That is really. true but I do see myself making music for films, concerts, etc.
typo
Yes, it’s way too soon to worry about college. But it’s not too soon to compose. Compose all the time! And listen to music all the time! All kinds of music. Go to concerts all the time! Watch concerts online if there are none near you. Don’t rule anything out - rule everything in. Get a composition teacher. Find friends to play your music. Form an ensemble to play your music if there’s not one in the area already that would be open to that. Again listen to everything! And, yes, there are good books out there to get you started on some of the basics - such as Rimsky-Korsakov’s Principles of Orchestration, and a great book about 20th/21st century music - The Rest is Noise by Alex Ross. Become fluent in notation software such as Finale, Dorico, or Sibelius. Learn how to score by hand with pencil and paper -if for no other reason than you can take notes for yourself when you’re not near a computer! Listen to and write music all the time. That’s the trick to getting into a composition program in college. Loving music and making music. And making music your own.
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I’m in the “it’s too early” boat too.
Your college list says: I know some big name music schools and want to attend one of those! This is common when people make their first list.
When you start interacting with schools in late junior or early senior year (when having a list is important), teachers will ask about your list of schools. And they will expect an answer that touches on you as a budding artist. Why that school. How does that school/faculty line up with your goals (in musical detail). How will it help you develop your voice. Why do you want that big campus or that small campus. You may end up talking about your school list for 30 minutes or an hour! Teachers may give you insight on you as a nascent composer and where/how they see you developing. And…often there are schools discussed…that are not on the “top 12 big music schools”.
You already received excellent advice on how to spend your time. EXPLORE music, WATCH music, LISTEN to music, THINK about music you like and don’t like. And of course COMPOSE.
Just don’t put the cart (list of schools) before the horse (music exploration so you can develop a better sense of who you are as a musician). By Junior year, you will have a better sense of yourself as a composer/musician and you can make a more thoughtful list. And BTW…the top 12 music school list…is perfectly fine for now. Just don’t marry it!!!
Obviously, you have received excellent advice here! My son will be pursuing a BM in Composition beginning this fall. We are NOT a musical family, and my son was “late to the game” in terms of learning music. He didn’t start piano lessons until 6th grade. If you can afford it, I highly recommend taking piano lessons because all the composition majors we’ve talked with who did NOT take piano really regret it. It doesn’t mean you have to stick with piano, but a couple of years worth would be extremely helpful to you down the road.
My son is also completely submerged in music most of the time. He watches all kinds of videos on YT - from theory to performance to following sheet music as it is played. You can really learn so much (about anything) on YT! And, this was really where he first started learning about composition. Someone above mentioned several digital programs for composing, and I wanted to throw another one into the mix: Musescore, which is free. My son says that it has really improved over the last year or two, and he prefers it to Sibelius.
If you cannot find a local resource to teach theory and composition, I know Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University has an online composition program for students of all ages. I met a mom at an audition whose son participated and said that it was fantastic. I know that’s just one person, but her son was auditioning for composition, so at least the recommendation was from someone in the “field.” There may be other online programs, it just happens to be one I heard about.
I also echo previous posters who encouraged you to attend a summer program. It is pricey, but scholarships are available. I think it will help you determine if you really want to pursue a full-time degree in music. After six weeks of immersion, are you more in love with music and composing, or are you kind of tired of it?
I think it is great that you are thinking ahead but also give yourself grace to change your mind! As you enter high school, take the opportunity to explore any of your other interests. Also, do try to keep up the grades. Some schools WILL really look at your GPA and rigor - Rice being one of them, which is on your list. My other piece of advice is that if it is at all financially feasible, visit as many of the conservatories and college programs in your junior year as you can. Some may disagree, but after visiting (pre-application), certain schools that were originally high on my son’s list were decidedly removed from consideration, and one he had not really given much consideration, we decided to visit because we were in the area ended up being his first choice and where he will be attending in the fall. The cost of travel was recouped a tiny bit by the application fees we saved, but more importantly he saved the TIME it takes to complete those applications. But again, I readily acknowledged that visiting schools takes a lot of financial resources.
I think by the time you are ready to apply to schools, you will have a better understanding of what and how you want to study and if the programs at the schools on your initial list will help you reach your goals. I wish you all the best as you start down this path.
Again, it would be nice to know what you are writing and how you are writing it, and having it played back.
I hope the list of things to do described above is not stressful. During high school some piano and some theory is a good idea. Many composers start late in high school or even during college. You can do BM or a BA as a composer. Give it a few years and see how things develop for you.
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Ok thanks for the Advice
And I think if it’s okay In a couple years about Junior year too I guess share my progress with all of what you guys said. And again thanks for the help.
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Yes come back! Hope you enjoy high school and creating more music. Look into summer programs like Walden School (Dublin NH), Boston Conservatory and Brevard.
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It’s good that you’re thinking about your future. They’ll be plenty of time to make those decisions. Right now, just get good grades and have fun being a teenager. Just don’t blow anything up 
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