College

Do any of you have advice on the application process for a major in music composition? I know the requirements for the colleges, but everything seems somewhat vague. Thanks.

Do any of you have advice on the application process for a major in music composition? I know the requirements for the colleges, but everything seems somewhat vague. Thanks.

Can you be a little more specific? Which aspect of the application are you wondering about?

Sorry, just any advice about it would be fine, the actual compositions ( length, what you are trying to show), organization, anything pertaining to application. I know it still sounds kind of vague, but if you have any advice or examples about the procedure.........

*shrugs*

Okay.

Offer your best - it's reall all you can do. Make sure your submissions represent your best work, and try and honestly portray your style (while, at the same time, showing a diverse selection). Don't try and tailor your portfolio for the departmental tendencies...

Call/email the professors - they should let you know what they like to see, what they're looking for.

Make it look/sound good - professional looking scores and demo recordings will make a good impression.

...just a few thoughts, should apply to most schools. Many will have individual preferences and procedures - would be worth a talk to a professor or adminstrator at a school of interest.

Good luck! :dry:

Thanks a lot, I'll keep that in mind.

You should also be extremely careful about your decision to apply to a conservatory or a liberal arts school. If you're interested in things besides music, don't be scared by the concept of a school where you'll have to take a few classes outside of music! In my senior year of high school, I nearly broke down and applied to conservatory. My parents knocked some sense into me and reminded me I love things besides music. Now I'm a music major at a liberal arts college, happy with all my classes, music and otherwise. If I were at a conservatory, I'd probably shoot myself. So consider wisely what will work better for you.

You should take a lesson or two witht he teacher or teachers that you plan on studying with, that way you will already be startign to build a relationship with them, and you can also find out how they teach, and whether you want to be stuck for four years with them.