POSSIBLY a music/composition major

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Hi all!
I'm currently a junior in high school and I am very interested in music/composition. I have been playing the piano for almost 13 years and the violin for almost 10. I have won or placed in numerous statewide and local piano competitions and I have been a selected (audition-only) participant in my state's regional and all-state orchestras throughout high school. I am currently composing my first classical symphony and intend on sending it to a publisher when completed so that I may ask a local symphony orchestra to perform it with me. While I love music and am interested in pursuing it further in college, I am not sure that it is the path I want to go down. I was just wondering if 1) my experience and accomplishments with my instruments and submitting my symphony (as a supplement) would help with admissions and 2) if I do get in for one of these majors, I can change during my years at college (my top choice being Yale).
My current GPA is 3.8 (but will probably go up after junior year is over); my PSAT was a 223 (I am taking the real SAT this Saturday).</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>Yes and Yes!</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the quick reply!!
Do you know if (1) would help a lot with admissions?
And are you positive it would be okay to apply as a music/composition major, get in, then say, “Just kidding! I actually want to do something completely different!” - not that this is the case, but I just want to be sure my options are wide open!</p>

4

<p>Yale does not admit students directly in the school of Music until they have reached their 3rd year in college- and then, if accepted you can earn a combination BA/ MM degree.
[Yale</a> School of Music : Academics](<a href=“http://music.yale.edu/academics/ba-mm.html]Yale”>http://music.yale.edu/academics/ba-mm.html)
Music is a very common EC for many students accepted to Yale, but it is not going to get you in over another more qualified student. It is not a hook. And you cant declare that you want to major in Music when you apply , since that major is not open to new UG’s.</p>

5

<p>It is my understanding that my neighbor was accepted directly into the Yale School of Music…</p>

6

<p>^^^ see above link. He may have been accepted as a grad student or if he is currently a 3rd year Yale UG student.</p>

<p>"Bachelor of Arts / Master of Music</p>

<p>The Bachelor of Arts / Master of Music program is for undergraduates already enrolled in Yale College with outstanding abilities in performance or composition. This program is open to majors both in Music and other subjects. B.A./M.M. students usually complete requirements for their Baccalaureate in their senior year and Master of Music after one year of the Master of Music program in the School of Music (year 5).</p>

<p>Interested students should consult their major teacher at the beginning of the first term of the junior year, and must apply for the program at the School of Music by December 1 of that year. Music majors should also consult with the director of undergraduate studies."</p>

7

<p>(1) depends how good you are… I played 4 years in a fairly good wind band. I also played 12 odd years of piano. While that helped it is not good enough to be anything special at Yale. If though you are playing in carnegie hall, or composing things that are being played in important places then it is impressive.</p>

<p>No idea about majoring in music though… I do know that you can say on your app ‘X’ and switch to ‘Y’. You enter Yale officially undecided.</p>

<p>Check out here: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/1097845-uh-where-app-did-we-declare-our-major.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/1097845-uh-where-app-did-we-declare-our-major.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

<p>@menloparkmom
She graduated from Hopkins School in 2005 and went straight to Yale to study for her MM (and graduated in '08).</p>

<p>@Idiosyncra3y
I think I’m pretty good, I plan on sending a recording as well as my symphony as supplements. Thanks for the link!</p>

9

<p>@laodicean - it sounds like you have not had any formal composition instruction. Before thinking of college & submitting a symphony to a publisher (which really makes no sense - that’s not how the composition world works - very different than book publishing) I recommend you get a teacher asap - you can find advice about how to find one over at the Music Major Forum - and you should apply for a summer program in composition for this coming summer. Many deadlines have already passed, but there are some that are still open.</p>

<p>Yale College (and not the School of Music which is strictly graduate level and has NOTHING to do with the College’s composition department except sending professors to speak occasionally at the composers’ Colloquium) attracts some of the top composition students in the country - many of whom have won national awards and had many pieces performed, often by professional ensembles. They are the ones you will be competing against with your supplement. That is not to say Yale is the best or only place for a composition student to attend - just one of many good choices if it’s the right fit.</p>

<p>If you are planning to pursue an undergrad composition degree there are many factors you need to consider - again - the Music Major Forum has multiple threads discussing these things. If you just want to compose on the side, the majority of colleges in the country will offer a composition class and music theory in their music departments - usually available to take as an elective.</p>

10

<p>@SpiritManager
You are right, I have not had any formal composition instruction, but I do know my fair share of music theory and I have been listening to classical music (as well as many other genres) since I was in the womb. I have also been studying structures and instrumental roles in various symphonies from different composers of different periods. That being said, my major goal and motive in submitting my symphony was not to show off how amazing my music is, but rather to demonstrate my passion and interest in it.</p>

11

<p>just keep a perspective about your chances at Yale. A few years back a top student who HAD performed at Carnegie was turned down by all the schools he applied to[ HYPS etc] AND he made the mistake of applying only to top schools]
A sobering thread to read</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/192395-no-acceptances-one-kids-story-year-later.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/192395-no-acceptances-one-kids-story-year-later.html&lt;/a&gt; </p>

<p>“menloparkmom
She graduated from Hopkins School in 2005 and went straight to Yale to study for her MM (and graduated in '08).”</p>

<p>Do you mean Johns Hopkins University?That means she was a graduate student at Yale.
Regardless, Yales music major policy is now different than it was in 2005.</p>

12

<p>Wow that is a sad story…
I won’t make that mistake as I will be applying to a safety (and hopefully I will get recruited to some NESCAC school for swimming).</p>

13

<p>I’m familiar with the rules on submitting music performance supplements to Yale, not composition supplements, but the general rules are the same. Regardless of the specific submission, it should be conservatory-level. To help your case, your supplement must do more than just demonstrate your passion for and interest in composition; it must demonstrate exceptional talent – that you would be competitive at conservatory.You have said you are not formally trained in composition. I agree with the poster who suggested you start studying composition, if at all possible. At the very least, consult with a professional who can objectively evaluate your composition and help you decide whether it’s conservatory-worthy.</p>

14

<p>I’ve competed against Juilliard pre-college students in competitions, equaling, if not beating them - does that count as “conservatory-level?”</p>

15

<p>Have you won any national competitions for your compositions? What kind of recordings do you have? Who performed them? How many pieces have you written and for what variety of instrumentation? Your personal instrumental playing is of no consequence in a composition submission unless you’re auditioning into a formal music school or conservatory which requires composers to play an instrument - which is not what you’re talking about here - and, even there it would be secondary.</p>

<p>However, if you’ve won national level competitions on an instrument then submitting a performance supplement to Yale might be useful - but not unusual. From what I hear Yale is teeming with conservatory level musicians.</p>

16

<p>It sounds like a performance submission could help. Again, I encourage you to consult with your private teacher.With your credentials, I assume you have a piano teacher who has been around the block on this issue. </p>

<p>While you don’t necessarily have to have won national competitions to submit a sample of your playing to Yale, you probably need some outside confirmation that you have chops – strong showings at important regional competitions, participation in master classes with well-known pianists, major performances that required audition (From the Top, for example) are good benchmarks. </p>

<p>As SpiritManager points out, the issues surrounding a composition submission are different. In that area, your piano teacher isn’t going to be of much help. Consult with someone who can give you a realistic evaluation of your skill and talent as a composer.</p>

17

<p>Some of the information provided about the music major at Yale has been a bit misleading, so I think I should clarify.</p>

<p>You cannot be admitted to the Yale School of Music because it is only for graduate students, or students who have been admitted to the BA/MM program (meaning you have already been at Yale for three years and have successfully auditioned into the program). Though many features of Yale SOM are available to undergrads (i.e. lessons, facilities, concerts, etc.), you are not actually enrolled in the school.</p>

<p>Also, the major you list on your application is not binding because Yale does not admit by major. You are free to submit a composition supplement, but it is not for admission to a composition program, only to Yale as a college in general.</p>

<p>That said, composition at Yale is incredible. My friend, a freshman comp major who was also admitted to Juilliard, is constantly raving about the program, including his private comp lessons and all the famous competitions (such as the Morton Gould) that Yale composers dominate in. Since Yale also has countless music ensembles (YSO, BCO, JECP, etc.), there are numerous opportunities to have your pieces played for student audiences.</p>

<p>Once again, you are not admitted to a composition program, you simply become a part of it once you are admitted to Yale as a whole. Also, you must distinguish between Yale School of Music and Yale Department of Music. SOM is for graduate students but has some opportunities available to undergrads; the department of music is where the undergrads do composition.</p>

<p>About the supplement: it will not help unless you are extremely talented. Yale has musical talent that is essentially conservatory level (YSO members are all conservatory level, including many who were admitted to/transferred from schools like Juilliard and Eastman). That said, it wouldn’t hurt to submit one unless there seems to be a huge discrepancy between your supplement and the rest of your application. If you are competing against Juilliard pre-college students and beating them, I’d say that’s conservatory level, but again not unbelievably outstanding in Yale’s pool of talent.</p>

18

<p>Yale has lovely practice rooms that I snuck into when I was visiting. Student-available grand pianos give me musicgasms.</p>

19

<p>Also, about your friend going to Yale SOM out of high school and completing a degree in 3 years, that is an extreme exception.</p>

<p>[Yale</a> School of Music : Academics](<a href=“http://music.yale.edu/academics/certificate.html]Yale”>http://music.yale.edu/academics/certificate.html)</p>

20

<p>I submitted a music supplement with both instrumental performance recordings and original compositions. Sounds like that might be a good idea for you too if you’re unsure about your qualifications in one area or the other. Be sure to get a letter from your music teacher!</p>