Transfer Music Composition

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>Hi,
I believe this is my first post, although I've tried to submit one before. Here is a bit of background (so you'll know my motivation). I've studied (and loved) music since I was ten; I did the All-County/All-State/Solo & Ensemble/Honor Band scene in high school, but was restricted in my choice of college major and institution by the terms of my scholarship. </p>

<p>After getting my Bachelor's degree (with a minor in music) and fulfilling my scholarship obligation, I attempted to get a second bachelor's in Music Composition. I was accepted into The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, but was kicked out two weeks into the program because I wouldn't accept $20,000 in privately funded loans. </p>

<p>After working in the school system for three years, I accepted the opportunity to study TESL/Linguistics on the graduate level, but I still couldn't remove music from consideration. I practiced when I could strip time from my schedule, and took music classes during the summer. After graduating with my MA in May, I have finally summoned the resolve to study my heart's joy no matter the (literal) cost, and I would welcome suggestions as to schools with developed programs in music composition. </p>

<p>Ideally, I would like to score films, and I am inspired by styles of composers such as Wojciech Kilar and Eliot Goldenthal. However, I realize that this area is highly competitive (as all fields in music are), and would like to be prepared to teach at a post-secondary institution, perhaps in theory, or musicology. Any wisdom I could draw from the posters would be most helpful. My short list for now includes: University of Miami, The University of North Carolina School of the Arts, East Carolina University, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Arizona State, and the University of Illinois. I would like to enroll in Fall 2014.</p>

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<p>I know someone who went to Manhattan School of Music and is now in the MM program at NYU in film scoring. I don’t have any depth of knowledge about styles you mentioned but if you want a referral to this student, PM me.</p>

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<p>Oops you need 15 posts to PM so I will PM you.</p>

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<p>Thank you so much, Jazzvocal. I got your pm, and I’d love a referral. This side of study (placing music at the forefront of my focus) is new to me, but more fulfilling and exciting than anything I’ve ever done.</p>

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<p>Goldenthal went to Manhattan School of Music and studied with John Corigliano, who now teaches at Juilliard. Kilar studied with Nadia Boulanger (look up the European American Music Alliance, or EAMA, in Paris, [European</a> American Musical Alliance](<a href=“http://eamusic.org/]European”>http://eamusic.org/)) and attended Darmstadt: these are both summer programs that you could apply to. Kilar has given up some of his earlier “avant garde” electronic work.</p>

<p>USC Thornton is often mentioned for film work. SUNY Purchase (relatively affordable, even out of state), North Carolina School of the Arts (which you have on your list), NYU, and University of the Arts all have both film and music, which can intersect. Cal Arts? Bard has an interesting MFA program that happens on campus in the summer and involves independent work the rest of the year.</p>

<p>Your history with music and composing aren’t clear from your post. What kinds of summer classes have you taken? Have you been studying with a teacher for composition? Have you had pieces played? How much do you know about contemporary classical/ “new music”, aside from film composers? Have you done any electroacoustic work? </p>

<p>Do you want to do a master’s program, or enter directly into a PhD program? Or even get another bachelor’s? Or diploma? Or maybe just study with someone?</p>

<p>Do you want to be in LA or NYC or is there another location that you want?</p>

<p>Generally speaking, folks on here recommend studying composition and general music first, before specifically writing for film: theory, aural skills, music history etc. plus lessons/seminars and work on composing. It is not clear what your background is, or how much composing you have done, so I cannot address that. I guess I could say that I noticed the two composers you mention did not start off as film composers, but were “contemporary classical” composers who happened to end up writing for film.</p>

<p>Since you love music, and apparently love composing, maybe you could detach it from the vocational focus of film at first, and develop your own “voice” first. Film will impose external requirements, or at least external influences, on what you write (as will many commissions) so it is nice to take the time to first figure out who you are as a composer (always a work in progress, as Kilar’s story illustrates).</p>

<p>So anyway, let us know a little more about your composing background and maybe we can help more.</p>

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<p>My new computer is not allowing any edits! Anyone have advice? Any typos or grammar errors or factual errors I make will just have to stay the way they are.
Musicbox, I will PM you.</p>

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<p>@Musicbox107 </p>

<p>RE: 15 posts to PM</p>

<p>If you run around the forum, even in non-music major sections, and invest a day or two of thought, you might find a few topics of interest and be able to get to 15 substantive posts quickly enough. Otherwise, and I hope I am not giving away a big secret here, find a bunch a people to say “Congrats” and “Thank you” and “I agree” to. The one liners will build that post total. ;)</p>

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<p>Thanks for the clarification request, compmom. I’ll admit that I have little formal composition experience, save the few scores I put together for my UNCG application portfolio. I’ve taken one aural and one written theory unit, clarinet lessons, a music history course, ensembles (Symphonic band, marching band, concert band), and an introductory listening course covering film music. That’s about it. </p>

<p>As far as credentials go, I’m really at a point of contention. As I have a year to prepare, I’m wondering if it would be beneficial to study history and theory on my own, and attempt to pass a graduate entrance exam (so I wouldn’t have to get a second bachelor’s degree). I know some schools (ECU, for example) don’t require a BM/BA/BFA in music persay, as long as you can pass the exam (and even if you aren’t stellar, they may just require remediation in the form of a few undergrad courses). </p>

<p>While I’m prepared to go anywhere (i.e., there’s nothing keeping me in any particular region), my family is on the East Coast (and my legal residency is North Carolina).</p>

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<p>And thank you, Jazzvocal. I really appreciate it. :)</p>

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<p>What did you put together before, as you mentioned, in terms of a portfolio, and did it include recordings of live performances of your works?</p>

<p>Composition is a very competitive field. You could study through a continuing education program at a conservatory (NEC has one), work with a composition teacher, listen to a lot of composers, especially 20th and 21st century ones, maybe do a summer program or two, and then apply.</p>

<p>Undergrad programs generally want 3-4 pieces with recordings (MIDI is okay for one or two). Even at that level, many applicants have won various awards and done various programs etc. Grad programs seem to want the same kind of portfolio but of course expect it to be a little further developed in terms of growth and maturity of composition.</p>

<p>However, raw talent is always a great thing and if you have some time to develop it, I am sure you could continue your studies somewhere where you could finally, happily, do what you love.</p>

<p>Can you say more about your composing? Have you ever done any electroacoustic work, or do you write acoustic pieces? Do you write for ensembles or orchestras? Would you characterize yourself as a classical composer? Romatnic? New music/contemporary classical? Other genres?</p>

<p>The composers you expressed admiration for are interesting. Do you know them mainly from films? Who else do you like? Every school on the grad level seems to have a particular aesthetic so it would be good to figure out where you might belong and feel comfortable :)</p>

<p>I don’t mean to grill you and I am not trying to intimidate. I think it is very possible, in a short period of time, for you to explore the field in a way that will make your path clear, and hope you can find the resources to help with that. Many people start composing in their twenties or so, and you may have a great future, who knows. Your past works may be incredible. I just want you to have a realistic picture. Others can chime in with advice on how to get where you want to be. Good luck!</p>