Private Lessons in Composition

Hey All!

I'm fairly new to the site here and had an interesting question to ask all of you.

I'm currently in my third year of school at Berklee College of Music in Boston, earning my degree in Music Education. I have become increasingly more interested in the exciting world of composition and orchestration over the past year, and have decided that I would like to pursue my masters in this field after graduation. I worry however, that I do not have the skills or portfolio to be accepted anywhere for this area of concentration!

My question is, do you think its worth it to study composition privately with a teacher? I have emailed a few reputable teachers in my area asking for prices, and more details on the lessons. I think this is something that will really take my compositions to the next level. I have a firm understanding of basic tonal harmony and counterpoint, but lack the overall grasp of good theme development and transition. What are some of your experiences on private composition lessons? I appreciate any help that anyone can give me on this subject :-)

Sam

Private lessons are an invaluable necessity in this discipline. Private instruction, I feel, is the best way to learn composition as you are being taught ALL the ins and outs personally. Hope you take lessons, you'll grow so much.

Thank you for the quick response! I am definitely leaning in the direction of taking lessons. I am waiting on a response from a few teachers, so hopefully it will work out! If only it weren't too late to change my major to composition :-\

Well, at least you have a foundation to draw upon. Most don't have the foundation when they first start taking up 'quill and parchment'.

I have a firm understanding of basic tonal harmony and counterpoint, but lack the overall grasp of good theme development and transition.

Eh? Modern composition, I assume? If it's just a theory teacher you're looking for, the criteria is totally different.

Anyway, I don't know how they teach composition over there but here you get single classes with the teacher you're studying under by default (besides whatever other group classes there are.)

But in any case, it's solely dependent on the teacher. My advice is to give it a shot with a couple of teachers and get an idea of how they are. It's impossible to make decisions without actually having experience with someone.

How is the best way to find and contact people who teach composition? Are they common in any area?

Any name brand university in your area should have some... if not, they will know where they are to find them. And yes, locally.

Thanks for all the help guys! I contacted a teacher at my school (Berklee) that teaches privately and am starting my lessons in January! He gave me a few things to analyze over break: some Beethoven, and a LOT of Liszt... this is going to be fun! Better get to work :-)

Why are you analyzing Beethoven and Liszt?? Did your teacher tell you? Is it because you like Beethoven and Liszt?

So, check it out. If you really want to get the -most- out of your lessons, analyze those pieces AND analyze pieces you're interested in... if that's Beethoven and Liszt, then great! If not, gather some recordings and just take all the time you have available this break in school to listen to EVERYTHING you can. If there's anything you need as a composer, it's perspective... a sense of what is out there and what genuinely intrigues you about music. That -could- be Beethoven and Liszt, or it -could- be entirely NOT those composers. So, I would recommend going 80% of the way on this and take initiative if you really want to get out what you put in to these lessons.

Keep us updated on how it goes. I look forward to hearing about your progress.

thanks for the advice! I did ask for those two composers in particular, as Beethoven and Liszt are two of my favorite pre-20th century composers (among others). I'm looking forward to these lessons and growing as a composer. I should be uploading my first piano prelude soon, sort of as a "before" point. we'll see where this goes!

-Sam