<p>Here’s the difference:</p>
<p>You’re generally NOT going to find any composers of note at the music departments at LACs. The music faculty at say the top LACs will have maybe something like 10 people total. There maybe 2 or 3 composers, a few musicologists and some theorists. Once in a while, you could throw a conductor in there. The composers are generally not the most well known and frankly, the music they write probably isn’t that interesting. (I’m also over generalizing here so bear with me.)</p>
<p>The Ivy music departments, save one or two schools are packed with famous composers on the faculty. They also have a better time inviting guest composers because they have greater funds and because guest composers want to work with graduate composers for the most part. They have little incentive to want to visit small LACs- even more prominent ones such as Williams and Amherst. (Oberlin is an exception because it houses a truly remarkable composition program)</p>
<p>Now, here’s the catch: undergrads usually need to fight for access to these ‘superstar’ faculty at the Ivies- and you better be good. They don’t want to waste their time on beginners. In this case, you might find the LAC faculty to be more helpful. </p>
<p>Basically, if you really want some ‘hardcore’ composing and you want to meet some of the most interesting composers working today, go either to a conservatory or an Ivy. I guarantee that you won’t get that kind of exposure at a smaller LAC no matter how prominent it is. Look at Williams- the only truly well-known composer to come of there is Stephen Sondheim- and he isn’t exactly a classical composer.</p>
<p>So at HYPS- the superstar, prize-winning faculty is there, but as an undergrad, you’ve gotta fight for it. Yale is a little different- the famous composers are at the Yale School of Music which is almost completely off limits to undergrad composers. Performers have been known to take lessons there but not composers. Nonetheless, I believe that it has a great music scene. And then again, famous composers DOES NOT = good teaching. </p>
<p>LACs- lack of famous faculty, music by these people are likely to be more conservative and less interesting. (again…a generalization) However, they may be great teachers. Then again, they could suck at both too.</p>