<p>Hi Kmccrindle,
Thanks for your input, it is so helpful!
I know a little about the PAT program at U.Mich because my son mentioned it to me I seem to recall that he said it was a very unique program and I remember him showing me the audition/portfolio requirements which were extensive. Your son must be exceptionally talented to have gained admission into that program!
I am guessing they also have a regular composition program that we could look into.<br>
I agree that the summer is a good time for my son to continue to work on his compositions, finding a composition teacher, resume, repertoire list etc. It stands to reason that using this time wisely will be very beneficial, as once the school year starts it is intensly busy. Getting a headstart should hopefully relieve some of the stress!
We will not rule out some of the colleges that we had thought were too much of an academic reach because of son’s SAT’s. Thanks to yourself and the other wonderful CC posters we have a great list of colleges to consider. And yes the ACT is a possabillity, although my son feels that if he does some SAT prep over the summer he can bring his scores up. The truth is that they do not reflect his academic abillity. I think he will put most of his energy into his music activities because that seems like the number one priority.
Yes, I feel like we are embarking on a journey, more so of course for my son, but as a parent I can already see some of the obstacles we may encounter along the way. It is both daunting and exciting.<br>
Thanks again.
Best wishes to you and your son.</p>
<p>One other little tip for some of the endeavors this summer: look up the Zoom H-2 recording device. Not expensive, and makes great recordings :)</p>
<p>Marimba mom, please do let me know if your son decides to apply to PAT - I know my son is happy to share info about gaining access to the program and to give a student’s-view-tour if he comes to visit campus, although he will not be back in residence until September.
Cheers,
K</p>
<p>Just an FYI–the Bard Conservatory will offer a BM percussion starting fall 2011. The final details will be worked out shortly. All performance majors spend a year studying composition (one semester with John Halle and one semester with Joan Tower), or he may just come to Bard College for a music BA that incorporates all of his musical interests.</p>
<p>Kmccrindle, Thanks I will certainly contact you if my son decided to apply there.</p>
<p>Thanks SpiritManager,
I was intrigued when you mentioned Paula Matthusen ( especially the mention of ping pong balls!) I listened to her piece on the project 440 site, quartet for electric guitar and it was quite interesting. She seems pretty cool. I have been flitting back and forth to that website listening to the different works and some of the music is wonderful. I will add Florida International University to the list of places to consider. FIU is probably easier to get into than Frost school of music at Miami. U of Miami has become increasingly selective, in terms of academic requirements.
I have been looking for a composition teacher today, and have found a couple that teach composition at two universities that are within 40 minutes of where we live. So I may contact them to see if they give private lessons. I already do the 2hr 30 minute round trip drive to Miami for son’s percussion lesson, so somewhere closer would be a plus but if I can’t find somewhere closer I will look further. I don’t know where else to look for a composition teacher except at the colleges. I did find a couple of independent composition teachers but all I have to go on is what they write about themselves, and at least on the college websites there is a lot more information,resume’s, compositional point of view, repertoire etc. Plus of course they have connections within the college which can be helpful I understand in getting compositions played. At this point, however I just want to find a good teacher so I am starting with colleges first. And I figure that if the proffessors I contact are too busy to take on another student then at least they might have other composition teachers they can recommend!</p>
<p>I think contacting the professors at the colleges is a great first step and they can, just as you mentioned, refer you to other teachers, if they can’t do it themselves. Another idea might be asking your son’s percussion teacher if he knows anyone he thinks would be a good fit with your son.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone on CC who encouraged me to find a composition teacher for my son.
I have found one today and although we won’t get to meet him for a couple of weeks because he is going out of state to be a composer in residence he has graciously agreed to teach my son and help him get ready for college admisisions.
My advice to anyone out there in the same position is to find the very best teacher you can for your child, but to do it sooner rather than later!</p>
<p>Just learned that one of my son’s wonderful composition professors is going to be teaching at the College of Charleston. He taught at Berkeley, and Virginia, and now there… So there’s another composition program to check out, for sure.</p>
<p>Hi SpiritManager,
Do you have the name of the composition professor who is going to be teaching at the College of Charleston?
Thanks, and I will add that to the list and do a bit more research.</p>