middle school is not too young at all.</p>
<p>If you search this forum for summer programs for composition, you’ll find a number of older threads about this. I think that you’re right that most of the summer programs are for high schoolers.</p>
<p>Yellow Barn summer program starts at age 13.</p>
<p>Walden School in Dublin NH also takes students your son’s age. It is a summer program in Dublin NH, focused on composition with classes in theory and other subjects as well.</p>
<p>You might try to find a private teacher through a nearby college or conservatory, or find a piano teacher who does theory and composition with students.</p>
<p>Finally, Saturday classes are often offered by conservatory prep programs, for this age, if you have one within driving range.</p>
<p>Working on his own a lot is really valuable too: often a teacher will inspire, stimulate ideas, a facilitate the composition process, and teach theory and other technical aspects, but developing as a composer still comes down to the composer and paper (or for many these days, computer screen!).</p>
<p>Son went to Junior Composers Institute in Minnesota for 3-4 years. Their age range is 14-20 and cost is around $800 for a week which is a lot less than some of the options out there. </p>
<p>Spirit Manager’s question is a good one. Son enjoyed the Composer’s Institute and learned a lot or he wouldn’t have kept going back but as he bacame more self aware he also realized that he is really a songwriter and not a composer. They now also have a week long Songwriters Institute that runs concurrently although we don’t have any experience with it. There is plenty of theory and other other music learning that is similar, but songwriter’s and composers approach music differently according to my son. </p>
<p>Benefit of a camp is the exposure to similarly interested young people and opportunity to perform your pieces with and for them. Private instruction tends to be young person with older person by themselves which wasn’t as motivating for my son. He is now a songwriting major in college and now loves his private instruction. Don’t know if that is maturity or the instructor.</p>
<p>The other things that kept my son motivated and developing his toward music were:
success/recognition
writing music with friends
recording music and developing complete arrangements of songs (a decent keyboard with good “sounds” and multi-track ability can help)
performing (depends on the kid, but mine loves performing and the attention it brings)</p>
<p>A musical child almost makes the middle school years bearable.</p>
<p>Have fun!</p>