as you may know, many asian people play an instrument (piano, violin, etc) and i did too, but i was hella cheeks at it so i pretty much stopped going to competitions. i played piano for 13 years, violin for 7, and guitar for 7, but i have ZERO awards in any instrument so i gave up on competitive performance. instead, starting from when i was around 9, i began to compose my own music bc it was easier for me to create my own music than to play something that someone old dude made years and years ago
i’ve had my pieces debuted in large arenas with professional orchestras, printed and produced, and awarded in my state (7x pta, 3x nfmc, 3x mtna) and nationally (1x). i also make non-classical music too (rnb, hip-hop, rap), and anonymously publish the songs to mainstream services like apple music & spotify.
i scroll thru CC and reddit alot and i’ve very rarely seen music composition mentioned… is it not “highly valued” or useful? i’m worried bc all i see is like ISEF, USAMO, NSDA & TOC (debate), and occasionally like MTNA or something for music performance. im trying to make music composition one of my spikes since i love making music & i’ve incorporated it into other extracurriculars (i make company jingles for my startups / make background music for advertisements for local businesses, etc) but im not sure if i should emphasize it if it’s not something common / noticeable.
There are a few posts here about music composition degrees. I think more colleges are adding to their degree offerings to incorporate production/composition, etc. This takes a very specific talent and just not as common which does not mean it is not valued. Im in awe of musically inclined people as it is not something I could ever do!
You sound very gifted and will likely have several options for you to continue your education and love of music! Best of luck!
ah i forgot to specify the issue here
first off thank you so much for your kind words, it means a lot
the issue is that i want to go into a business major, and i’ve done a lot of ecs related to business (two startups, nonprofit, debate, stuco, etc), and i was contemplating quitting music composition during HS.
i ended up weaving in composition into my other ecs like i mentioned above (scoring advertisements, selling jingles)
would a spike in music “distract” from my application’s indicated major being business?
I see it as nothing but a positive. You are creative and ingenious! These are skills needed to be successful in business and you very easily could spin your past music composing to show how you have positively marketed your skills.
Would you consider a music business degree to tie in both worlds?
You don’t make something a spike. Also, shotgunning all the Ivies is a good way to get 8 rejection letters. There are very few people that match to all 8. Do want you love and then highlight it on your application.
yeah, i think i noted that shotgunning ivies isn’t something I want to do but more of something my parents (immigrants from s. korea) want me to do… i didn’t say that i expected to get into all 8, nor did i say that its my goal to get into them
You might check out the programs at Northeastern. Their College of Arts, Media & Design has a Music Industry major, several different Media Arts majors, and a Music Composition minor. Their co-op program places students in a variety of music industry roles. There’s also a residential “living/learning community” that is music focused, leaning toward the business/industry side of music according to the student I know who was in it.
NYU could be a good fit also. Their Music Business and Music Composition majors are both BM programs in Steinhardt, but Music Business students take business courses through Stern.
USC is another possibility, with very strong music industry connections and good flexibility to combine your interests.
U of Miami could be a good safety - also U of Denver.
