Performance Audition for Composition Majors?

College Majors Music Major
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<p>My son is starting to prepare for his auditions for next year. He has played piano for 10 years and cello for 7, but cello is his instrument of choice. Some of the main schools he is interested in are requiring a pre-screening on cello or piano plus anywhere from 3 to 7 compositions.<br>
What I have noticed is that there is sometimes a "reduced" audition for piano if you are a composition major, but a full audition for cello even if you are applying for composition. </p>

<p>Can anyone give me feedback related to the following questions? </p>

<ol>
<li><p>How strictly are non-performance composition majors judged on their pre-screening? What should my son's emphasis be? He has knows the 1 and 2 Bach Cello Suites, mostly doing Dotzauer for his etudes, and is working on St. Saens for his concerto, but nothing for a sonata yet. Some schools would like Popper or Duport for his etudes. He has a modern piece from Martinu that he could substitute for the sonata. Would they allow any reduced level of playing or "easier" pieces for composition majors? Should we contact the school about this? It seems to make more sense to play his pieces well rather than aim for a difficult repertoire since he will be composition, or is he not of the caliber music student that these schools would want? What weight does the pre-screening and audition play for a composition major? </p></li>
<li><p>Or should he audition on piano? He has three pieces memorized that need a bit of work, but could play these instead for the piano audition which is easier. Or should he try to audition on both? </p></li>
<li><p>What advice do you offer a composition student that wants to put lots of time into theory and writing music, but is also has to prepare for a full performance audition? </p></li>
</ol>

<p>It would be great to have some input regarding where to put his time, etc. Also if anyone here is interested in giving feedback on some of his compositions, I would appreciate it. He did a composition camp last summer at Oberlin and has written 4 classical pieces and some songs so far, but would like to add 2 more classical compositions. The whole composition degree is fuzzy for me and it is hard to help him know where to focus his time and energy. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>Does he want to play with orchestra in college and continue cello study? The schools likely require the full cello audition because those coming in with that instrument play with the orchestra. I would have him discuss cello repertoire choices with his cello teacher. At my son’s school the composition students who came in on instruments other than piano as their main instrument were also required to study class piano but the strongest piano students passed out of class piano and are offered private lessons so they get the best of both worlds. I am guessing this happens at other schools as well but at my son’s school he gets to study private piano with a professor, not a grad. student. Might be worth checking what the situation with that is if he goes is as a cellist. With a comp. major I believe the portfolio should be the focus. While my son is a double major in cello performance and comp. I know he finds both playing in the orchestra, chamber groups, continued piano study as well as singing in the choir very helpful to him as a composer. You might look online at what each school requires for ensemble requirements for comp. majors each year. Would your son rather spend more time in the choir or orchestra? The schools we looked at required participation in both if you were a string players who was a composition major but my son will only do a couple of semesters in the choir but orchestra every semester. Might want to see what the pianists do for ensembles, maybe chamber music? What appeals to your son more?</p>

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<p>Is he considering conservatories and colleges that do not require an audition on an instrument?</p>

<p>Does he want to focus on composition or does he want a dual focus on composition and cello?</p>

<p>My daughter refused to apply to schools that required composers to audition on an instrument, on principle :slight_smile: (Also, her instrument was classical guitar, and many schools did not accept that as an instrument.) </p>

<p>PM’ing you…</p>

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<p>Programs that require an audition on an instrument will expect the composer to be able to participate in the ensembles - they want to be sure the level of playing is there. But, it won’t necessarily (or, probably) be the top level ensemble at that school. At this point your son should be worrying about his compositions. That is what will matter for acceptance. Is he attending a summer program this summer where he can get some of his pieces performed and recorded by good musicians? He’ll want as many live recordings as possible for the submissions. Most programs really only want to see one’s best three pieces. There is no need to send more, even if the option is offered. But they should be great pieces, and scored for a different collection of instruments to fully show your son’s range and aesthetic.</p>

<p>As comp mom said, there are plenty of great programs which do not require an audition at all. On the other hand, in those programs the opportunities for continuing to perform on one’s instrument may be limited. So he needs to decide what he’s looking for in a composition/college program.</p>

<p>How are you narrowing down the programs to which to apply? What criteria are you using? Did he love Oberlin’s aesthetic?</p>

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<p>I am so thankful for your replies. I do not have enough posts to pm you all. He did the summer program last year at Oberlin and loved it. The first one is what he wrote at Oberlin last summer and it was written for bass clarinet, piccolo, and violin. All the titles are in Swedish, since he has lived most of his life there. He wrote a duet for cello and piano and a string quartet for his application pieces for the Oberlin camp. </p>

<p>He just finished writing a piece for our school choir that includes flute and a string quartet. </p>

<p>Criteria: My son absolutely loves theory and loves school. He is doing an independent study this year with the AP theory teacher since he did AP in 9th grade and is serving as the teaching assistant for the AP class. He is working through a 2nd year college theory textbook and doing all the work and taking tests. </p>

<p>He really enjoyed his time at Oberlin and would love to go there, but wants to keep options open. He is looking at Eastman, Peabody, Northwestern, and Rice as well as he would like to keep the option open for a dual degree. He was very interested in the types of classes offered at Oberlin and the quality of players there. He also heard that it is easy to get new music performed there as well. He is a self-starter and learner and will put 100 percent into what he does, and since we do not live in the US, it is hard to get a feel for a program and we do not have the luxury of visiting a lot of schools. </p>

<p>He wants to continue to take cello lessons and progress on the cello and play in an ensemble or orchestra. He has played in orchestra throughout High School and in other ensembles. </p>

<p>I have tried to read as many posts as possible related to composition, but still feel very fuzzy with everything. He has the grades to get into a decent school, but I want to keep his options open and not aim too high and not have him get accepted anywhere. Do you all have any safety schools you could recommend for him? Or composition programs that do not require a full audition? Any advice regarding auditioning on piano rather than cello? Or trying both? </p>

<p>His GPA is a 3.9 unweighted, first try on the SAT was 2010, but he has only been doing school in English for 2.5 years. He did 6 years of school in Swedish, 2 in German, and High school in English. He has taken 6 AP classes so far and will take 3 next year. </p>

<p>He does meet occasionally with a German composition teacher, but this is usually when he has completed a piece. We do have miles to fly him back this summer for a smaller music camp (he was given a full scholarship) and he could possibly try to visit some other schools, but summer time is not a good time to meet with professors. </p>

<p>Anyways, I am a newbie at all of this and appreciate any questions, advice, wisdom, etc. </p>

<p>MODERATOR’S NOTE: Links to personal sites are not allowed on CC. Only links to authoritative websites are allowed.</p>

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<p>For some reason the forum is not letting me PM you. I tried to come back today after a period of absence. I will keep trying. It sounds like he is applying exclusively to conservatory/music school programs. Is he considering and college or university programs? If he is interested in a dual degree, there are many possibilities, but the main ones mentioned on here tend to be Tufts/NEC, Harvard/NEC, Bard, Oberlin and Lawrence. Many of the schools you mentioned have the option too. What else would he want to study besides music? Does he think about dual major or dual degree? (The Peabody admissions site has a great essay on different paths which can be helpful: <a href=“http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html”>http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html&lt;/a&gt;) </p>

<p>He might want to listen to the music of faculty and students to get a feel for the aesthetics of each place, though that is more of an issue with grad studies. Still, at the undergrad level, it is good to study with teachers whose music and whose philosophy is consistent with what your son wants to do. Is he interested in electronics at all?</p>

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<p>I recommend that your son look at Lawrence University in Wisconsin- it is extremely supportive of the double degree option, and is a slightly easier admit than Oberlin. Also, the area would be comfortable for a Swede. They have Scandinavian connections at the university. It’s interesting that he liked the Oberlin camp so much, as the composition pieces you posted share little with the Oberlin aesthetic.</p>

<p>It is extremely unlikely he could pursue a double degree at Rice. If that’s what he wants, I would remove it from your list. Eastman he would also need to apply to the University of Rochester. And for Peabody, he will need to apply to Johns Hopkins University. Northwestern is a good choice, as would be Univ. of Michigan. I would also recommend USC and he should check out Vanderbilt. USC, in particular, is starting to be a very exciting place for composition. They’ve hired three new composers this year - all young, all exciting. I’m not sure how a double degree would work at USC, but I think it is possible. (USC does not require an audition btw - or, at least didn’t five years ago!) Also look at NYU. Lots of interesting composition students there, and interesting professors. Not sure about a double degree option there, however.</p>

<p>If he’s willing to pursue a BA in Music, possibly a double major and not double degree, he should look at Harvard,Yale, Princeton, and Cornell. I cannot tell from your son’s pieces what his own aesthetic is. I suspect he’s a sponge right now - ready for the right teachers to open up the world of composition for him.</p>

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<p>Compmom, I got your message and replied. Thanks! </p>

<p>SpiritManager, this is very helpful. You nailed it exactly with Oberlin. He is not as much of a fan of new music, but yet this was the only conservatory that he visited and appreciated the quality of the camp program. He only started composing seriously a year ago and is still finding his voice so to speak. His music is probably a bit of a reflection on himself-- a mix of three cultures, school systems and languages and needs a program that would allow him that freedom and support. I think that is what he appreciated the most about Oberlin as he felt that freedom there. He said it reminded him quite a bit of his Swedish schooling. </p>

<p>He is open for a BA in music and a double major, but did not want him to reach for the Ivies and then get disappointed. . . Here are more questions. . .
So would Lawrence be more of a safety school for him?<br>
Are all of the others reaches?<br>
Anything that he should focus on especially the next 7 months before he sends off his pre-screenings?<br>
He wants to write a few more pieces this summer.<br>
Which of the Ivies you mentioned has the strongest composition program?<br>
Would he then add his compositions and cello pieces to a musical supplement?<br>
Are his SAT scores simply too low? We have been told to have him take the TOEFL exam since he only started doing school in English in 9th grade. Sorry for all the questions. . . PM me if you want more information. </p>

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<p>What I would recommend he do in his composition is free himself of thinking of fitting into a genre - modern, classical, and baroque - and just let himself explore. I would also recommend that he listen non-stop to music. There are a number of great internet streaming radio stations such as <a href=“http://www.wqxr.com’s”>www.wqxr.com’s</a> Q2, the American Composers Forum’s Counterstream Radio <a href=“http://counterstreamradio.com”>http://counterstreamradio.com</a>, Classical Discoveries on WPRB Princeton, 103.3 FM, and more. He should listen to music being composed right now by living composers - and he should listen to the music of the composition professors at all the different programs. And he should go to concerts of music by living composers.</p>

<p>Right now I would say that all programs are reaches. But that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be admitted to the majority of them. There just isn’t such a thing as a safety - especially for someone relatively new to composing without a lengthy resume or significant portfolio. However, some of these programs accept a lot more students than others - such as Michigan. USC has a relatively big undergrad department, as well. Others may only accept a very few students - such as Northwestern. Some programs are more open to students newer to composing than others. Surprisingly, Oberlin is one - they don’t (or didn’t used to) even assign the student to a studio for the first year or so. Same with USC.</p>

<p>All the Ivies I listed have strong music programs - but with different aesthetics. Yale, Princeton and Cornell are a bit more American leaning than Harvard and Columbia. All of them are better for grad students, than undergrad - although Yale College and Yale School of Music are two completely different institutions - and the School of Music is for graduate study only. (Many academically inclined accomplished composition students opt for Yale College for undergrad.) As for admission to the Ivies - it’s a crapshoot for everyone - but often they’ll choose a student who can bring something special to the table, like your son.</p>

<p>Compmom’s suggestion of Tufts/NEC is a good one. He would, of course, need to be admitted to both institutions, but Tufts has a strong composition department on its own. Other colleges to look at for a BA in Music would include Williams, Sarah Lawrence, Swarthmore, Bennington, Brandeis, and Skidmore. (I’m sure I’m leaving out a bunch!) You might also take a look at the SUNY schools, which are a cheaper option for out of state students. There are some interesting composition professors at some of the universities. And be sure to keep NYU in the mix. You might also take a look at McGill in Montreal.</p>

<p>I have no idea of your financial needs - some of these options will be more expensive than others after factoring in merit and financial aid.</p>

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<p>I think your son is talented and can certainly try reaches like Ivies or Oberlin or wherever else he wants to apply, with the knowledge that there are no sure bets for anyone. Top schools tend to be holistic in admissions and would be impressed by his music. He has done one summer program and is doing another one; he could submit his compositions for competitions that still remain for 2014; his theory is already advanced and he has nice recordings of his pieces. It is quite possible for a student who has been composing for a year or two to get in based on composition talent. Recommendation letters from teachers or mentors can also really help.</p>

<p>It seems to me that the real dilemma here is whether to apply to conservatory/music school or college/university (or do both with a dual degree). We do not know his other interests, particularly academic. In some schools, he could do fine with both composition and cello and not even major in music, and at others the focus on music would be intense. There are many ways to do this.</p>

<p>I think it can be wise to apply to schools that satisfy all possible options, and then decide at the end of senior year. But for sanity’s sake, that means fewer schools for each option I hope!</p>

<p>There are details to look into such as distribution requirements, how composition study is structured (one teacher or several, are there seminars or is work independent, etc.), opportunities to perform, who the professors are, how far the conservatory is from the other campus if dual degree, etc.) Websites really are helpful.</p>

<p>He has some great years ahead!</p>

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<p>What competitions are available for 2014? Should I start another thread about this? How can I find this out? </p>

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<p>There are lists of such opportunities on the American Composers Forum’s website: <a href=“http://composersforum.org/”>http://composersforum.org/&lt;/a&gt; Please note that winning competitions will be secondary in admissions to his portfolio.</p>

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<p>Another resource: <a href=“Resources: Competitions, Organizations, Partners | The Walden School”>http://waldenschool.org/about-us/community-resources/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Competitions can help with confidence or at least help with figuring out how you stand in terms of other young composers, and can sometimes provide opportunities to get pieces played (or even some money). For colleges that don’t require a portfolio or even one sample of work, competitions and awards can help the resume and communicate talent to admissions. Some resist entering but during an application year, they can be helpful.</p>

<p>Your son might enjoy newmusicbox.org’s blog as well. Spirit Manager directed me to it. (Spirit Manager knows a lot and helps us all with great suggestions.) New Music Box has a lot of great information and discussion.</p>

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<p>Ah, gee, thanks @Compmom!</p>

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<p>Thanks both to SpiritManager and Compmom. Your posts have been so helpful and have given my son and I both new schools and options to consider. It has also been an encouragement for him to hear this! </p>

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<p>I’m very late to this thread; I don’t visit CC much any more.</p>

<p>I consider my percussion to be my primary instrument, but when auditioning for conservatories (as a composition applicant), I auditioned on both percussion and piano. I applied to 4 conservatories: 2 required instrumental auditions, and one required percussion prescreening. I didn’t pass percussion pre-screening and didn’t really get in on percussion where I had an audition (though I never got a clear answer), but my not-at-all-performance-major-level piano was considered enough to get in for composition - I forgot the middle of a Bach fugue and had to restart 5 times in one audition and still got in.</p>

<p>Different schools have different expectations for ensemble performance. Some expect composers to be in a chorus, some let composers be in a gamelan or other world music ensemble, and I think all at least let composers audition for orchestras (though they wouldn’t exactly be likely to get in).</p>

<p>The Lawrence admissions process for composition is very bizarre. Strictly speaking, you have to apply for instrumental performance and then you transfer to composition at some point once you’re there, but there’s a scholarship program that lets you start taking composition classes/lessons first year. Or something like that. (I didn’t end up applying because I got into UChicago non-binding before the Lawrence deadline. I was one of those odd music school/top university with no music school cross-admits.) But it seemed like one of the few places where one could do a double degree and maintain full sanity.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, it’s too late to apply for most full-length summer composition programs that I know of. CIM has a very good 1-week program (<a href=“Young Composers Program”>https://www.cim.edu/preparatory/summer/youngcomposers.php&lt;/a&gt;), but it’s only one week and it tends to be for somewhat younger students.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the recommendation for CIM’s camp. My son just went there and had a great week! </p>