Studying Composition - Is there hope?

Hope for me. Why? Because I have so little knowledge about music.

I studied classical guitar for several years, ear training and music theory, I was in a choir from time to time and occasionally performed at the school's concerts. But I haven't touched the guitar ever since I finished my studies and that knowledge I had — is pretty much lost.

The study of composition at a musical college or a conservatory, as you all know very well, demands a high degree not only of theoretical knowledge, but also a certain skill in performance. In piano, of course. Which I can only play with my right hand. (Yeah, I know you're all rolling your eyes at me.)

So... In order to have even a teeny tiny chance of being admitted at a college/conservatory, I would have to start from scratch, basically. But I don't know how to do that. Is there a kind of school which does this kind of thorough preparatory classes? It would probably take me years to complete, but that does not matter if in the end I will have the necessary skills/knowledge. Is it achievable? How much time would I need to achieve this?

Every single musical college in every single part of the world also demands some works a person has composed. But I don't understand whether these are orchestral pieces or pieces for single instruments? And whether it matters to which type the work belongs to.

Anything you can share will most certainly help me!

A lot of what you're saying holds for high-level schools. i'm going to a lower-tier music school, and I never had to do any of that, i just talked to the head of the department, and out comes a BFA.

Music schools are for those who have know for ever that they are going for music. For those who aren't, any college (ok not any, but you understand) is a solid choice, and many do not assume much knowledge. You have more than enough to go throught the music program at my school - you have more than I did.

Yes, there is hope! As said above, you might not be able to get into the very competitive and selective places, but you can certainly still study composition. If you want to get into those places, however, you should really consider getting some extra theory practice to scratch up on it - get some private tuition or do a short-course or something.

When they say you need to submit compositions, that's what you have to do. They can be any kind of compositions you've done. Unless they specify "including at least one piece for orchestra and one piece for a solo instrument" or something like that, they just want you to show them what you've done. They probably wouldn't specify something like that because they'd be excluding some really good composers for no good reason, really.

As for piano.. I've not read of some kind of tertiary institution that insists you be a pianist before attending to study composition. In fact, one of the places I'm looking at offers a class in first year that's specifically for composers who don't play piano well/at all to learn and how to use it to help compose.

That said, I'm clearly not in the same country as you, so I imagine it'd be a different system.

Anyway, good luck, and look around to find places that'd suit you!

I'm at the Peabody Conservatory, and trust me - you don't need to have extensive knowledge of theory, counterpoint or play piano. Most people get in by their attitude in the interview and their submitted scores (which don't have to be orchestral - they can, but it's not required). I don't think any music schools require undergrad applicants to send in an orchestral piece - most people haven't written any by that time.

You can do it! Don't be afraid to just go for it and apply with what you have! That reminds me - I have to start sending out graduate applications soon...

Thank you, everyone, those were some great advice!

However, I don't know where to start: I should probably, as suggested, get some private tuition or enter some kind of preparatory school. But where can I find those? Any suggestions?

Also, if I'm supposed to write a chamber piece or even a piano piece, there should be some knowledge of harmony involved. And I've never studied harmony fully, I only knew the basics. I see this as a big problem.

Do you want to apply to graduate or undergrad programs? Will you be looking to write tonal or contemporary music?

Well, I'm interested in an undergrad program. And I don't see why would you separate the tonal from atonal & contemporary? I think that you should be "fluent" in tonal first and then master the atonal and pick the approach according to the work at hand.

Why do you ask? :)

Yeah, man, you're totally fine if you're looking for undergrad. Not sure if you're looking for a general liberal arts education with a focus in music, but if that's the case they'll teach you everything you need to know from scratch. The hard part is applying and getting into the college - most of the time the apps. are for general admission and don't have anything to do with music (just grades and whatnot- the usual stuff for applying to any school).

Well, I want to enter a specialized musical college which offeres a B.A. degree in composition. So I want composition to me my main thing, not a minor or whatever.

And I thought that you absolutely must go through traditional tonal harmony first, learn really well the harmonic analysis and then go onto serial music, polytonal, atonal, polymodal etc. Maybe I was living in an illusion, but I really thought that was how things were done.

Well, I want to enter a specialized musical college which offeres a B.A. degree in composition. So I want composition to me my main thing, not a minor or whatever.

And I thought that you absolutely must go through traditional tonal harmony first, learn really well the harmonic analysis and then go onto serial music, polytonal, atonal, polymodal etc. Maybe I was living in an illusion, but I really thought that was how things were done.

Kubla Khan, just wondering - how old are you?

I just wanted to know whether a person who has really little musical knowledge can with private tuition or some other method learn all that is necessary to enter a musical college or conservatory (a program for BA in Composition). Perhaps not Juilliard or Thornton School of Music or any other super top-notch school, but the one that is, like those, especially dedicated to the music.