College majors

Hey all :) I'm in a pretty bad position right now.

The issue is that I'm still interested in composition, yet have not received any formal training, and I haven't completed any works as of now. I'm a junior currently, and next year I have college apps to worry about.

When I'm applying for college, I'll most likely be looking into doing a double major in music, most likely in either vocal performance, conducting, and (possibly) composition. But again, I'm having difficutly completing any work because I'm in the process of balancing schoolwork, a girlfriend, piano, and teaching myself the basics of composition (I'm learning from "Tonal Harmony" by K/P). I'm really overloaded with all my work, especially schoolwork (4 honor/AP classes), so it's difficult to get around to learning and practicing my comp skills...

Does anybody know if it's possible to switch to or add a comp major to my schedule in college? Has anybody been through that experience or known someone who has?

I think I'm qualified enough to major in composition. I'm completing level 9 in CMEA's Certificate of Merit for Piano this year, and I'm going to complete the advanced level next year, both being path A (not path B). I'm going to try and take the AP music theory test later this semester, even though I haven't taken the class, because I've researched it on college board and I can comprehend most of the topics covered on the test (I've checked out the test and the topics listed; anything I currently don't know I'm studying in the TH comp book).

Sorry about the long post, I'm just worried about what to do in the future..

Thanks!

-David

Just breathe.

It sounds like you play the piano well, and because of that you know more theory than you think. Many students who go into composition have not had theory-specific training before college; not everybody has the same opportunities. If you play the piano well you should be able to get into a good music school, and after you're accepted you can most certainly change majors. You don't have to apply as a comp major, although if you're sure that's what you want to do it will make things easier in the long-run (it sounds like you're not decided yet, and that's just fine). I started college in an electrical and computer engineer track but hated the courses with a passion. I dropped it cold for music, and it worked out ok.

If you can take the music theory exam, that's great, but it may hardly matter to schools (but maybe the studying you do will put you ahead of the curve). To get in as a comp major at a major conservatory it may, but what's most important is your composition portfolio, I imagine, and your performance abilities. You can start composing with very little theory, so I'd say work on three pieces for your portfolio if you're really going to apply as a comp major.

Don't fret about it too much. You have plenty of time to change your mind. I know a composer in my master's program who realized recently that composing's not for him and he's going the choral conducting route instead. He's finishing his degree but he's going on to study something that makes him happier. It takes a lot of experience to figure out what makes you most happy.

Hey all :) I'm in a pretty bad position right now.

The issue is that I'm still interested in composition, yet have not received any formal training, and I haven't completed any works as of now. I'm a junior currently, and next year I have college apps to worry about.

When I'm applying for college, I'll most likely be looking into doing a double major in music, most likely in either vocal performance, conducting, and (possibly) composition. But again, I'm having difficutly completing any work because I'm in the process of balancing schoolwork, a girlfriend, piano, and teaching myself the basics of composition (I'm learning from "Tonal Harmony" by K/P). I'm really overloaded with all my work, especially schoolwork (4 honor/AP classes), so it's difficult to get around to learning and practicing my comp skills...

Does anybody know if it's possible to switch to or add a comp major to my schedule in college? Has anybody been through that experience or known someone who has?

I think I'm qualified enough to major in composition. I'm completing level 9 in CMEA's Certificate of Merit for Piano this year, and I'm going to complete the advanced level next year, both being path A (not path B). I'm going to try and take the AP music theory test later this semester, even though I haven't taken the class, because I've researched it on college board and I can comprehend most of the topics covered on the test (I've checked out the test and the topics listed; anything I currently don't know I'm studying in the TH comp book).

Sorry about the long post, I'm just worried about what to do in the future..

Thanks!

-David

Yes. You can almost always add majors, it just gets harder the longer you wait because you end up with required classes that must be taken in sequence. The process of adding or dropping a major is pretty easy.

Worry less about your major, though, and more about what classes interest you. You'd be surprised what classes help you most in your main major. You're not necessarily going to want to even declare a major until you absolutely have to, even if you're going for a major via your class choice.

It sounds like you play the piano well, and because of that you know more theory than you think. Many students who go into composition have not had theory-specific training before college; not everybody has the same opportunities. If you play the piano well you should be able to get into a good music school, and after you're accepted you can most certainly change majors.

THAT definitely makes me feel a lot better :)

You don't have to apply as a comp major, although if you're sure that's what you want to do it will make things easier in the long-run (it sounds like you're not decided yet, and that's just fine). I started college in an electrical and computer engineer track but hated the courses with a passion. I dropped it cold for music, and it worked out ok.

I really, really want to try and excel in composition, I've always been fascinated and excited by the idea of composing my own music. I mean, I was working on a choral piece last night after I posted this, and I like what I'm writing so far, it's just hard to bring out what I'm hearing in my head.

So I was thinking of possibly double majoring in conducting and composition. I know I would be happy conducting a chorus or an orchestra for the rest of my life, I just think I could be happier if it was my own music I was conducting to..

If you can take the music theory exam, that's great, but it may hardly matter to schools (but maybe the studying you do will put you ahead of the curve). To get in as a comp major at a major conservatory it may, but what's most important is your composition portfolio, I imagine, and your performance abilities. You can start composing with very little theory, so I'd say work on three pieces for your portfolio if you're really going to apply as a comp major.

That's going to take more effort, but I do need a portfolio, so I'll try harder.

Yes. You can almost always add majors, it just gets harder the longer you wait because you end up with required classes that must be taken in sequence. The process of adding or dropping a major is pretty easy.

Worry less about your major, though, and more about what classes interest you. You'd be surprised what classes help you most in your main major. You're not necessarily going to want to even declare a major until you absolutely have to, even if you're going for a major via your class choice.

Is there any general idea of how long it'd take a person to finish his/her G.E. before they move on to the classes more specific towards their field of interest? Like a music major, for example.

Oh! I was also wondering, does anyone have any knowledge/experience in the music theory and ear training classes in college, like what the different levels are (Freshman theory classes compared with Junior or Senior classes)? My piano teacher told me that one of her students, who'd finished the advanced level for CM in California, had been moved up to a junior level theory class and senior level ear training class. Just curious.

Is there any general idea of how long it'd take a person to finish his/her G.E. before they move on to the classes more specific towards their field of interest? Like a music major, for example.

This all dependent on your particular program and school. I'll say that it wasn't until the end of my last year of college that I finished all my prereqs, but I can't speak to anyone else, really. Basically, I paid no attention to prereqs and just took classes that seemed interesting, which means that I took classes wholly unrelated to my majors. I'd worry less about what's in your field of interest and more about how to take what you learn and apply it to your fields of interest. Find out how that class on elementary circuits helps you in your Contemporary Political Philosophy course....

Oh! I was also wondering, does anyone have any knowledge/experience in the music theory and ear training classes in college, like what the different levels are (Freshman theory classes compared with Junior or Senior classes)? My piano teacher told me that one of her students, who'd finished the advanced level for CM in California, had been moved up to a junior level theory class and senior level ear training class. Just curious.

Here's what I had

Skipped 101 because I knew what a note was.

2 semesters of "Harmony" which was basic voice leading and chord progressions and cadences.

2 semesters of "Tonal Theory" which was basically an analysis and style-writing course.

With that, 4 semesters of ear training going from simple rhythms and melodies to 4-part sight singing and aleatoric/avant stuff.

There were two semesters of history, to 1850 and past 1850.

I had one-on-one composition courses throughout and had to take 1 of 3 classes - Orchestration, Counterpoint, and... something else.

And then it was electives, which ranged from computer music to world music to American popular song. This is where you really should leave your comfort zone, if only to go "Nah, not for me."

But this is only one view, maybe some people with different experiences can help more. I went to a school that was not known for its music program, nor went into school thinking I wanted to do that.

Oh! I was also wondering, does anyone have any knowledge/experience in the music theory and ear training classes in college, like what the different levels are (Freshman theory classes compared with Junior or Senior classes)? My piano teacher told me that one of her students, who'd finished the advanced level for CM in California, had been moved up to a junior level theory class and senior level ear training class. Just curious.

It's different at every school. Where I went, for a general music degree you needed 4 semesters (there were two semesters to a school year) of ear training, 4 of theory (which included harmony/counterpoint, compositional methods, forms, etc...), 3-4 of piano playing, 4 of intense music history, 4 of lessons + 4 of ensembles (if I remember correctly, maybe it was mix and match), and a bunch of electives in and out of music. It was difficult to place out of theory I (they actually had a prep course to prepare you for theory I, but you could place out of that). You could place out of all semesters of piano if you were good enough.

Being a level 5 in CMEA, I bet level 9 will give you more than enough theory for composition (they teach you it for a reason :happy: ). Just try making a couple things on the piano in your piano in your free time and see if you enjoy it. It also helps a lot to post compositions on this website as you almost always get good feedback.