<p>Hi,</p>
<p>My son is in Senegal and thought he had submitted all of his college applications before he left. Well, he didn’t compete the Cal Arts one. So, at the zero hour, 2 a.m. his time, he called to ask if I can help him submit it. It is essentially complete except I have to pay the application fee and put his work in slideroom. There is no internet where he is.</p>
<p>My question is that my son is a guitarist/singer/songwriter. He has composed many songs and will have two in an upcoming movie soundtrack. He loves writing music, but never has written – say – an orchestral score. The composition major looks like it may be for that? It is unclear.</p>
<p>Should he be applying under the composition major at Cal Arts or Musical Arts or Guitar. This sounds like a stupid question and probably is somewhat but Cal Arts is closed, and I am afraid I will mess up his chances by selecting the wrong major and I cannot reach him!!</p>
<p>Any advice or direction on this would be appreciated wise music majors everywhere!</p>
<p>Both composition and musical arts start with the same BFA core curriculum so it may not matter (I would say not to apply for guitar unless guitar performance is more of a focus for your son than writing songs).</p>
<p>Has your son been involved in recording and production and other techie areas, since he has worked on film scoring already?</p>
<p>I don’t know anything personally about Cal Arts but it looks like the composition program is pretty broad and diverse stylistically. And it looks like the Musical Arts program is a broader major that includes more production and maybe more interdisciplinary work.</p>
<p>But since they all start with the same core, your son can figure out his focus once there, sot the question is less what will he end up doing, than what will give him the best chance of admission, is that right?</p>
<p>Off the cuff I would say composition, if writing music is his main focus. If is he interested in other disciplines (say, art installation with his music) or has a lot of experience in the technology of music production, perhaps Musical Arts.</p>
<p>Please understand that I am only going by the website and by your post and trying to respond but have no insight or experience with Cal Arts that can be totally relied on!!</p>
<p>I won’t worry. I appreciate the reassuring response! Since we are on the east coast and my husband just lost his job, now we can turn our focus on paying for all of these auditions! And then, of course, tuition.</p>
<p>I can relate! Good luck!</p>