What type of music composition portfolios are schools like USC, UCLA, and Northwestern wanting?

College Majors Music Major
1

I’ve decided I’m going to major in musical composition in college because there is nothing greater to me than creating music and having it played in all sorts of settings. It’s just an awesome creative process. However, some schools that I’m applying to require portfolios (which is fine) but I’m not sure what to really put on there. The most common number for number of works is 3 so I’ve decided to include these three works in my portfolio. I know two of them are acceptable but I don’t know if the marimba solo would be a good diverse and unique piece to have or if it needs to be strictly classical.

Marimba Solo (about halfway done with it)
Piano Solo (also halfway)
String Quartet (Waltz)

Personally I think having the marimba solo would be great because percussion is my primary instrument and it shows I can write for different instruments. If I had to get rid of the marimba solo, I’d write something with strings in it or a duet with piano and a different instrument that hasn’t been used yet. Anyway, thanks so much for reading this. College is definitely stressing me out but we all get through it.

2

It’s really hard to know without knowing what kind of music you write, but I will say that at many concerts of new music I’ve seen over the last six years (and I’ve seen a lot), there have been marimba pieces in a lot of them. It’s a thing. So I think it’s find to send a marimba piece, if it’s really good.

3

USC, UCLA and Northwestern are some of the most selective programs for composition. They will be expecting recorded works by live musicians - which seems possible with your selections. But it concerns me that you state “Waltz” after the string quartet. They’re looking for work which shows your individual voice, not something which comes off like an exercise in a music theory class. How long have you been composing, and are you working with a private composition teacher? If you’re new to this, you may want to consider less selective programs for undergrad and save those for grad school.

As for marimba - no problem at all submitting it - especially if it’s in the New Music classical vein. If it’s jazz, it will be viewed differently.

4

Well I’ve been composing for the last year and I really enjoy just classical music, spanish music, film score type orchestral pieces. And I do not study with a teacher, I have a little above basic music theory education. And yes I know it says that, I promise it doesn’t feel like an assignment. I truly am putting my imagination into it for sure, I was just saying i want it to be a waltz. Also another schools would be Berklee

5

Do know that you will be competing for admission with much more advanced composers than yourself for those above named schools. From the brief description you’ve given, I would recommend, if I were you, to consider less competitive programs where you can get a good grounding in composition in your undergrad years. For Southern California check out CSU Long Beach. I would also seriously recommend looking into a BA in Music, with a composition focus - which is available at many many colleges throughout the country. If you were considering college for other reasons, which colleges would appeal to you? It’s highly probable they’ll have decent music departments where you can explore composition and develop your voice and skills over the next four years before moving on to the next step.

It’s also not too late to get a private teacher. The scores will be due December 1. That gives you a little time to work with a professional and develop your chops a bit more before applying. But I would widen your search extensively.

6

It is always hard to decide what to include in a portfolio, and whether diversity should be highlighted versus a particular genre or instrumentation you feel you are good at.

I am not comfortable saying much about your prospects for admission. You may not have a teacher or a lot of years of composing but you might very well have talent and at the undergrad level, “potential” is often what is being sought.

That said, if you want a conservatory, you don’t seem anywhere near having a portfolio or having pieces actually played. You can do the marimba piece yourself, right? Do you compose quickly? That is a lot of work to get done. Do you have musicians in mind to play your works? Allow time in November for organizing your applications which will also include things like resume, repertoire (pieces written and/or performed, maybe also percussion repertoire) etc.

But do you actually want a conservatory (BM, 2/3-3/4 classes in music)? That would mean a portfolio, often for prescreening, then interview, theory placement exam and so on.

Or do you want a college (BA, 1/4-1/3 classes in music, sometimes 1/2)? That would not require a portfolio in most cases. You could do an arts supplement to the common application, submit one piece you really like, a couple of letters from music teachers, a resume, programs, awards, etc.

Composition is a long road. It takes years to develop a “voice.” It is fine to go to a college and do a general music major, which will include composition. Some schools will have a composition strand available. It is also fine to major in something else and compose on the side, or take some classes or lessons. There are double major and double degree options too.

Keep writing music and consider that whatever you do for undergrad should be what you want to do, and can get into, but also that there will be further opportunities for grad school if you continue to develop. You don’t have to do it all now. I hope you can enjoy and not be too pressured. There are several good options ahead of you.

p.s. Hunt, you sound like my daughter, who is always saying “It’s a thing.” I catch myself saying it too now!

7

Just adding also that you can apply to college and not submit any compositions at all, then major in music (or major in something else) and continue to compose. You don’t have to do the supplement I mentioned and in fact, should only do one if the piece is really really good.

.I agree with Spirit Manager that getting a teacher might be helpful in making some decisions and helping point you in the right direction.

Portfolios from other students might include, say, a 20 minute string quartet or an orchestral work, performed by profssional musicians. But there is a range and I have seen high schoolers without those kinds of pieces also get into schools that met their needs and helped them continue to develop.

You are aiming high, and you may be thinking specifically of BM programs. I think the suggestion from all of us might be to expand your list and include some liberal arts colleges or other schools that have general music majors that include composition.

8

Heres the rundown, I am by no means an idiot academically or musically. I am not a jerk musician who is very cocky, I was told something in 6th grade that has always humbled me and I see jerk musicians all the time. They’re some of the meanest people in my opinion, but I mean everybody at this age has an awareness and idea of how they are at the instruments they play. To give you an idea, my YouTube is IIMATTYIIV or Matt Maxwell. I have listened to classical and orchestral music for almost all of my life and it’s my favorite genre. I believe that a teacher would be very beneficial but not however necessary. To me, the way your compositions turn out is based on the composer’s musical taste, knowledge of theory and relationships between notes, and the ability to determine what it is about music that is lacking that could make the piece better. In the next few months, I’m gonna work up my portfolio and continue this thread and I’d really like for you guys to check them out. Anyway, I’ve thought more about the colleges and I’ve made a better plan.

If I get accepted into my top choices (USC, UCLA, Berklee, Northwestern) and everything works out financially then I will most likely attend those schools. My back up school is UT in Austin because I have automatic acceptance, I live an hour away from Austin, and financially, it’ll be the cheapest. Then for graduate school I’d like to attend my top choices and try to get works in. Also, thank you all for the feedback currently. College is one of the most stressful things I’ve had to be worried about, but I know it’ll be worth the thinking and planning later. Thank you!

9

I am PM’ing you.

10

Okay, I can’t get an actual music recording right now, but I’m gonna try and render out a synthetic recording of my marimba solo I finished the other day. It’s going to be completely metered without like a human touch like slight rubato or so. It’ll sound not as good but I’m gonna work on a recording sometime soon.

11

I recommend that you wait and record it with yourself playing. You’ve time to polish it, practice it, and record it. Better than a computer recording which doesn’t do it justice.

12

Have you looked at the University of North Texas at all? http://music.unt.edu/ The department there is good for composition and also electronic work. Percussion looks good too. You can read about the different areas of study here: http://music.unt.edu/areas-of-study I know an Ivy League grad who went there for grad study and is doing very well with PhD and career at this point.

13

My friend goes there and I’m just not really a fan of the massive amount of music students there. I’d like something with more selective attention!

14

I cannot advise on any of the admission specifics, i just don’t know enough to say anything other than to follow/develop your voice, wherever it leads. And that doesn’t necessarily mean majoring in composition in college - that’s a question you’ll have to answer for yourself, and you’ve been offered some excellent advice on that up above. Do you compose percussion as well (like some of the things on your youtube)? There are really interesting things being done out there with timpani, multiple snares, etc, should your voice take you there.

15

Well I can compose for marimba at least, I haven’t actually tried any drums or other mallet instruments but I’d ultimately like to be a film composer. But who knows, I mean one reason why people go to college is to truly find what they want to do as a career and and what is going to be a hobby you know?

16

A little late to this party, but you may have automatic (top 10%) acceptance to UT itself, but you have to be accepted as well by Butler School of Music. Also consider SMU. Dr. Wang Xi is a wonderful composition professor and has written several great works for percussion including Marimba.

17

Bump…

I have a composition teacher and have a few lessons over the past 2 months. He enjoys what I’ve written.

I think I’ve decided that it’s just overwhelming and I’ve adopted this idea too late and instead of submitting things pre-mature and immature to wait and develop more like you guys suggested. Been accepted into UT Austin and have a percussion performance audition in early February :slight_smile:

18

Great to hear you got a composition teacher! No reason to stop taking lessons with him this year even if you’re not applying directly as a composition major. And congratulations on UT. If you’re not accepted into the percussion performance program - will you still be happy going there? Are you applying anywhere else? Did you look into SMU or reconsider applying to UNT? @Compdad knows a lot about Texas schools and composition, too. And, happy to hear you’ve realized you’ve got many years ahead of you to develop as a composer - and that it can be done without starting as a composition major as an undergrad.

19

Exactly, and it’s incredibly overwhelming trying to compose a larger ensemble piece. My teacher has helped tremendously and I’ll continue taking lessons with him through this year and after too! I have not looked into SMU and I do not wish to go to UNT. Studios too big, I need a closer and more intimate relationship with professors.

I’ll be happy going to UT as well, I’m considering computer science as well. If all goes well, I’ll get accepted into the Butler School of Music and the College of Natural Sciences.

Thanks for all of your help!

20

There’s no reason you shouldn’t apply to a few more places - especially SMU, which has a very good composition department. I know the price tag looks daunting, but you’re a good student and you might be offered merit aid, on top of financial aid, bringing the cost down to the same as UT. It’s always nice to have choices in the spring - people change a lot senior year.