<p>^^^One thing to look for in a BFA/BA in MT program if you want to do some musical directing and composing…look to see if there are student directed musicals as this is a way to garner experience being a musical director. Also, look to see if the department stages and encourages new works and if these are possible from student writers/composers. Independent studies/projects is one way. Also, depending on your school, look if there are faculty who are playwrights and composers who might mentor you and if you are good at this, might even hire you to musically direct their works. Another opportunity is if your college has a capella groups and these groups have musical directors (all students) who write the arrangements and direct. </p>
<p>While my D’s BFA program didn’t train her in coursework to be a composer or musical director, she was able to do all the things I just listed during her four years in a BFA program. So, look beyond the courses offered for these additional opportunities outside of class to develop as a musical director, composer, arranger, etc.</p>