Questions Concerning Auditions

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>Hey everyone, this is my first post here and I have a few questions concerning auditions for music majors.</p>

<p>Some background info: I plan on entering college in the fall of 2015 as a Composition Major/Concentration. My test scores/GPA/ECs are very solid and would make me a reasonable candidate at a top university, not that I have any intentions on going to an Ivy League. I also play Tenor Saxophone and I'm above average, not prodigious or anything like that but one of the better saxophone players in my school.</p>

<p>Onto the questions:</p>

<p>1) How much of the admission process is based on the audition? For example, I'm looking at UNT, where I'd almost be guaranteed a full ride into the university. Would that affect getting into their music program, or is that entirely based on the audition?</p>

<p>2) Many schools require an audition as well as a composition portfolio. Is my audition judged as critically as, say, a performance major's would be? Or do I just need to demonstrate proficiency?</p>

<p>3) How competitive are slots in the music programs? I have been studying composition for about 6 months, but I still have a year and a half until I begin applying. I'm worried about competing for slots with people who have been composing symphonies since they were 8. I know it will depend on the school, so I can provide a few different schools I'm planning on applying to.</p>

<p>A few schools I'm looking into: Duke, USC, Rice, UNT, UCLA, UC Davis</p>

<p>I'm sorry if this is disorganized or confusing, if you need anymore information I can answer any questions.</p>

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<p>Welcome to the Music Major Forum. There are many of us parents, and some students, with quite a lot of experience with composition. We’ll be happy to help answer your questions along the way.</p>

<p>First off, the audition is secondary to your composition portfolio - it is not required by all programs, and yes, it is just to demonstrate proficiency and ability to participate in ensembles.</p>

<p>How did you come up with that list of possible schools? It’s rare to see Duke and UCSD for undergrad composition study. Also, do not rule out the Ivy Leagues yet - Yale, Princeton and Cornell are well worth looking into. And Harvard and Columbia can offer the right student a productive undergrad experience.</p>

<p>As for how competitive, yes, composition is competitive, but there’s usually a program for everyone - you just need to find the one that both you, and the college, feels is the best fit. Will there be applicants who started composing symphonies at 8 - maybe one or two! But not more. There will be plenty of applicants who only discovered composition in the previous year or so.</p>

<p>I do heartily recommend that you work privately with a composition teacher. And I recommend that you go to a summer composition program before senior year for various good reasons. (Unless there is a year round in your area in which you could participate.)</p>

<p>Good luck with the journey. Have fun!</p>