Your thoughts on Music Comp. Majors

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I am just finishing up my junior year in high school and I'm seriously considering a career in a music-related field. My music experiences and background is pretty solid (with much room for improvement). I play piano and have competed in competitions as well as being the percussion section leader in my school band. I don't really want to go for performance for various reasons but I have been composing music for little while now, and I love it. I bought music notation software; it's been uphill ever since. I have recently had an ensemble piece performed at a band concert. I'm considering a possible future in theory and/or composition. My question for you is: While still in high school, how am I able to compare myself to others like me to make sure I can be competitive with my peers if I try to pursue this career. Like everyone trying to go for music, everybody believes that they are a great musician and every parent believes that there little Mozart is the best thing since indoor plumbing. It's a tough thing to learn just how many proficient musicians are out there competing for work. I feel that I have done well so far with my theory knowledge and composition practice, but I am the only one I can compare myself to. It's easy when you play an instrument because you can physically see just how good the instrumentalists are around you, or how you measure up to their playing ability. So, right now it comes down to the classic question we all face: Am I good enough? I'm not sure right now how I can find this out about my composition skills. I need to come to a realization soon so I can focus my energy on something else.</p>

<p>Thank you in advance for any feedback you might have.</p>

2

<p>I think it is great that you have studied piano. Keyboard (as you probably know) really helps with composition and theory. So I would encourage you to continue your private piano studies as a part of your composition work.</p>

<p>How much music theory have you had? The stronger your theory, the better a composer you will be. I would become very proactive this summer in identifying ways to formalize your composition studies through theory courses (especially courses with a composition focus) and through private composition lessons. To find a private teacher, start by going to local concerts of new music and talk to people to get recommendations). Through this type of study, you should be able to connect with other young composers. Often you will be able to find a “composer’s collective” or group that meets regularly to workshop pieces and invites in guest composers. Once you are connected in this way, you will know what you need to do to improve and continue to grow creatively.</p>

<p>I’m guessing your software program is either Sibelius or Finale. Each has its own headaches. A good composition teacher will know the finer points and trouble shooting techniques you need to get the most from your program. In the meantime, composing by hand actually (I believe) strengthens a composer’s chops.</p>

<p>Finally, have you been able to find groups who will perform your pieces? You can learn a great deal from your fellow musicians.</p>

<p>My son is graduating from Juilliard pre-college this year with a composition major, violin minor (he’s also an advanced classical pianist, studying since age 4). He never used software until he was in the program; he applied with a stack of hand scribbled manuscripts, a ton of music theory (AP, college level courses) and a passion to learn. This is meant to encourage you! </p>

<p>Good luck and keep writing every day!</p>

3

<p>I’m wondering where you live. Our state school music association has a composition contest every year. (New York) Probably other states have this as well.</p>

4

<p>I believe the OP lives in Ohio; if he is near Cleveland or Cincinnati, or any college or conservatory campus, there are many resources he can access. I’m not sure entering a national or regional contest at this point would give clear feedback, as many talented and highly trained composition students enter, and not winning does not necessarily indicate much of anything.</p>

5

<p>My S is a composer as well, although horn is his primary instrument. (For the OP, who probably doesn’t know me yet, my S is in grad school now.) When he was in high school he did two things that really helped - they both might be things you would want to consider.</p>

<p>First, he went to a summer program - (his happened to be Brevard) - where he was able to study horn as a primary, and composition as a secondary. (Most of the composition students were there to study comp as their primary.) He got to work with an excellent teacher (from Indiana U), get solid instruction, and have his pieces performed.</p>

<p>At the end of the summer, the comp teacher strongly suggested that my S study composition with a private teacher. We couldn’t afford to pay a third private teacher, (in addition to piano and horn) so he suggested that S find a piano teacher who could also take him deeper in composition and theory. We found a local university teacher who did just that.</p>

<p>He was able to continue studying comp as a non-major throughout college, and has had a few successes here and there with pieces being commissioned and/or performed.</p>

6

<p>It is not too late for some programs, if you want to apply for a summer program in composition. Walden School in Dublin NH and the New York Music program in Oneanta come to mind. </p>

<p>You can send music to competitions, including the state music teachers organizations’ awards, but since you are a junior, those have pretty much passed by already and would occur again past the time you would be filing applications.</p>

<p>Perhaps the best thing would be to find a good teacher for composition, who can help you assess where you belong musically, and how you measure up or whatever…although hopefully that teacher would help you develop your “own voice” rather than think about what others are doing…still, it is good to have someone give you a realistic appraisal of where you might apply, and also what program would best fit your goals.</p>

<p>Have you taken any theory, solfege, or history?</p>

<p>You can also just take your chances and apply to a spectrum of schools. Conservatories will want 2-4 pieces, with scores and CD’s. It is better if the music is played by some decent musicians, and not just a Finale recording (some schools accept the latter, some don’t). Some schools, and Oberlin is one, require a handwritten score as well as a Finale or Sibelius printout. </p>

<p>You can buy a little H-2 recorder ( I forget the rest of the info on this) and record your music yourself.</p>

<p>If you apply to colleges rather than conservatories, then you would submit a CD of your music as a supplement to your application, and it would be optional, not required.</p>

<p>What kind of music are you writing? It sounds like you wrote a piece for your school band.(Did you record it?)</p>

<p>You still have some time to work on a portfolio if that is the direction you want to go. A summer program would offer you the chance to write and have a piece played by good musicians, and have a recording. Most programs are closed, but not all.</p>

<p>This fall, try to take theory, maybe history and work with a teacher for composition. You can even work privately on theory if you are near a university or conservatory prep program.</p>

<p>And don’t feel too stressed by all this. You have lots of time to evolve as a composer. Lots of composers start late in college or in their 20’s. You can go to any college with a decent music department and progress as a composer. The onerous route I described above, with the portfolio, would be if you desperately want to go to a conservatory for composition, but for composing, there is a lot more flexibility in the choice of a path than for instrumentalists, I think.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>p.s. for many, composing isn’t really a choice, but a drive, and can’t be resisted so as to “focus on something else.” Keep doing it if you really love it!</p>

7

<p>I’m an oboist, sophomore in high school, and I’d like to pursue a performance major but I also enjoy composition. My reasoning is, if you like it, go for it. Have a back up plan just in case, but you sound passionate, motivated, and talented enough to succeed in whatever field you choose.</p>

8

<p>The recorder you are talking about is the Zoom H2, and it rocks. It is now about 150 bucks (used to be around 200) and is probably the best compact recorder I have ever seen. It has 4 built in mics, can record surround or front only angled, and can record in a variety of formats (including MP3 and Wave) and since it uses SD memory cards it is easy to add storage (with 4 gig it records something like 6 hours of MP3 I believe, then it is easy to transfer to a computer via USB).</p>

<p>I have used it to "Shhh* record concerts my son has been in, and its compact size belies how good it records. </p>

<p>As far as composition goes, I would recommend trying to find resources both in composition and music theory. There are good books out there on music theory and the like, but you might find a structured program easier. One note on the notation software, they can be difficult to use, even for experienced users. My son often writes pieces out longhand, he sometimes finds that easier then using the notation software (he uses finale). It is possible to write music without taking formal coursework, but taking courses as others have suggested will be a big help (they might, in fact, tell you whether you want to go into composition at all, you might find that the theory and the coursework doesn’t interest you)</p>

<p>I agree, one way to find someone is check into local performing groups. Often they have a composer-in-residence, who at least in my experience, also teach private students, they could probably do both music theory and composition.</p>