Music
The School of Music at Carnegie Mellon University is a stimulating, vibrant conservatory environment where talented performers, composers, conductors and teachers prepare for professional careers in music. In an atmosphere that both encourages and expects excellence, master professors help you develop the necessary skills to become a successful musician in the 21st century. Instruction is challenging, creativity is expected and the responsibility of making music and training musicians is taken very seriously. At Carnegie Mellon, we are proud of our history in which tradition and technology co-exist. The School of Music has graduated superb musicians who are known worldwide as performers, composers, conductors and educators.

The Program
The School of Music Pre-College Program offers a unique view of the life of a music student at Carnegie Mellon in a supportive environment of study and performance. It is an ideal opportunity to experience a world-class conservatory program and discover your potential for a career in music. Coupled with the rich cultural life of the city of Pittsburgh and varied campus activities, the Pre-College Music Program is an extraordinary way for young musicians to spend their summer.

The program comprises three main areas: instrumental/vocal performance, music technology and composition. Each student follows an individual schedule designed to meet his or her specific needs. A core curriculum of private studio lessons, major performing ensembles and music support courses are required for every student. Our curriculum is structured to emulate a typical semester of an undergraduate music major. It is also designed to assist students in preparation for college auditions.

Students applying to the Music Pre-College Program must send an audio recording of a solo representative of your level of performance, (vocal/instrumental performance applicants) or scores of recent original compositions (composition applicants). Please include a brief summary or resume of your musical training and accomplishments.

Our Expectations
Becoming a professional musician requires extraordinary talent and versatility. The complete musician must be prepared to play jazz as well as classical and contemporary repertoire. Students in every discipline are strongly encouraged to reach their full potential: singers learn to act, dance and perform in several languages; composers learn to rehearse their own works; pianists learn to sight read and play chamber music. Music at Carnegie Mellon is more than practicing an instrument–it is an intense, exciting course of study, experienced side by side with other young musicians who share similar goals and aspirations.

Program Curriculum
Applicants to the Music Pre-College Program are asked to declare a major area of interest: vocal performance, instrumental performance or composition. Each major involves certain required courses as well as many elective courses that are available to all students. Accepted students then select their elective courses and an individual schedule is designed for them in accordance with their course choices. Students may register for as many elective courses as they are able to schedule.

Area Descriptions
Acceptance into each area is contingent on demonstrated performance level either on the audition recording or on submitted compositions.

Vocal Performance
The vocal performance major has a rich curriculum of performance and music support opportunities. Voice majors receive a one-hour private studio lesson (with a professional accompanist) and an additional 1/2-hour private vocal coaching session each week through the summer where they work on technique and the preparation and presentation of classical repertoire. Additionally, voice majors take dance, acting, vocal performance class and perform with the summer concert choir and the musical theater workshop.

Instrumental Performance
Students majoring in a particular instrument participate in classes and music experiences designed to develop them into well-rounded musicians. Instrumental majors receive a private studio lesson each week, participate in the summer orchestra, wind ensemble, chamber music ensembles and have multiple opportunities to attend master classes through the summer.

Composition
Composition majors receive a private studio lesson each week and explore several areas of music composition including theory, orchestration and electronic music, both in classes and in individual instruction. Students are encouraged to create music for performance at one of the Pre-College concerts.

Music Technology
Although not a "major" within the Music Pre-College Program, courses are offered in the use of computers for studying and creating music. Course subjects include music notation, midi sequencing and music production. In addition, the Recording Techniques course gives hands-on experience in the fundamentals of live music recording and music editing in a state-of-the-art recording studio.

The Faculty
The School of Music Pre-College employs a core faculty composed of professors, conductors, instructors and staff from its world-class conservatory program. Joining the core faculty will be working professionals engaged especially for the Pre-College program.

The Program's Closing Events
Concert Week is the last week of the summer. Special time is set aside throughout the summer and during concert week for solo and ensemble performances. Solo instrumentalists, vocalists, the summer orchestra, wind ensemble, concert choir, jazz choir, chamber music ensembles, trumpet class, percussion ensemble and guitar ensemble all present concerts through the summer and/or during Concert Week.

Students also will participate in mandatory end-of-summer conservatory auditions. The audition experience is a valuable component of the summer, allowing the individual student the opportunity to go through the paces of a conservatory audition.

At the end of the summer program, every student will receive an evaluation for his or her coursework along with advice for future development in the profession.

Summary
The Pre-College Music Program is designed to give students an opportunity to sample the life of a music major in a supportive conservatory environment. Every student should come to the Pre-College Music Program excited about the prospect of making music, knowing that serious study requires discipline, training and imagination. We expect students to work hard to meet the challenge of developing their individual talents.

The Pre-College Program runs from June 27 - August 6, 2004. Music courses, schedule and fees are detailed in the courses section.

"The overall curriculum for musicians was great–a little bit of everything. All the classes enabled lots of interaction between the students so learning happened from all angles. I was able to significantly enhance my own skills through intensive personal instruction from professional musicians."

 

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