Hi there! I am the parent of a high senior who was recently accepted to the Peabody Conservatory for their new BM program, Music for New Media. I’d love to hear from current students or parents of recently admitted students who are considering the program. My son needs to decide between different schools and programs within the next few weeks here. For those seriously considering Peabody’s New Media major, why are you choosing it over others and what is your career goal? And for those accepted, but choosing other programs instead, was there a reason why you’re not going with Peabody? Thanks for information one way or the other!
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For others: https://peabody.jhu.edu/academics/instruments-areas-of-study/music-for-new-media/
I don’t have personal knowledge so am just interested in this new major that Peabody is offering.
On this forum, the majority of posts from high school composers seems to concern writing for film or video games. More traditional classical composers may have teachers or be in conservatory prep programs and therefore don’t need to post. But I imagine this new Peabody major is pretty selective given the amount of interest in this field.
My question would be whether it is useful to get a broader education at the undergrad level and focus on “new media” for grad school. But that may be an old-fashioned view. This program may be less of a narrowing of the road and more of a fork, if that makes sense. It certainly seems more “applied” than theoretical, which can be a pro or a con depending on the student and the student’s goals.
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For those who might be interested in this new program, there isn’t much information out there because it’s so new. But in Peabody’s proposal for the new major, it states the following:
“The MFN concentration is designed for students with a particular interest in composing and producing music for emerging areas of non-linear entertainment, such as computer games, virtual reality, augmented reality, and 3D spatialized sound for location-based experience.”
Although I have not compared the course trajectory to that of the standard composition program offered, Peabody’s admissions office provided a 4-year course of study plan. In addition to specific classes for the major, “supportive courses in music” include four semesters of ear training (2 years), four semesters of keyboard studies (2 years), six semesters of music theory (3 years), and four semesters of music history (2 years). Then there are additional required classes of instrumentation/arranging, programming, recording, sound design for video games, and mixing sound and music for picture. And of course general studies classes plus electives. Peabody also has the required “professional studies” for everyone. I think this is focused on entrepreneurship.
Looks like the core Music for New Media major classes include: Music for New Media I-IV, The Tools of New Media I-II, and a capstone project in senior year. Private composition lessons are in the junior and senior years only. But the class sizes are very small.
The program is headed by Thomas Dolby. Some may know him as the artist who released the hit single, “She Blinded Me With Science” in 1982. He also founded a sound technology company, who I believe was responsible for the Nokia ring tone. But he has done so much more. Here is a link to the spotlight video on the program:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LU2D8bC32E
Still, the question is: For a student with serious aspirations to score films and video games, would it be better to major in composition first before narrowing the focus on writing for new media. Some of the top grad programs for screen scoring require candidates to have a solid “compositional foundation” in addition to experience writing for screen work. Portfolios should include sample work of your music with film or animation. I also read that the preference is for live recorded music at these programs. One said that MIDI files are still acceptable though (I doubt it would be okay for graduate composition though!)
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The website seems to say that Music for New Media composers would not have live performances by musicians:
“Compositions scored for traditional instruments will be realized through software emulation, and you will have ample opportunities to record and mix music in the Recording Arts department’s state-of-the-art studios.”
This would be my only concern, along with the focus of lessons I suppose. Peabody has always emphasized learning by having pieces read or performed by musicians. It depends on how your son feels 
For someone who intends to go to grad school, the broader focus on composing might be better. I don’t really know- i guess it depend ! Have you talked with the program director about this, or maybe checked with the grad program folks at USC, for example?
Also, would he be able to transfer to traditional composition at Peabody if he wanted to?
It’s so new you might not get many responses. Maybe the program could connect you with others-?
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My son spent quite some time drafting an email to the dept. head yesterday and he already received a response this morning. It was a somewhat convincing email, but my son (and I) still have many of the same concerns as the course trajectory is what it is. My son likes the idea of having a private teacher all four years, which he won’t get here. He also really wants live recorded performances, which is not promised. But the visual media work seems to be just as (or more so) important for screen scoring in grad school, and that he definitely would get here. My guess is that most students going into those grad programs have a BM in Composition. But that may be changing as these new programs pop up. I don’t know.
It sounds like the Music for New Media (MFN) program is really geared toward immediate work upon graduation. That would be work as a film, television and gaming composer, producer, editor, sound engineer, etc. My son was told that the MFN major would set him up very nicely for grad school, but that graduate education may not be necessary as he could work right away. That may be very true, but I also think that some of the top grad programs for screen scoring are specific to film and in areas where networking might be more accessible (i.e. NYC and LA). So I still (personally) think grad school would not be a bad idea afterward.
Regarding acoustic performances, it sounds like its not promised, but that there is a “possibility” of getting work performed by the Peabody Symphony. No guarantee though. But I think the portfolio resulting from this program will most certainly provide good visual media work from collaborations with the game design department at Johns Hopkins engineering school and the shared film center between JHU and the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). There are always summer music programs with opportunity to have music recorded live, I suppose.
So from what my son and I have learned, here is the takeaway: The program is a very industry-based one. Great for getting a job right out of college without having to go to grad school, but also a good set up if this is the goal. It’s also a solid music degree with the same core classes that all music students at the conservatory take (theory, ear training, etc.). But private instruction is only the final two years. Being part of JHU, there are collaborative efforts with the engineering school and MICA. Portfolio will be realized electronically, assuming with accompanied picture. Acoustic performance is possible, but not guaranteed (the student probably has to make the effort to make this happen… which is probably important if planning to attend grad school). Given how new the program is, I’m sure the students receive a lot of attention, which is great. It’s very different from your traditional composition degree, which is not so much broader as it is just very different. Apparently very different elements, form and structure.
A lot to think about…
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I think that is key- traditional composition isn’t necessarily broader but different. That’s what I meant when I said it wasn’t a narrowing of the road, but a fork
This is a pretty thorough description that will help others.
There are so many variations of music technology, studio production, mixed media, audio production etc. etc but it would seem Peabody can be trusted! I wonder how this differs from, say, Oberlin’s TIMARA and Brown’s MEME and Michigan’s PAT.
Anyway, interesting info and you are right, these programs are “popping up” (SFCM started one I think) and there is a lot of demand. Good luck to your son whatever he decides!
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