Hi all!
For the last 4 or so years I've taught myself how to compose music, that in recent months has become quite complex structually and orcehstral. I've also read books on composition and orchestration and learned a lot. However I don't have a music grade and at College I'm doing a BTEC National Diploma in Music Technology, as opposed to a more academic course.

However, now that I'm planning to go onto uni I want to learn the more academic side of composition! I'd love to be able to write proper music for the orchestra and learn the things I've missed out on, but because of my lack of academic knowledge I feel I won't be able to do this.

Basically I was hoping someone here might be able to tell me what I need to learn/what exams I need to do etc. to get to a level where I can do a more academic course in music composition. Also I'm not even sure what kind of courses in that subject are avaliable for undergraduates.

Any help is very much appriciated!
Thanks in advance!
~jim

I think before anyone can give an authoritative answer, we'd need a bit more background on your musical knowledge. Do you play an instrument? To what level? Have you studied any theory? Taken any theory exams? The likely stumbling block will not be your lack of talent or commitment, but that everyone else on the course will be way ahead of you in academic knowledge.

I would get a few Grade 5 theory papers or theory teaching materials at that level, and see what you think. G5 theory is a pre-requisiste for anyone taking a practical grade exam above G5, and so everyone on an academic music composition course will have G5 theory, and most probably higher.

Good luck.

Edward

Ah, I've never taken any exams, but I've studied Theory, I have the AB Guide to Music Theory Vol. 1 book, which I found very helpful in understanding it. But how would I go about getting these Grade 5 materials? That sounds like a good idea so I have an idea what to expect.

As for insturments I do play piano, but my repetoire is pretty limited, though a friend of mine did say some of the stuff I play is probably equivalent of Grade 4/5. I haven't learned a new song for ages though so I'd probably need to practise a bit to get myself back up to that level again.

Composition students in higher education are usually expected to have a minimum keyboard standard of Grade 5 practical.

The Grade 5 Theory in Practice books can be obtained from any good music shop, along with specimen exam papers.

If you are aged 21 or over you may be able to use experience in lieu of formal qualifications, but if you are still under the age of 21 and looking to study composition at degree level, all universities require you to have a full A level in your chosen core subject. In this instance, music.

A pass at both Grade 8 practical and Grade 8 theory, is an accepted substitute for A level music.

Thanks for all your help! I've bought "Music Theory in Practice, Grade 5" and the Grade 5 theory exam from 2002 off the ABRSM store. Hopefully that'll get me started on this adventure. I do find it odd the way performance is so heavily involved in a subject where you don't HAVE to perform, though I suppose you have to understand the practical aspects of performance. But I'm not a natural performer Anyway, this should be interesting stuff to learn.

Apart from the basic understanding, they like you to be able to play through piano reductions of scores and perhaps demonstrate (on the piano) excerpts of your own compositions to the musicians who will be playing it.

You will also need a knowledge of whether what you write is possible to play on the instrument you've written it for. Don't be afraid to talk to the people who play the instruments, they are in the best position to tell you what's possible and what's not. Things like awkward leaps of intervals, or for woodwind; using notes that require ambiguous fingerings etc., should be avoided where possible, unless you want to earn yourself a lot of orchestral enemies