Small, progressive school for composition

<p>Hi everyone, </p>

<p>This is my third year of school. First two were spent at the university of missouri, studying journalism, which did not go well. I didn't fail out, but my GPA was like a 2.3. I completed just about all my liberal art requirements with a C or above. Out of the blue, with no real training other than piano as a kid and a lot of interest, I decided to do music. Since I figured I didn't have the skills to transfer directly into a specialized school, I took music classes at the local community college and have been getting mostly As. GPA is around a 3.7. I got a 1400 on my SATs if that matters at all. </p>

<p>I do a lot of electronic music, sound manipulation, sort of experimental stuff. I dig classical (especially 20th century) but also like experimental rock. I guess I'm a passable guitar and piano player, but I'm really a writer at heart. I took some recording and electronic classes, but haven't really been satisfied. I don't really want to be an engineer (maybe a producer), and learning software is something I'm pretty intuitive at. I think a background in music theory would help most. The college required that I take a basic musicianship class prior my first semester, so I'm only finishing up with theory 1 now. I will most probably get an A. </p>

<p>I want a school where the classes are small and there's a lot of student/teacher interaction. A progressive curriculum would also be nice since I like weird, non-traditional classes. If it was in the Northeast or an urban area that would be even better. I'm wondering if you guys know anything that might be good for me. </p>

<hr>

<p>I'm also want to enroll this fall, is that at all feasible?</p>

<p>Rollydog, welcome. First, unless you can find a school with rolling admissions, and a non-audition based composition concentration program, I'm afraid you may well be out of luck. There is info here <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1059992423-post9.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1059992423-post9.html&lt;/a> on schools with rolling admissions, and depending on your potential choices, you may or may not have a shot. You're also a transfer student, that may work to your detriment.</p>

<p>Based on your post, a couple of past threads with some discussion/schools that you might want to explore further.
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/362542-advice-my-son.html?highlight=college+of+santa+fe%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/362542-advice-my-son.html?highlight=college+of+santa+fe&lt;/a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/465229-where-go-experimental-electronic-music-composition.html?highlight=college+of+santa+fe%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/465229-where-go-experimental-electronic-music-composition.html?highlight=college+of+santa+fe&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Also, take a look at the program here
The</a> New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music</p>

<p>If you are not familiar with music admissions, take the time to read BassDad's post here
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-family-s-experience.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-family-s-experience.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Many of the programs are extremely competitve in terms of admissions, and pay attention to audition, prescreening, portfolio requirements. You can also search this forum, limit search to thread titles and type composition... there's about two and a half pages of past threads.</p>

<p>The schools mentioned here <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/6280-suggestions-colleges-music-majors.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/6280-suggestions-colleges-music-majors.html&lt;/a> may also reveal a few programs.</p>

<p>Could you spend the upcoming year preparing for auditioning into a good music program? That would seem like a prudent course of action. </p>

<p>You didn't mention jazz at all, so this might not interest you, but their deadlines are very late: William Patterson University. You could enter as a liberal arts student and audition later for the music program. I think you can apply as late as this summer. </p>

<p>Berklee College of Music is very good for all kinds of sound technology and composition with students who span the spectrum in contemporary music. They have great summer programs that you might still be able to get into. They have an odd calendar, too, so it's worth calling and chatting with them about admissions.</p>

<p>Umass Lowell has some of the things you are interested in, and also, I believe, rolling admissions. The same may be true for other state institutions.</p>

<p>Applying to conservatories requires 2-4 scores w/CD's, a list of compositions, list of theory classes taken or exam at the school, audition/interviews, and so on. It is a huge project. Most of our kids got these materials in by Dec. 1st, then auditioned in March. They are very competitive.</p>

<p>People will tell you about a lot of programs w/electronic music, but I will tell you, these days, it is actually hard to find a school that does NOT have it. With the exception of Curtis, maybe a few others, you could apply to all kinds of places, straight conservatories or colleges.</p>

<p>One place that won't be mentioned but that for some reason I think you might want to look into is Bennington. There is just something about your post that makes me think that might be a good match for you.</p>

<p>Sorry for not getting back to you guys soon. I appreciate all the help, though I'm not really looking at a conservatory. Those places are pretty traditional right? I don't really have that kind of skillset. I guess I'm a passable guitarit and piano player, but not anything special. And, as I said before, I haven't even finished my first theory class. I'm just looking for a place that might accept me despite my quirks, a place that has a small classes and as good a program as possible. I think a big part of going to school would be establishing connections, so that's important to.</p>

<p>I've been told that Berklee is a good school, but the classes are very large and the teachers don't give you a lot of attention. That coupled with the large costs make me gaff a little. I'll still probably apply.</p>

<p>I love electronic music, most of my portfolio consists of it, but I'm more into learning theory. The software stuff is all application, and that's something that I get. IfPutting together chromatic harmony and counterpoint is something much more complicated for me, and I'm much more in the dark about it. If the electronic music program is extremely avant garde, I'd be interested, but I don't need to take a course on how to use Reason or anything. I guess I'm in a bit of rough spot in that I'm clearly an unconventional student but want to take a conventional path. Maybe a "contemporary music program", though I don't even know what that means. </p>

<p>I hope that cleared thing up and you guys can help me continue to build a pool of places to apply to.
Thanks</p>

<p>I looked at Bennington and I like it the program, but it's out of my price range and too far north.</p>

<p>The University of Iowa is known for its theory department (I did Master's work in theory there).</p>

<p>Columbia College of Chicago? Not a competitive conservatory, but seems to have some interesting programs, including composition.</p>

<p>How about Webster University in St. Louis?</p>

<p>What about my grades at the college I'm in right now? I've read that academics weigh very heavily at full fledged universities while conservatories could care less? Do you think a year of very good grades at community college can compensate for poor high school grades, and two poor years of college? I'd like to get into an elite level school is what I'm saying.</p>