University student needs advice

YAY on all occasions! :)

As for the entry requirements, don't hte websites and prospectus have enough information?

Entry requirements - All students wishing to understand MMus Composition must apply with the substantial portfolio of recent compositions :blink:

I've just been offered a place at GSMD for Composition MMus. I'm not sure you need to worry too much about your marks you know. They'll let you in with a 2:1. What matters is funding. You won't get that without a 1st. If you're really worried about the standard of your work, or the quality of your teaching, GET A CONSULTATION LESSON. Preferably with someone at RCM/RAM etc. They'll be able to help you and honestly tell you whether you stand a chance or not.

I've just been offered a place at GSMD for Composition MMus. I'm not sure you need to worry too much about your marks you know. They'll let you in with a 2:1. What matters is funding. You won't get that without a 1st. If you're really worried about the standard of your work, or the quality of your teaching, GET A CONSULTATION LESSON. Preferably with someone at RCM/RAM etc. They'll be able to help you and honestly tell you whether you stand a chance or not.

You are right. All my research does yield that a first class degrees will get funding - unless you can think of a way, however, for me to score 80% in EVERY module this term, let's rule out the possibility of that first. :blush:

I can't get a First class. During my second year (the first time around), I received some excellent marks (including As) but in what my University calls "Supplementary Study" I only scored a high C and my final Composition project for the term (and worth the most marks) also dragged my average grade mark for the semester down to a 60%.

While the marks for the Second Semester of my Second year (the first time around) do not count towards my final degree, the First does. The only reason I am repeating is because I was forced to pull out last year with ill health and I couldn't afford to resist during the summer because I couldn't afford to take the time off work.

I know my University allows resists for fails but I doubt they do for people who just need better marks.

Let's just hope however that they might be funding out there for a Dyslexic, Dyspraxic, Working Class background student who has disowned her family. :P

Entry requirements - All students wishing to understand MMus Composition must apply with the substantial portfolio of recent compositions :blink:

Well for the record:

I doubt anyone will look at more than 3 maybe 4 scores of yours. Especially if they are rather big in size. If you submit 5 page scores, of course, it's a different matter.

Recordings will matter as well, as I do think they request for at least 1-2 pieces. If it is to be a Sibelius recording, let it be a good one, otherwise find another friend and play your violin+piano duets, etc... I assume your uni will have equipement for recording, right?

In all, it would be safe to say that if you have 4 scores to deliver you don't need any more. The quality is something you need to research on, but this can be done here as well. There are people who are past the undergrad level, so you can get feedback on the "quality" (even if I don't exactly buy into such a thing).

When I entered my Masters, I was in Greece, so rather unaware of what was needed and pretty much over did it I think...

I submited 4 scores (as requested). A full orchestra, 60 pages, a large chamber orchestra 50 pages, a solo piano + prerecorded music 20 pages and a solo piano 5 pages, all recorded (samples AND live). They simply didn't bother for the 2... It was too much...

Well for the record:

I doubt anyone will look at more than 3 maybe 4 scores of yours. Especially if they are rather big in size. If you submit 5 page scores, of course, it's a different matter.

Recordings will matter as well, as I do think they request for at least 1-2 pieces. If it is to be a Sibelius recording, let it be a good one, otherwise find another friend and play your violin+piano duets, etc... I assume your uni will have equipement for recording, right?

In all, it would be safe to say that if you have 4 scores to deliver you don't need any more. The quality is something you need to research on, but this can be done here as well. There are people who are past the undergrad level, so you can get feedback on the "quality" (even if I don't exactly buy into such a thing).

When I entered my Masters, I was in Greece, so rather unaware of what was needed and pretty much over did it I think...

I submitted 4 scores (as requested). A full orchestra, 60 pages, a large chamber orchestra 50 pages, a solo piano + prerecorded music 20 pages and a solo piano 5 pages, all recorded (samples AND live). They simply didn't bother for the 2... It was too much...

They might have to be Sibelius recordings but I have an extensive range of sound files for use - working on my current piece is lovely because of the violin sound I am using.

My university does have recording abilities and luckily (though most of the time unluckily ;)) my personal tutor is the director of performance so she might be able to point me in the right direction to finding students capable and willing to recording a couple - but I doubt they will do so for free and my bank balance is stretched.

If "Dawn" gets chosen it will be receive performance during a compositional workshop at the end of Feb, though I don't know if this will be recorded. I can't tell you how much of a confidence boost having a work chosen to be performed would be.:blush:

I don't yet have a orchestral piece - too many instruments not enough time to write for them. I will be doing an orchestral piece though for final year.

...finding students capable and willing to recording a couple [pieces] - but I doubt they will do so for free ...

Actually, I'd doubt that anyone would make you pay them. There should be enough students around that if one person decides to be difficult, you can easily ask someone else. They should be more than willing to record some of your music - as they gain from the experience, and get a decent recording for their use as well.

Don't be so quick to dismiss the option - ask around, ask your prof for suggestions on good players, put up a poster, knock on doors: "Hey, I heard you practicing and think you sound really good! My name is Esther and I was wondering if you'd come to the studio on Sunday to record something for me?" Easy-peasy....offer to buy them a pint if they look thirsty.

Rainy, try to think a little more positively about everything, you'll have more fun! :thumbsup: Confidence in what you do is key - be proud of something you've written. People should be honoured if you ask them to play it.

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Don't be so quick to dismiss the option - ask around, ask your prof for suggestions on good players, put up a poster, knock on doors: "Hey, I heard you practicing and think you sound really good! My name is Esther and I was wondering if you'd come to the studio on Sunday to record something for me?" Easy-peasy....offer to buy them a pint if they look thirsty.

Part of the problem is I don't have access to the studio as I don't study anything which allows me to - in first year I did because I studied Intro to Music Tech (or something like that) but I haven't taken that side of things on to the next level.

Part of the problem is I don't have access to the studio as I don't study anything which allows me to - in first year I did because I studied Intro to Music Tech (or something like that) but I haven't taken that side of things on to the next level.

Again, ask around - you took Into to Music Tech in first year, that means there has to be another dozen or so students taking it in their first year. Perhaps they're looking for projects to record - it's a win-win-win situation: you get your piece recorded, the performer gets their playing recorded, and the tech student gets experience riding the faders. :thumbsup:

Again, there's always options. It doesn't need to be a professional recording studio. Hell - I got into a classical composition masters program with JAZZ compositions, recorded live to mini-disc with a single crappy microphone. With modern technology, there HAS to be someone with a laptop who can record something for you, or a mini-disc recorder... or something!!

All you need is some sort of decent representation of your music. CD quality audio is NOT required. Get the best quality you can, but if the option of spending a week at Abbey Road is out of your budget, move on to the next best thing. Your music is obviously of a high enough calibre that it'll speak for itself, even from a well-rendered Sibelius recording.

Stay positive! ;)

Hey everyone,

So I had the meeting with the lecturer today. Not really that good considering I was kind of freaked out from the night before - dam mouse showed up again and I had to go stay with a friend.

Anyway, my lecturer gave me a taste of reality in that really what the universities mean by a substantial portfolio of compositions means several works which span several years worth of development. He also emphasised that I wouldn't really stand a chance in the types of colleges I was looking at because I would face heavy competition from not only UK students but students on a Worldwide scale. He actually recommended me to the university he went to for his postgrad and I will have to do some research on it.

The other thing was that he highly suggested a gap year because he feared that to get a substantial portfolio together in a few short months wouldn't be ideal and I would have to do much of the work over the summer. Not something I am afraid of but something he had concerns about.

Also, he reccomended speaking to my composition lecture this year who is the professor of composition at my university because ideally he says I need to have someone who sees compositions on a regular basis and that it would help to know that I am heading in that direction.

Unfortunutly at this point, we had to leave the meeting as he was about to teach my class and I don't feel nothing was resolved because while he suggested a piano work to start me off when I explained my work of late was causing me great concern so we kind of moved off the topic of what works I could write for a portfolio.

On a separate topic, I had my first ever lesson today with the forementioned professor of composition. He isn't as bad as I feared and I actually learnt a few new things despite the fact I was covering material I had already covered in the same lecture the year before. Last year, he was on study leave and left his notes for another lecturer and all the other lecturer did was make us read the notes and not much explaination was given, leaving a lot of students confused.

I will have to approach him at some point but I am going to wait until I have completed the work which has been set today and recieved it back. That way I can use "I would like to know where I could improve this piece" excuse and lead on from this into my explaination about postgrad.

Some how I have a feeling, however, that if I want to learn and improve my style I will have to hope this site and my own private study will lead me in the right direction. From my discussion from my lecturer, I haven't gained confidence that I will help inspire me to aim for my dream.

However, I am quite inspired with a couple of my modules. I had a terrible start yesterday and figure Mondays might turn out to be the worst day of the week lecture-wise. But today was really interesting even if both the modules I had today were ones I am repeating. I think redoing this term might turn out to best way to save my degree and something I won't regret.

I have tomorrow off but I have a violin lesson and I am expected to collect a large pile of books I have put on hold at the library - composition related - if the people who currently have them return them.

So here endth the essay of my progress or maybe lack of progrss :blush:

I kind of agree with the 'gap year' suggestion. If you haven't spent the last four years with that goal (i.e. grad studies) in mind, then you're slightly behind - just in terms of having enough 'stuff' written, and experience.

Basically, you just want to have enough material or a high enough quality to clearly demonstrate that you can indeed compose.

BUT, don't let ANYONE dissuade you from going for it. The professors will (hopefully) give you advice, and no bullshit - but it's all in an effort to help you develop to the point where you will be ready to take your writing to the next level.

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Keep working - write as much as possible, listen to as much as possible, read/analyze as much as possible. Live/breathe/BE a composer.

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I kind of agree with the 'gap year' suggestion. If you haven't spent the last four years with that goal (i.e. grad studies) in mind, then you're slightly behind - just in terms of having enough 'stuff' written, and experience.

Basically, you just want to have enough material or a high enough quality to clearly demonstrate that you can indeed compose.

BUT, don't let ANYONE dissuade you from going for it. The professors will (hopefully) give you advice, and no bullshit - but it's all in an effort to help you develop to the point where you will be ready to take your writing to the next level.

...

Keep working - write as much as possible, listen to as much as possible, read/analyze as much as possible. Live/breathe/BE a composer.

...

I heard some courses in America which are like summer camp but for composers. I know that generally the deadlines are in Janurary so I am too late for this year but would you guys recommend trying to get on to one and do you know know of any which are recommended?

If I going to take year out then I want to be doing SOMETHING musical or be working enough hours to pay for bills and have loads of free time to work on my compositions. So ideas on what I might be able to do on this front might be useful too.

I have noticed a swing of musical thought which has sprung recently. I am looking at music in a slightly different way. Like an Orchestration excerise which I did last year but have to redo this year - I am seeing new and different possibilities with it that I didn't have last year and I think what I will come up with will be different completely to what I sumbit last year. Though it will be still in keeping with the rules that my teacher has laid down. So this year is looking a lot different already to last year.

In terms of works I will like to write alongside my coursework, I think my next work will be for Sax Quartet - competition I might enter - deadlines August. Also maybe a Violin Concerto (Violin and Chamber Orc.)

I am not going to say yes to a gap year. I am going to see how this year spans out, if by late August/early September, I am looking at 5/6 extermely good works (including compositions from university) then I will start looking at putting a portfolio together - one work from year one, one from year two (first time around), two from this year and a couple of "extras." I already think that the first year piece I'll chose will either a woodwind quartet or a solo harp, last year will be a oboe and strings work (which I need to revise slightly.)

Anyway, your suggestions and advice greatly mean a lot to me, keep them coming - I am off to some lectures!

I am guessing due to lack of replies that this for most people has become a dead issue or that most members aren't at this stage of their compositional life.

To me though it is still an issue which plauges my thoughts and so I hope you guys will forgive me for adding yet ANOTHER post to this.

Anyway, this morning, I finally recieved a reply to my "ideal" university explaining a little futher about their requirements. They are willing to accept me with just a pass on the course but do require the substandal portfolio of compositions which she emphsised should be as recent as possible which will act as my "audition."

The seriously bad news is that my application deadline for entry the academic year 2009/10 is actually October 1st (opens July 1st.) This deadline also applies for the university my compositional lecturer recommended.

So bearing in mind by previous post yesterday, what do you guys think?

Start writing. More.

I figure any summer camp/workshop/seminar/conference/etc. will likely be a big help - at least inspirationally and spiritually. Get in the mind-set NOW that you are a composer, and spend your time working towards that goal of WRITING and COMPLETING pieces.

Building a 'substantial portfolio' isn't toooo big a deal. Just do it. The advantage to taking a gap year to work would simply be the extra time to augment and enhance your music.

All told though, there's no harm in trying to get it ready for October 1st.