As a music professional, if your kiddo is really interested in music comp., research schools, and their comp professors and have them reach out. The way it works at most schools is that comp professors (piano professors, violin professors etc) have limited room in their studios and they hand pick who they want to teach. They have limited openings every year. So start early do research and find a composer who your kid relates to, respects their music and thinks they would enjoy working with. IN ADDITION, find out where those folks spend their summer and try to go to spend time there. The biggies are Tanglewood, Aspen, Interlochen, and Idlywild (CA). I also second Walden for composers. But… following the teacher is more important than the summer program itself. AP theory is either here nor there IMO. Your kid will have to take a theory and ear training placement test regardless of the AP test… I’d rather they spend time on their music, learning an engraving program like Sibelius and listening to music! Yes this is a thing. Most kids going into college as music majors have NO IDEA what music has been written beyond their instrument… especially music written in the 20th century. If your kid can spend time listening to music, knowing who the ‘big’ composer are TODAY, that will go a long way. The icing on the cake would be to find out who their soon-to-be composition teacher’s teacher/composer of influence is. For example, if your kiddo is interested in the UMich comp department, many of those folks were influenced by Bill Bolcom or Pierre Boulez or John Cage, and the like. So, I would have your kid get familiar with their music. ALL their music: chamber, instrumental, orchestral, electronic, etc. And come with questions… composers love to talk so get them talking! IMO focus LESS on AP Theory exam and MORE on the art of music making. The music is the most important thing when applying as a composer. Good luck!
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