krsiii

My son (junior) is interested in majoring in Composition. All the programs we are looking at require submission of a portfolio of compositions. What are they looking for from high school students in these compositions, in terms of level? I am not sure what he needs to prepare for this. (Fortunately starting research before the last minute, because I didn't realize you were already expected to be a composer before starting study. New world for non-music parent!) (He will have had intro music theory, 2 years in orchestra (cello), and guitar, but so far nothing formal in Composition.) We are looking at summer composition camps, but most of them require portfolios to enter. He is writing music, but I don't have any sense of at what level it needs to be. Help anyone? Thanks.

SpiritManager

I recommend that you have him start taking weekly private theory and composition lessons with a composer. You would find the teacher the same way you would find any high level music teacher in your region.

He should also compose pieces he is able to get performed so that he will start to get a sense of what works and what doesn't. Usually beginning composers start with their musician friends or their youth or school chamber groups. He should also go to lots and lots of concerts, and listen to everything he can get ahold of. And start reading scores.

If he has pieces he's proud of, he can submit them to national, as well as local, competitions. He can join an organization like American Music Center which sends out a monthly list of competitions and calls for scores.

The summer camp idea is a good one. There have been discussions on this forum of non-competitive summer programs for composition which would probably be the best way to start.

And he should explore the philosophies and music of the composition professors at the collleges he's interested in applying to.

aLfR3dd

Hi Krsiii....your right....Composition is not like being a pianist or a performer...i mean it's very difficult to start studying composition lets say at 14-15 years old...even Stravinsky started around 20...(anyway he did quite well eheh!)
If he really wants to get in a school now i think there are several schools (liberal arts) that don't require a potfolio of compositions...you should do some research in this forum to find some "safer" schools....
My personal suggestion would be taking 1 or 2 years of private lessons just to be more prepared and listening to several composers...to understand specifically what does he want to do...i mean if he wants to write film music i think he should avoid places like Julliard, MSM ...or, if he is interested in composers like Cage, Glass ecc he should look at places like Oberlin...
I'm 23 from Italy and studied privately composition a couple of years ...I applied to 4-5 Music schools (including boston Cons, Peabody, Longy)...but believe me i'm VERY scared that no one will accept me ....especially after hearing that Boston Conservatory accepts ONLY 4 compositions students every year (and they recieve 1700 applications), Peabody around 10 - 15 (and recieve even more applications) ecc..........I'm already preparing my stuff to apply in a Conservatory here in Italy
So this is what i know, i'm sure a lot of people here can give you more details about good schools that are not so selective...
Hope this helps
Francesco (sorry 4 my english)

krsiii

Thanks very much for your replies, SpiritManager and Francesco. They were very helpful. We're going to arrange composition lessons, and we found a summer camp that looks like it would be helpful, which includes information about entering college programs in composition, and is at a college he is considering. He will also be taking music theory at community college during his senior year. Francesco, I hope your search goes well and that you get into a program you are interested in. Buona fortuna!

aLfR3dd

Thanks buona fortuna to your son too !!! i would proud if i had a son interested in a such beautiful thing!! keep us updated

mythmom

New York Summer Music Festival has a composition program. It is located in Oneonta, NY and is reasonably priced. It is a portfolio program, but I don't think its standards are very exacting. Probably as long as he's done some work, it will be okay. He will also have to submit a tape of his cello playing, but in the performance part of the program the standards are not exacting.

My S did this program for two years and had three really beautiful compositions to submit at time of application to colleges. One, the first movement of a string quartet, was played by the faculty at the summer music festival, so along with the score he had a very professional recording of his music. David Ludwig runs the composition program and he teaches at Curtis. Can't have better credentials than that.

DS did get accepted into his first choice school, not a conservatory because he wants a well rounded liberal arts education. However, the music major at most schools includes a composition strand. He chose a LAC which did not require an audition, although he did submit three CD's: one of his piano playing, one of his violin playing, and one of his compositions.

krsiii

Mythmom: Thanks for the tip on NY Summer Music Festival. I'll take a look.
I did find that a few schools on S's (still long) list of interest either don't requrire portfolios for entrance, or go through qualification period after one or two years of their music program. Either way I think the summer programs will be a great help.
I'm glad your son got in his first-choice school!