Ranking the terrible music I wrote at university

[@zer-mela]

Should I post the scores?

[@noahsmith3]

Yes solease

[@noahsmith3]

Please

[@yakisobayuri]

listen the lana-del-rey-esque title kind of ate

[@ercstomatosalad1086]

you look like you'd study classical composition

[@zer-mela]

Do you want me to cry

[@ercstomatosalad1086]

@ yes

[@CalebPayneComposer]

I’m thinking about studying classical composition in college (currently a junior in high school), and I am mildly discouraged as I hear that schools manly focus on “academic” and “contemporary” music. I have gotten pretty good at writing music for media, but haven’t really dived deep in to the world of music one would write in college. As someone who has been through this, what would you recommend to start? In other words, if I wanted to get into a good college, how should practice writing “academic” music so that I had a greater chance of getting in?

[@zer-mela]

Thank you for the question! Please don't be discouraged! I'm negative in this video because I'm trying to be funny, but this video is first year- and you'll see in the next few videos that things really dramatically change. So I studied at a conservatoire (technically not really a university, but a music school), and they had composition for media courses there, I didn't study them, but if you are really good at that side of composing, maybe that's something to look into. This was in the UK, but I assume it's similar in other countries. I applied twice. The first time, I was inexperienced and tried writing pieces that would 'appeal' (in whatever way I thought they would to those judging me). This was an incorrect approach, and I didn't get in. The second time I applied, I really took the time to find the references and styles that interested me, and it resulted in my submitting three extremely different scores that I think still hold up to this day (one of my much older videos "The Young Spaceship" is still up on my channel, and was used in part in my application.). I chose to study classical composition because I genuinely found it fun and mind-opening, even if I knew from the beginning that my interests lay beyond just 'academic composing'. You are introduced to an enormous range of expression and ways of communicating musical information which I don't think composition for media courses delve into as deeply, but of course those courses might go further into other things like orchestration, conducting, etc.. The connections I've made and experience I've received from my course have truly transformed me into a much more versatile artist who now has credits in acting, composing for theatre, film, playwrighting, and loads of other things. The prospects of the course really come more from WHERE and HOW, rather than what, you studied. If you really are interested in studying composition: • Learn to know your artistic voice, and what YOU exactly want to create. • Be unafraid in expression. Don't ever make something because you want to appeal to someone, or a trend, or because you think it'll make money (trust me, it won't). • Experiment in the ways you compose- try graphic scores, and audio scores, and video scores, and learning things by ear, and improvising. Try turning off the computer and writing on paper, or using an instrument you don't normally play- and anything else you can think of that I've missed. In doing this you will find new avenues of expression. • Choose carefully where you study. Everyone who studies classical composition is aware that it's a very niche degree, providing only the prospects and connections that YOU can squeeze out of it. Make sure the place you study at is juicy for the squeezing. • Practise. Composing music is just like playing it- the more you practise, and the more varied and challenging your tasks, the better you will become. and most importantly: Become well versed in the art of saying YES! YES! to new types of music you've never heard; YES! to new ways of being creative; YES! to new types of people; YES! to new places; YES! to all the things you have never tried (excluding meth, don't say yes to that one). I hope this has helped :)

[@CalebPayneComposer]

@ I am truly grateful for your wisdom! You have made me realize that I am a very mathematical composer and have been focusing on why things “sound good” rather than finding my voice as a composer. This is a very restricted approach. I was particularly inspired by how uni helped you improve as a composer. Thank you again. -Caleb

[@lazlazuli69]

the last piece was lowkey rlly cool ngl

[@zer-mela]

You are welcome to your opinions 👁️👁️

[@lorenzopone869]

Probably just poorly played.

[@zer-mela]

Drag them 💀