Strong academic who recently decided on music major - What should I do?

College Majors Music Major
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<p>Hello all, I'm a high school junior in Central Ohio, and I've got a rather interesting situation and I'm not really sure what I should do. Hopefully you might be able to give me some advice.</p>

<p>For most of my school career, I have been focused in excelling at math, and up until my sophomore year or so, I thought I would be doing some sort of majors in math, statistics, physics, etc., you get the idea. And although I'm no longer as interested, I still do very well in school - I carry a 4.42 cumulative GPA, tops in my class, have taken 10 AP's in high school (3 5's, 7 taken this year still pending), and got a 36 on the ACT and have strong subject SAT scores.</p>

<p>However, around the end of my sophomore year, beginning of my junior year, I decided instead that I wanted to become a music major, specifically in composition (or songwriting, as I am rather intrigued by Belmont's songwriting and music business programs). I've been playing piano for nine year, and have also played trumpet, euphonium (you might know it as a baritone), guitar, bass, and sing in school choir, and I've also written and composed a few things (although nowhere near what would be considered a substantial portfolio) That will be a major focus for me over the summer, improving my musical and technical abilities and building a portfolio.</p>

<p>So there are essentially three main questions that I have:</p>

<p>1) What kinds of schools should I be looking at? I feel like there are a lot of places I could get into for a "more normal" program on my grades, but obviously the fact that I want to do music makes it a bit more interesting. I'm aware that places like Juilliard, Berklee, Eastman, Curtis, etc. are probably not viable options at this point. However, are there other places where I could be accepted based on a composition portfolio (and a performance audition, because most music schools still require a performance audition to prove proficiency on an instrument)? I'm interested in places like Northwestern, U of Miami, USC, Belmont, Vanderbilt, to name my top few. Could I also get a good music experience at other colleges without music schools that require auditions? If so, which ones - I'm rather interested in Chicago, UC Berkeley, and Stanford, but other suggestions would be welcome. I think I prefer schools in or near bigger cities, where I can get more opportunities to play and perhaps start my career once I'm out of college.</p>

<p>2) If I do look at some schools that require auditions, what instrument should I audition on? I consider my best instrument to be the piano, yet what I've heard is that piano is nowadays insanely competitive, as there are so many very strong players and only a few are getting in. Although I wouldn't think such a high level is necessary for a composition major I don't doubt the level of competition is still very high. I asked my band teacher about auditioning on euphonium (baritone) but she doesn't think I can do it. However, my choir teacher thinks I could get in on the voice (I'm a bass-baritone type, range of A1-F4) since not many people audition. Does anyone have thoughts on this?</p>

<p>3) I have some extracurricular activities that are very important to me that I would be very, very reluctantly to give up, yet my band teacher has told me I must. I run cross country, manage the basketball team, run track (not very good) and participate in the school musical. These are not small commitments, but I still feel like I have enough time to get home and practice/compose. My band teacher is of the opinion that I have to give them up to have more time. I see where she's coming from, but I believe that I lose more than I gain if I follow her advice: not only do I think I can't make up the ground that I've lost to other potential applicants in terms of musical and composing abilities, but I feel like giving up the extracurricular activities will take away my major selling point - that I can't be pigeonholed, I have a lot of different things I can offer to a school. What's your opinions on this? And I also would venture a guess it might not be as important for schools that don't require an audition/portfolio - thoughts on this?</p>

<p>I know this is a lot to read, but I want to make sure I that I haven't missed anything, and I would very much appreciate any feedback you can give me. Thanks in advance! :)</p>

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<p>An addendum I should probably add: although the composition major is arguably more classical, I am more interested in composing contemporary stuff - as previously mentioned, I’m intrigued by Belmont’s music business program, and I’d also be open to other commercial music and recording arts programs.</p>

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<p>I think you could go to any college you’re interested in for a BA (or even a BS) and still take all the music classes in areas that interest you. Perhaps end up majoring in music, perhaps not. If you want to write commercial songs there’s no compelling reason that you need to study classical composition to the extent of a major. All those schools you listed, with the possible exception of Belmont, would allow you to study music without being admitted directly to the School of Music. Instead find a school that appeals to you, where there is a good music scene, and you’ll be able to find other students to perform your songs. You’re obviously a smart kid who loves to do a whole range of things - no need to narrow your sights so early to either only study commercial songwriting or study a field of music that doesn’t actually interest you enough to want to immerse yourself in it for four years.</p>

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<p>My son’s story is somewhat similar to yours - and very different at the same time. He is going to Hartt (U or Hartford) in the fall as a freshman composition and music production and technology, 5 year double major - instrument piano. My son also plays clarinet, sax and sings bass. </p>

<p>He made all state for clarinet and bass voice, and yet he would consider piano his main instrument. He is nowhere near strong enough on piano to be a piano performance major at a selective school, he obviously is good enough to be a composition/mpt major at Hartt. He decided to audition on the piano because ultimately, that was the instrument he wanted to continue taking lessons on. He also thinks piano would help him most with his composition, since he composes on the piano. Although, he would rather participate in ensembles playing the clarinet and maybe even singing. Oh and he composes classical music - not your interest.</p>

<p>My suggestion would be to work with someone on your composition portfolio starting ASAP. Also work with a piano teacher on piano audition pieces. You have several months to put it all together. If you work with a professor at a local college (especially on composition) you should be able to get an honest evaluation of your composition and piano ability as well as suggestions for good programs to consider. </p>

<p>I agree that the bass/baritone voice is intriguing. If you love singing that would be worth pursuing as long as you understand that lessons and ensemble participation would be on that instrument. If you are thinking about scholarship opportunities, keep in mind that they will be based on your major and your major instrument. Composition and piano are both competitive. BTW some people do audition on two instruments, but that would mean you would need to prepare audition pieces on two instruments in addition to working your portfolio - which is a lot of work. </p>

<p>I think you should consider Berklee because of your interest in the commercial music. </p>

<p>It sounds to me like what you are hoping to achieve is within your grasp.</p>

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<p>My son decided to study composition very late in the game compared to others although it seems he was always writing. And although it was a lot of work to prepare for his college auditions and put together his portfolio, he didn’t give up other activities that he enjoyed. Like you, he ran cross-country and track (and is at the end of his final high school track season). You are clearly a hard worker. I don’t see any reason for you to give up your sports activities at this time. You probably gain a lot from participating in team sports, not to mention the health benefits of running.</p>

<p>I’m not sure the schools son applied to cared at all that he was well-rounded. Your application process might be different. But, I wouldn’t pursue your EC’s for that reason. I would pursue them because you love doing what you are doing, and they all contribute to the person you are.</p>

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<p>Considering your stats, I would recommend a top academic school as well. Many well-known musicians and composers went to Ivies. Robert Beaser for example went to Yale, Yo Yo Ma to Harvard. You sound like the type that could do many things well. Charles Ives went to Yale, made millions selling insurance and composed after work. Harvard has arrangements with NEC and Columbia with Juilliard as I recall. In your situation where it seems that you want to compose popular music, I really don’t think a degree in music is necessary, just access to a mentor/composition-teacher and great musicians. Williams isn’t in a big city, but has solid dept with jazz etc that would welcome a late bloomer more than a conservatory. It also has a excellent math department.</p>

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<p>My concern is not that the OP couldn’t prepare a portfolio and get admitted as a composition major, as much as my concern that he would be doing himself a disservice as he has no deep consuming interest in classical music and he would be trying to fit himself into a box where he didn’t want to be for some future goal. I’d be interested to know what percentage of successful commercial songwriters studied classical music formally in college.</p>

<p>On the other hand - the OP has such varied interests I’m not sure a narrow focused program like Berklee would be right for him at this point either. Which is why I suggest he just pick what he thinks is a great all around school for him, and take some music classes, and make a lot of music with his peers.</p>

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<p>Excellent advice SpiritManager.</p>

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<p>I think Spirit Manager makes good points.</p>

<p>Just want to add that colleges and many conservatories do not require auditions on an instrument for a composer. Conservatories want scores and CD’s for 3-5 pieces. Colleges often don’t need anything at all beyond the usual application, but sending a supplement with a music resume, CD, and letter(s) from music teacher(s) can help with acceptance.</p>

<p>Admission for composers is very selective.</p>

<p>I think that the Ivy League type of music program might not be a good fit, because the curricula tend to be traditional and classical (and very rigorous!). But you could go to a selective academic school and do music on the side, while sampling music courses and maybe extracurriculars.</p>

<p>I would think you might either want to be in a college environment (and location, meaning city perhaps) where you can follow your many interests, or, you might want to look at colleges or conservatories/music schools that offer a focus on contemporary songwriting and/or music industry, recording, and so on. But maybe also those that provide academic courses either on campus or by cross-registering with other schools.</p>

<p>If I were you, I would pursue both options with applications and decide on April 30 of senior year. You don’t necessarily know for sure now what you will want then.</p>

<p>Berklee, Belmont, USC Thornton, Northeastern, Hartt, U. of the Arts (Philadelphia), some state universities, NYU all come to mind, just from what I have seen on here. Wesleyan, Oberlin, Bard, Bennington, Sarah Lawrence too. Others will chime in.</p>

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<p>To me, it sounds like a situation where a BA in music (with or without another major) might be the ticket. CNols: a BA in music can give you the music focus you want along with performance opportunities in voice or instrument but may not (depending on the school) require an audition. You would end up taking more general ed type classes, which would make it easier to support a second major in one of your other areas of interest or to participate in one or more of those activities you’ve committed to. A BM degree is typically more closely focused just on music with fewer general education classes.</p>

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<p>CNols, this is a completely different suggestion I believe, so take it with a grain of salt. There are just some aspects to your description and your varied interests that remind me greatly of my own son, and this is what he ended up doing after a few years of searching during HS:</p>

<p>Given your obviously gifted-level of intelligence, math & physics background, contemporary interest and multi-instrument orientation, if you also happen to like programming/technology you might want to take a look at University of Michigan’s Performing Arts Technology program – which actually combines <em>some</em> music composition (a range of electronic, classical and contemporary) with <em>some</em> production, sequencing, programming and interactive elements combined with either engineering or performance or multimedia. There are four sub-disciplines in the program (BMus on Instrument; BFA music production/composition focus; BFA Multimedia emphasis and BS Engineering emphasis.)</p>

<p>In my son’s case, he had composed numerous songs throughout high school, but they were not of a classical nature (but wide in variety, which UMich likes to see). You do need some classical background insofar as the portfolio requirements include the electronic instrumentation of a Bach fugue. (I think they do this to see what you come up with, but also to make certain you have the background/depth of traditional training to distinguish you from pure popular music program type applicants, because you WILL need that background at UMich.) He had also taken reasonably advanced courses in multi-tracked production. </p>

<p>The program accepts about 3-4 students per sub-discipline (max) each year. </p>

<p>Part of the reason I thought to tell you about this is because UMich has a very strong composition department, but this program leverages that and bends toward the contemporary.</p>

<p>On a completely unrelated note, my son also LOVED University of Chicago, but did not attend because they did not have sufficient music concentration. They DO however have some outstanding composition profs there, just so you know. So if you went the “great-school-plus-composition” as opposed to “specialized training in specific area of music” route, Chicago would be a nice fit, I think.</p>

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<p>University of Chicago’s music focus is in its graduate school where their graduate composition program is exceptional albeit academic. That being said, an AB in music at U of C will provide a solid foundation for further study in many areas, especially if combined with physics, math etc. The core courses required of a U of C undergrad are very broad. There are also a large number of performance opportunities for those wanting them.</p>

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<p>Thank you all very much for your thoughts and suggestions? I’ll try to address some of them and get a better sense of what the general advice is.</p>

<p>SpiritManager: That sounds like something I’d like to be able to do. I want to go to a place I’ll really enjoy and will get a full college experience out of, and also where I can study music and develop myself as a musician and composer/songwriter. As I seem to understand it, you would think there isn’t necessarily a need to give up the extracurricular activities I love doing - would this be true?</p>

<p>mom2winds: Currently trying to find a composition teacher now. I feel like many of them aren’t so communicative - they are musicians, after all! Haha - but I’ll figure it out. I don’t know if I’d enjoy Berklee so much because it’s only a music school and not like the normal college or university, and I don’t know if I’d like that atmosphere as much as the four-year college experience.</p>

<p>VMT: Yes, that is what I’m getting at, that I love doing my extracurriculars. I’m not so much saying to colleges, “Look at all this stuff I do!” so much as, “This is who I am”.</p>

<p>compmom: I will definitely be looking at both kinds of schools during this process, so I can have different options. Interesting, I was already considering some of the suggestions that you had made, and it also seems like other people are talking about Hartt as well. I’ll keep it all in mind!</p>

<p>stradmom: That does sound appealing. However, what I’m concerned about is, could I still get the same kind of music experiences while doing a BA instead of a BM? That is, would I still have access to private lessons, would I get the same performance/composition opportunities around the school community?</p>

<p>kmcmom13: I hadn’t known about this program, but that is definitely very interesting. I do feel that technology in music is very intriguing: I am of the opinion that it is becoming more essential to understand if one wants to do popular music. What kind of audition requirements are there for this particular program? And do you know of any other programs like it? Thank you for your insight on Chicago as well - I recently went to an info session they gave at my school and it sounds very promising, I’m looking forward to my visit there!</p>

<p>Compdad: Thank you for sharing about U of C. As previously stated, I’m looking forward to visiting it and finding out about these places.</p>

<p>I’d be open to and would value any other opinions people may have!</p>

<p>In addition, I have another question: When I go to visit schools, obviously I’ll be taking the campus tour while I’m there, but is there a way at some of these places where I could talk to a music professor or admissions officer? I’d like to be able to discuss with them my situation and be able to find out from them what their perspective would be on what I’m asking about myself.</p>

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<p>CNols - If you study music in most college/university settings - it will not be in general popular/commercial music - but an academic study of classical music and possibly world music, electronic music and jazz. Your performance opportunities in such settings will be of those disciplines - songwriting performances will be of your own initiative.</p>

<p>You can get a great experience in music doing a BA, or even just taking classes in music or private lessons while majoring in another subject. Ensembles at a lot of schools are open to all students - lessons may or may not be free, or for credit. Each school has its own policy which you’ll have to check. There are many great academic schools, without music schools, which have strong music programs - such as Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Vassar, Williams, MIT, Tufts & Swarthmore (and more.) Then you have schools like USC, Vanderbilt, Michigan, Northwestern, Bard, Oberlin etc. which also have Schools of Music or conservatories which will change the equation in your access to music classes/lessons if you are not pursuing a BM in music. Some have more and less flexibility. Bard, I know for a fact, has many many musicians who are not in the conservatory, and not majoring in music, who play music all the time, and take music classes. I’m sure that’s true at many other schools, as well.</p>

<p>For popular music - the most academic school which offers that direction is USC. But I don’t know how open to non degree seekers the Popular Music courses are.</p>

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<p>Cnols, the audition/portfolio requirements vary depending on which curriculae stream you’re applying to (A,B,C or D). For some (B and C) they historically have only required a recording on your principal instrument, plus a pretty robust portfolio that includes a score, a performed piece, a multi tracked piece, sampling examples and a fugue. For D (eng) there is more emphasis on multitrack, for A (perf) on audition.
The portfolio work is pretty time consuming to prepare to specification, so take a good read at this link and best wishes:
[UM</a> School of Music, Theatre & Dance - Department of Performing Arts Technology - Degree Programs](<a href=“http://www.music.umich.edu/departments/pat/programs.htm]UM”>http://www.music.umich.edu/departments/pat/programs.htm)</p>

<p>The specific requirements are here:
<a href=“http://www.music.umich.edu/departments/pat/auditions_ug.htm[/url]”>http://www.music.umich.edu/departments/pat/auditions_ug.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore also has a program similar to the one offered by Michigan. Peabody partners with Johns Hopkins for the academic component and I would think you would be a strong candidate for that dual degree program as well. Just a thought if that type of program interests you.</p>

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<p>Hi, I want to tell you that Northwestern can be a good option, too. Of course, it is very excellent music school. However, which is better now, it started construction of very big music building which combines two separated music dep. until now. Therefore, it will grow up very high and it will combine with Communication Studies Dept, which will improve Music and communication technology very well.
Also, I hope you do not give up all you can do including academics and sports- if you can manage. I saw many excellent musicians who manage things and they will be better for rapidly changing music society.</p>

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<p>CNols, first, congratulations on your strong academics. You clearly have stats that will get you into some very competitive schools, as well as scholarships and merit aid as schools that offer it. I would seriously look at Ivies and other schools like Middlebury, Bowdoin and Oberlin, as well as State schools that have strong music programs. If you like Belmont, definitely keep that on your list as well. At most schools, you will have to audition on one instrument or voice, and you should be very competitive in that one instrument. As a composition major, you won’t have to be as good as a performance major, but you should be fairly competent. The instrument you focus on will also be the instrument that you continue with private lessons (in many cases). If you start with private lessons now and really work, you can strengthen your audition chances considerably. Don’t dilute yourself on 4 different instruments at this point (voice, piano, baritone, trumpet, guitar, bass) as you’ll end up be average but diverse. Pick the one that you get the strongest and most consistently positive feedback and develop it further. If you have 9 years in piano, that tells me you may have some skills there, and with your discipline, you may be able to kick that one up to the highest level of all your instruments. Piano/keyboard is also a great instrument for composers and songwriters, so keep that in mind as well.</p>

<p>As far as your ECs go, you are quite diverse. As you go through senior year you will see that with auditions and traveling you may not have time to be the basketball manager or participate in the musical. Cross country running is a good thing to do and if you’re not exercising otherwise, I would try to keep that on your list. If you do it for 4 years, that shows diversity in your commitments, but you don’t need to do every commitment for 4 years to prove to a college that you are involved and active. If you really want to focus on music, you should naturally be drawn to spend more of your time practicing, taking lessons, composing, etc … it won’t feel like you’re losing something, and if it does, I would double check if this is the right path.</p>

<p>Good luck to you … many music schools will appreciate your statistics, so I wish you best of luck in preparing your composition portfolio and for your instrument auditions.</p>

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<p>My son is a music major at Yale, studying composition, and the composition seminar is “classical” in the sense that it is academic music, but most of the music written is modern. There are also courses in songwriting, though. The major includes theory and history. There is a growing interesting in electronic music and technology–this is probably true at other places.</p>

<p>And I may have missed it if somebody else mentioned it–but have you looked at MIT? They have an interesting music program there, and you might be a pretty good fit.</p>