Summer programs for composition?

<p>Composition program is in Lenox for BUTI.</p>

<p>If you’re on the West Coast check out California Summer Music for composition. It’s now at Sonoma State Univ. and is a good program. There is also a limited amount of scholarship money available.</p>

<p>I just looked at the end of this thread and just now noticed this thread goes back a couple of years. Apologies for the repeated posts on Walden!</p>

<p>There is another French program at Fontainebleau Schools, if anyone is interested. The EAMA program in Paris is focused on theory, harmony and counterpoint, and less focused on performance of pieces, as I remember. I could be wrong, but that is what I remember.</p>

<p>Yellow Barn is another great program for composers as well as instrumentalists, if it has not been mentioned. We know some talented young composers who did BUTI for a couple of years and then did Yellow Barn.</p>

<p>It seems that these programs all vary in structure (at the college level too). Some of the shorter ones expect students to come with pieces written for the instrumentation provided, some have performances of short pieces written while at the program. Some have seminars, classes and frequent private lessons,and others leave composers to work independently a lot, able to seek help as needed.</p>

<p>I felt that a high school student might prefer a longer program, with lots of time to compose, and lots of classes in theory and musicianship. But everyone is different.</p>

<p>Good to hear about the California program!</p>

<p>Thanks for the tip on that one. I have heard of the program, and a local music pro said “that’s only for virtuosos”-- true or not? I notice they only have one composition faculty member-- is that a limitation, or is he really great? It’s very pricey but if they let us, maybe we could commute instead of paying the big dorm fees.</p>

<p>I was hoping USC or UCLA would have summer music programs, but I’ve been surfing around and haven’t found any. My son is interested in composition and film scoring, both. </p>

<p>Any others on the west coast? There is a 2 week one in Seattle, the Pacific NW film scoring program, with Hummie Mann as instructor. Anybody know anything about that one?</p>

<p>California Summer Music is a fine program -know however that the musicians are for strings or piano only, and that’s what the students will compose for. Yes, there is only one full time composition professor - and he is wonderful. The rest of the year he teaches at Mannes. For one week there is a visiting composer who changes from year to year. The program has the students both meeting in a group, and having private lessons, including with the visiting composer. There are almost daily performances, workshops and master classes, and all composers get their pieces played in the final concerts and recorded and videotaped (which is very useful for NFAA.)</p>

<p>As for the expense, there are full tuition merit scholarships available (aid for room and board would be extra.) I don’t know how many, however - some are through ASCAP and some from private sources. Composition students usually range in age from 16 to 29. There are always international students attending, as well. When my son was there I think there were about 9 composition students, but it varies from year to year.</p>

<p>Two day programs in the Bay Area for composition - the John Adams Young Composers Program at The Crowden School. They have a school year program, and summer programs. And the SF Conservatory has a pre-college summer program - Summer Music West with composition. The LA Phil has a great composition program - check it out if you haven’t already. I don’t know how the students are selected.</p>

<p>There is a composition program as part of a festival at the Univ. of Oregon. And very advanced (grad level & beyond) composers participate in the Cabrillo Festival.</p>

<p>As for scoring, I know nothing about any programs for undergrads or younger… Maybe through a film school? Or one of those video game camps?</p>

<p>SpiritManager-
I sent you a PM about composition at USC…
Any comments would be helpful. </p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

<p>Thanks for your kind reply! We read that the LA Phil one is only for LA residents, dang… and I have heard conflicting things about the CalArts one.</p>

<p>Going back to the East Coast, we were told by a comp teacher here NOT to go for Tanglewood, because the 17 year olds are put in a junior category that gets less contact with the professors, etc… anybody know about this? He recommended Yellow Barn over Tanglewood. And I must say, everything I read about Walden makes me love it (except for the price).</p>

<p>Does anyone know about the John Adams Young Composers program in Berkeley? Is the faculty good?</p>

<p>And any opinions of Interlochen for composition? I know it’s the priciest of all…</p>

<p>My son went to the San Francisco Conservatory’s program last summer and loved it. We just want to have him exposed to something different this year.</p>

<p>Thanks again.</p>

<p>My son was in the John Adams Young Composers Program for two years. The faculty is wonderful. However, he never did the summer workshops - only the school year program, so I can’t speak to that - although I believe they wrote for chamber orchestra last summer. There is a slight overlap of faculty between the SF Conservatory’s program and the John Adams program. Quite different facilities, however, as JAYCP is held at Crowden School.</p>

<p>The Tanglewood program for high schoolers is the “Boston University Tanglewood Institute.” It is separate from other programs at Tanglewood–it has its own campus. When my son was there, the professor in charge was Martin Amlin from BU, who my son liked very much. There were (I think) about ten students, and they had plenty of contact with Amlin and his assistant. There were some master classes and sessions with others, but Amlin was the main instructor. They had their pieces read by professional groups (ie., a brass quintet), as well as BUTI performers–who were excellent. At the end of the session, they put on a concert of pieces written during the program that was pretty impressive. The experence was entirely positive for my son (well, except for the food), and I think it has opened a lot of doors for him. They were also able to go and see all the concerts at Tanglewood proper during the session, which was a tremendous opportunity in itself.</p>

<p>Just got an email from the John Adams Young Composers Program and saw that the workshop this summer for 12-18 year olds is focusing on film scoring. It’s only a few hours in the afternoons for a few weeks - so not the kind of intensive residential program that many are seeking - but if you’re in the Bay Area already it would be worth checking out, for sure.</p>

<p>If anyone is following this and interested in a summer residential midwest program that has not been mentioned I would recommend NHSMI - National High School Music Institute which is located on Northwestern Campus and uses Bienen School of Music Facilities. S went there last summer and had great experience along with final CD performance of his composition which has served him well for college applications. Here is the link [NHSMI</a>, Pre-college and Community, Bienen School of Music, Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.music.northwestern.edu/precollegecommunity/nhsmi/]NHSMI”>http://www.music.northwestern.edu/precollegecommunity/nhsmi/) PM me if you have specific questions.</p>

<p>Hi MahlerSnob,
My son was just accepted into the BUTI program for composers. Could you please tell me about you experience studying there? Thank you very much</p>

<p>I just got the mailer for this year’s summer program, and as this summer’s workshop is an unusual opportunity for teenaged composers (ages 13-18,) I thought I would post about it again here, even though it is a day program and not a residential program.</p>

<p>From June 18 - July 7, 2012 they are offering Beyond Acoustic Music: Composing for Instrumentalists and Electronics. “Young composers will cut, mix, manipulate sounds through music technology, while expressing their personal voices by composing new works. Workshop highlights include a training and recording session at UC Berkeley’s Center for New Music & Audio Technologies.” The workshop culminates in a public concert of student works for a solo instrument and electronics, performed by pros.
[Crowden</a> 2012 Summer Music Camps & Workshops](<a href=“http://www.crowden.org/CCMC/Programs/summer.htm]Crowden”>http://www.crowden.org/CCMC/Programs/summer.htm)</p>