Hey guys , I will be a freshman at a UC school in this fall majoring in music with an emphasis on composition.
I’ve been playing piano for about 10 years and used to practice daily and compete once in a while.
Now I decided that performance is not my thing and am focusing on composition.
I do modern music like hiphop /pop and don’t really do classical music anymore.
Throughout high school I didn’t really know that I wanted to major in music (until my senior year) so I just applied to public schools…( and I guess UC doesn’t have a good music program)
Now that I think about it idk if I made the right decision. I talked to music composition majors at my college and they say that courses teach basic theory/ music history and stuff but Idk if I will be liking the idea of “studying” music.
I know… I have to know the basic knowledge in order to compose better and have a better background in music.
But idk, I’m just confused. Like… If I want to have a career as a music producer but in like modern music genre, should I start thinking about transferring to colleges like Berklee or CalArts?(because it seems like my school focus a lot on classical music) I know this is super early since I haven’t even started college yet but I feel like I’m late. I met some people who compose modern music and they are going to “music” colleges(that offer modern music programs) and I just feel like I made the wrong decision?
I thought music composition major will be like using music programs online and composing but I guess it’s more of learning theory and history.
I’m sorry if my post doesn’t make sense… lol I’m just super confused.
And any thoughts on instrument tutoring? I will be auditioning for piano but will the professor assign a lot of hw/projects? I want to have time to compose my own stuff but yeah.
I guess the reason I’m posting this is to get some opinions…:o
any advice is appreciated.
Are you going to a UC that has a music school? Meaning, are you doing a BM rather than BA? Did you submit a portfolio?
Composing at school is often classical, and is not composing with programs online, at least at schools with a classical focus (there is electronic work in some courses, but that is different from what you are talking about).
There are music schools that cater to contemporary or popular music.
If you are committed to a UC, you can study whatever you want (if you are not committed to the music school, if there is one) and do music p/t or outside of class if that works better for you.
Terminology can be confusing. “New music” aka contemporary classical is the focus of many schools. That is very different from rock or contemporary popular music.
Yes, what UC are you going to? Every one has a different flavor of music department. Also, you don’t need to declare a major at most of them, or even can’t, until end of sophomore year. There’s no reason you need to major in music to write the kind of music you want, or to do music production. You could get involved with friends who have bands as an extra-curricular. Study something else that you actually want to study - if you’re not interested in music history, theory, aural skills and musicology. (The academic study of music at most of the UC’s.) You must be a good student to have gotten admitted to a UC - however, if you have no interest in academics at all, maybe you should withdraw/defer after the first day of class - and take a gap year to find out what you really do want to study. (You need to enroll and be there for a day to defer, I believe.)
Thank you guys so much for your replies.
I will be attending UCSD and it has a music department. And yes I did submit a portfolio / supplement.
Yes I think that’s what I’m going to do. do music outside of class.
I don’t think I want to major in anything other than music but idk haha.
I was just worried that I’m missing out by not going to schools like Berklee to learn how to compose using different programs and have connections that can later help me get a job.
But yes you are right, I don’t have to major in music to produce music.
I guess I was expecting more of practical music courses rather than theory parts of it.
And by modern music I meant like songs from the radio I guess. not like new age music.
New music is not new age music. New music is contemporary classical, and it is not composed using programs on a computer, generally (though some technology is involved in electronic work). Can you write music by hand at all?
If you do hiphop/pop, what did you submit in your portfolio? Did you have classical pieces? Or did you apply for piano and submit recordings of your playing? I am a little confused and am just trying to get a sense of your situation.
UCSD has one of the top programs in the world for composition at the grad level. Really top notch. The professors there are excellent.
I get concerned when an artist begins with a career goal (film work for instance) or wants to focus on getting connections that will help get a job. The work itself will get you a job, or, at least, commissions. If you feel compelled to write music, just do it, learn and develop, and see what happens.
As for your main question, yes, there are schools that might be better for your interests, such as Berklee, Belmont, Miami Frost, Cal Arts, Columbia College (Chicago). You might also be interested in music production given your focus on computer work.
UCSD does not have a music school, but has a music department. So you are enrolled in UCSD, not a music school that is part of UCSD. So you have the freedom to go on campus and take classes in music if you like, to see how you feel, and also to take classes in any other subject. You can explore and decide on major later.
Academic music is different from what you want to do. It is an intellectual/artistic rather than practical endeavor for the most part.
I haven’t heard your music and might not be able to evaluate anyway, but if you had a portfolio that got you in, and are currently making music in whatever way you enjoy, perhaps you can find other ways to evolve musically or make money with it.
A lot of composers in PhD programs aren’t making much money, that’s for sure: it’s a calling so they do it for the love of the music.
Do you have any favorite composers? Did you apply to UCSD for a reason?
Yes I can write music by hand although I don’t usually do it.
In my portfolio I submitted one new age piano composition and another composition that included different instruments. Both of them were not classical.
And I also submitted my piano performances (classical pieces). It was a separate application from the composition supplement.
I didn’t apply for a certain instrument but since piano is my main instrument I just sent in my piano recordings.
Ah I really like how you said “the work gets you the job” and I hope it’s true. None of my friends/family members does anything related to music so I really don’t know what to expect in college or in the future getting a job. Whenever I ask them they just tell me to build connections.
Yes I might consider later to transfer to one of those schools but we’ll see.
And yes, it only has a music department. I already declared my major as music and I don’t think I’m going to change it. I will just double major or minor in other things and explore then.
Yes I think music composition major will focus a lot on academic part of music. Do you think it’s worth it for me to major in music composition? Will it help me when I do computer music stuff? Because if it does help, I do want to learn the basic theory. I guess I don’t know what majoring in music composition really leads one to. I don’t know any theory so I do think I should learn it though.
I applied to UCSD and UCLA and got into both and was actually thinking about UCLA (because someone told me that I will have more opportunities to intern or whatever since it’s close to hollywood) but my dad wanted me to stay near home -san diego- to commute due to financial difficulties. And when I visited UCSD and saw the music department I really loved it and it seemed to be that they are trying hard to develop it even more. I don’t have a specific reason why I applied to UCSD but I knew that within UC’s UCSD and UCLA had the best music programs.
But yes, I now think that I should just compose on my own and see what happens, while majoring in music composition and maybe something else. That is actually why I applied to UC’s. I did want to go to a school that was “good” in general so that I can explore different things while still continuing music. I guess my main concern was if I made a mistake by not going to a music school and missing out good opportunities to build connections and receive practical education. But you’re right. I will compose on my own and explore.
Thank you so much for your reply again, helped me organize my thoughts!
oh one more question if you don’t mind, do most of the music composition majors go to graduate school? I see that a lot of people go to USC. What should I expect after graduating with a major in music composition?
I was really glad to read this well-thought out, articulate post 
UCSD has an excellent music department, their composition grad program is world-renowned, and many innovative composers attend. In the course of your studies, you will be able to do electronic and computer work, study classical, jazz, popular and world music, take several composition seminars, and do performance. If you haven;t already, look at this list of courses (including the upper division) http://www.ucsd.edu/catalog/courses/MUS.html
I think this covers all of your interests and also offers a chance to stretch and expand. And, since it is a music department rather than music school, you will have a chance to sample and explore other academic areas as well.
This journey, if you don’t mind me calling it that, takes patience and when you look back, you will see that undergrad in many ways prepares you for further studies rather than an immediate job. In other words, frustrating as it may be, when you want to get right to it, undergrad years lay a foundation and then you can go to grad school and focus on what you really want to do, and where. (There is a reason USC has film scoring only as a grad degree.)
Composition at UCSD is very well-regarded, and I think you are in good shape. Your portfolio and recordiing got you in, which shows you have talent and potential, and I hope you can enjoy that fact and look forward to everything that is ahead of you
also PM’ed you