Author: SCI Members Mailing List
Subject: Composition degree advice
Hi Per,
Thanks for your message to SCI. Jack Gallagher here, at The College of Wooster.
I wonder if it may seem essential for purposes of the BM in Composition to require 8 semesters? If perhaps of interest, at Wooster we stipulate second-semester theory as a prerequisite for composition lessons because, in our experience, not all students are adequately prepared in this area. The prerequisite can be waived by the instructor upon submission and acceptance of sufficient preparation (usually, a portfolio review).
This means that most BM graduates have six semesters of composition lessons, beginning with the Fall semester of their sophomore year, rather than eight. Our experience suggests that this succeeds in preparing them to achieve robust portfolios for graduate programs in cases where their theoretical background may leave them ill-prepared for rigorous, productive composition study. This might or might not be an advantage to you, too, as their teacher, in the event you may find yourself covering significant remedial material rather than, arguably, more focused, productive composition lessons. (I've been there!)
Just a thought.
Please say hi to Frank Huang for me.
All best, Jack
Jack Gallagher, DMA Olive Williams Kettering Professor of Music Scheide Music Center The College of Wooster Wooster, OH 44691 jgallagher at wooster.edu https://www.wooster.edu/bios/jgallagher/
Subject: Composition degree advice
Hi Per,
Thanks for your message to SCI. Jack Gallagher here, at The College of Wooster.
I wonder if it may seem essential for purposes of the BM in Composition to require 8 semesters? If perhaps of interest, at Wooster we stipulate second-semester theory as a prerequisite for composition lessons because, in our experience, not all students are adequately prepared in this area. The prerequisite can be waived by the instructor upon submission and acceptance of sufficient preparation (usually, a portfolio review).
This means that most BM graduates have six semesters of composition lessons, beginning with the Fall semester of their sophomore year, rather than eight. Our experience suggests that this succeeds in preparing them to achieve robust portfolios for graduate programs in cases where their theoretical background may leave them ill-prepared for rigorous, productive composition study. This might or might not be an advantage to you, too, as their teacher, in the event you may find yourself covering significant remedial material rather than, arguably, more focused, productive composition lessons. (I've been there!)
Just a thought.
Please say hi to Frank Huang for me.
All best, Jack
Jack Gallagher, DMA Olive Williams Kettering Professor of Music Scheide Music Center The College of Wooster Wooster, OH 44691 jgallagher at wooster.edu https://www.wooster.edu/bios/jgallagher/