<p>Hi,
I finally took the leap and registered today after spending waaaaay too much time searching the site for information about programs for my daughter, who is very interested in pursuing a Music Theory and Composition major in college. I just can't seem to find the information I'm looking for and hoping all of you can help. Please bear with me, because I am an extremely non-musical mom, trying to get with the program!</p>
<p>Some background before I get to my question (s) - She has played piano for 10 yrs (prefers classical), viola for 5 yrs, and guitar for 2 yrs. She is first chair viola in a competitive Honors orchestra (there are 5 orchestras) in a competitive hs. Her guitar teacher is from CCM and has told us that he feels that she has a gift that he doesn't ordinarily see. SHe also got herself into the marching band playing synthesizer (although, not sure whether she will continue with that because she was bothered by the lack of creativity there!). She is a straight A student, taking some Honors classes, with decent SAT/ACT test scores for a sophomore.</p>
<p>While she loves to perform, and is logging performance hours, her passion is truly composing. She has a couple of what I would call "polished" scores completed using Finale. She was accepted into the AP Music Theory class next year as a Junior. She was hoping to apply and get into Cleveland Institute of Music's Music Composition camp for 14-19 yr olds this summer, however, it appears that it isn't being offered this year! So, I guess my question is, "Now what??!" I keep reading about camps in New England and CA, but we would prefer something perhaps a bit closer to home, which is Cincinnati. We would really prefer to find something that is only a week long, at least for this year.</p>
<p>It's early, so beyond thinking about what she wants to major in, she doesn't have a clear idea of WHERE she would like to go. We feel strongly that we would prefer that she attend a college as opposed to a Conservatory. She is a twin, so she is going to be somewhat limited in her choices, because it will depend on where she receives the best financial offer. Does the choice of camp this summer affect her ability to get in to a quality college program in a couple of years? If that's the case, would it be worth it to send her to a more "prestigious" camp?</p>
<p>Since I last researched a few months ago, I see that Oberlin now has a weeklong Composition camp. Any idea how competitive it is? Or better yet, how worthwhile? </p>
<p>Illinois Wesleyan also offers a Composition camp. Any experience with that one?</p>
<p>It’s always best to bind the scores - as for professionally - use your local copy shop and have them bind them with a plastic comb binding.</p>
<p>Next year be sure to start looking earlier for a composition program - as many of the deadlines are as early as late fall, though many are January/February.</p>
<p>Yes, saw those. Thank you! Problem is that some of that info is 5 yrs old and a couple of those programs don’t seem to exist anymore. That’s also where I got the idea that the “good” programs must all be in NY/New England or CA. </p>
<p>Oberlin’s deadline is April 10, so fortunately, we still have time there. I also have an email into CIM, to see what they will recommend, since it seems they have discontinued their summer program (last year their deadline was also mid-April, which is I guess where I got the idea that deadlines were in the Spring.) Bowling Green is only mediocre as far as colleges go - would you recommend that over Oberlin?</p>
<p>There is a woman at Bowling Green State who is leading a state, and even national, initiative to get more young people involved with composing. She is part of Alarm Will Sound. She is running some national conferences on the subject. I don’t know, however, if she’s involved with the summer camp.</p>
<p>Does your daughter go to CCM Prep? I notice that they do teach composition, and I know they have a summer program - although not focused on composition. Is your daughter studying privately with someone from there? I’m sure if she couldn’t get lessons with the likes of Joel Hoffman, she could certainly work with one of their stellar grad students.</p>
<p>Last summer my son attended both the CIM and Oberlin composition programs which were held back to back. He described CIM’s as more academic (A finished piece had to be brought to the camp) so less time was spent on composong one piece and more on composition exercises. With Oberlin, a work in progress needed to be brought and that was worked on heavily throughout the week through daily lessons, master classes etc., although there were also theorectical classes. The composition faculty at Oberlin were very involved hands on in the program. Entrance is competitive. It is a good intreoduction to Oberlin and the composition faculty. My son loved it as evidenced by his application for early review to Oberlin. He chose not to apply to CIM for undergraduate but it is near the top of his graduate school list.</p>
<p>I was in touch with Sandra Shapiro from CIM today and she said that they DO plan to have a summer composition program there (wk of June 17), but that some changes have been made and the website has not yet been updated. I’m a little leery about a program that hasn’t even been posted to the website in March, but for some reason, my daughter is determined that is the one she wants to attend! She liked the idea of the “academicness” of CIM? I’ll keep you posted…</p>
<p>I’m happy to hear the news about CIM’s program. One change I know my son would want them to make is to have more involvement by the CIM composition faculty rather then bring folks in, although the talent level of the teachers brought in was very high.</p>
<p>My son took the two Oberlin one-week programs (one in electronic music, one in composition as such, i.e. classical composition for acoustic instruments) in 2010 and again in 2011. He enjoyed both programs, both years. Speaking mainly of the composition week: campers were to bring a work in progress for an assigned small chamber combination (not the same combination for every participant) for example, write a trio for clarinet, flute and violin, or for clarinet, violin and cello. An upper-division Oberlin student for each isntrument worked with the students during the week, coaching them about considerations in combposing and notating for that instrument, and giving feedback on the piece being developed. For example, the clarinet player oneyear emphasized considering phrasing - exactly where and when do you want the performer to take a breath. </p>
<p>All student works (about 18 students each year) were performed at a recital at the end of the week. This means that each student got to hear her or his piece performed by professional caliber musicians - a great opportunity. The principal faculty of each workshop are the most senior permanent members of the corresponding department, so students were exposed to the same quality of teaching that they would experience as students at the Conservatory.</p>
<p>Those old threads were about my son, who ended up going to BUTI, which was terrific. He also went to Brevard after his freshman year of college, and liked that a lot too. Brevard only takes two high-schoolers in composition, so that one’s also hard to get.</p>
<p>I wonder about the value of a one week program. Even a two week program would offer more in terms of development as a composer. A one week program would, I guess, be mainly focused on getting a piece, either fully composed or well in progress, played and recorded. We used money for musicians at home, instead (and many musicians will volunteer to play a young person’s works).</p>
<p>If your child does not want to go away this summer for longer than a week, I will suggest, for the future, a program that I post about every time this topic comes up.</p>
<p>This 6 week program is for ages 9-18 and involves classes in theory and musicianship, individual work on composition, weekend hikes, community spirit, an amazing faculty and staff, students from all over the world- and a final week/festival where world class musicians play student pieces (and they also eat breakfast with students etc.). It is in Dublin NH with beautiful mountain views and a lake nearby.</p>
<p>The point of a one week program is exposure to the school. They get to know you and you get to know them. Also it is chance to be introduced to concepts that many students do not see in high school. It is not intended as a sub for a longer program.</p>
<p>Just want to add that there are some ties between Walden and Oberlin, and some other schools too. Honestly, we never thought much about connections at that age. You get into conservatories based on your music portfolio, mainly. I cannot imagine asking for a recommendation from someone who works with a student for a week. So I still don’t really get it. Though great way to get a piece played, as is the case for some of the programs for older student composers that are relatively brief.</p>
<p>I did not mean that you are seeking recommendations by attending a one week program. But if you are planning to apply to Oberlin, attending the Oberlin program allows you to work with the very people who will be considering your portfolio. The recommendation should hopefully come from your highly regarded private composition teacher. Quite a few students attend Oberlin twice.</p>
<p>I’ve been wondering… my daughter has a good friend in hs who has auditioned in Composition, including at least one second audition, at NYU, NEC, Oberlin, and Belmont. This girl only ever attended the one week CIM camp, and never had a private composition teacher. She plays the same instruments as my daughter and none of her instructors are from CCM. If it turns out that she gets into any of those schools in the next few weeks, without paying thousands of dollars for multiple week camps, then is there actually value in attending those camps?</p>
<p>I’m so new to all of this and probably naive… until several months ago, I didn’t even realize that auditions were required for Composition majors! I had no idea that the process would be stressful as early as the sophomore year!</p>
<p>Don’t let it be stressful right now. There will be plenty of time for stress. Whether she goes to a long camp right now has nothing to do with where she will be accepted down the road. Let her work on her composition during the summer in her own time, in her own space and because she wants to compose. The fact that she is composing for the joy of it is a great indication of how she will do later.</p>
<p>I agree with Compdad - the point of a composition summer camp is not to gain entry to a college program - it is to develop the skills, knowledge and breadth of the composition student. It is also usually a chance to work with live musicians - which is essential to learning how to successfully compose. And often one gets a recording from the performance, which is very useful for submission both to competitions & commissioning opportunities, as well as for college & festival pre-screening.</p>
<p>Right now the best use for your money would be to pay for the best private composition teacher you can find.</p>
<p>Know that while your daughter’s friend never studied formally, if she applies to the top programs, she will be competing with students who, like my son, have been composing seriously and intensely for many years. Even though my son only went once to a boarding summer program (he always wanted to stay home to play baseball,) he studied privately since he was very young, and attended various day programs throughout the years and had his work performed often. I often caution that my son is not the norm, but he’s not unique either.</p>
Do the scores submitted for camps need to be professionally bound as they do for college applications?</p>