Wisdom of changing intended major from performance to composition?

kmccrindle
Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:44:10 +0000

Marimbamom, I pretty much agree with Shinster with respect to targeting all those schools if they seem like a fit because with a 3.8 GPA and attendance at a performing arts high school he will likely be viewed as a strong candidate for an SOM who just doesn’t happen test well if the SAT doesn’t reflect the GPA. Generally, as long as there’s not grade inflation at his HS and its considered rigorous, schools like UMich prefer a hard worker to a natural test-taker (Northwestern is a little stickier on this and same may be true of USC. Maybe he should try the ACT – my son, also an artsie, scored better on it than SAT)

At any rate, my son is not in traditional composition at University of Michigan, but in a semi-related, electronic emphasis composition and recording/multimedia program at the school of music called PAT (Performing Arts Technology.) That said, they take a lot of composition classes, and he loves the diversity of the faculty – electronic/experimental, traditional, contemporary and popular.
You mentioned some future vocational areas that my own son is targeting, so if you’d like info about his program, just PM me. If you do decide to check out UMich, I’ll assist you if need be.

But the best advice that might serve you would be to get him working on his portfolio right now, and put together a nice package with his repertoire, musical resume, and to start writing base essays about what he wants to accomplish in comp. If he uses his summer well, plus gets a composition instructor to work on his final submissions/scores, you will be in good shape by Dec. 1st to get the materials into ALL those schools to give the best range of options.

While each might require a slightly different submission, I found with my son that it was much easier when fall rolled around to get the right combo of information and samples together to submit to the various schools because he had dedicated many hours in the summer getting his materials (and himself) well prepared. It really paid off in our case to have him devote a solid 6 weeks in July and August prior to his senior year treating this prep, together with private lessons, like a full time job. In his case, that meant revising two scores and writing a (stronger) new one; securing studio time to get live performances of compositions recorded (and multitracking, and video editing/scoring samples) plus additional production challenges that included electronic arrangement/instrumentation of a Bach fugue, etc. and the layout of a comprehensive portfolio booklet with artist and production notes, letters of musical reference, etc. He also had wide gaps in his experience, and he addressed those by enrolling in programs at a local college and university to ‘catch up’ during his senior year. He explained this intent in his portfolio notes with attention to his strengths and weaknesses and his overall plan.

His portfolio and submissions were a little labor intensive because he was also preparing and editing film and other creative materials, mind you. But it made a big difference for us to work ahead.

Hope that gives you an idea of a good place for him to dig in if he’d like to get started. It is entirely possible to make the decision now and have very positive results come next April (at the conservatory/portfolio submission level) if he does the base work now and it’s work that’s informed by his experience, musicality and musicianship.

To get good coverage/odds (which are fluky in the school of music world) you may want him to at least apply to all the schools, BA and BMUS, mentioned to date on this thread. (Eg. Peabody, Oberlin, USC, NWestern, Umich, Bard, and all the others not mentioned but to which Spirit Manager was referring – meaning, the ones I can’t think of right this second ;)

Good luck in your voyage (because you’re embarking on one
Cheers,
K