Welcome to the Jacobs Composition Academy!

Do you have musical ideas and are not sure where to take them?  Have you made up some things for your instrument but aren’t sure how to write them down?  Have you dreamed of scoring a film or writing your first symphony but are feeling lost on where to begin?  This program is for you!  Regardless of your experience level with composition we invite you to join us!

This program is focused on teaching the craft of music composition in the context of contemporary concert music.  What does that mean?  Basically, that we will be writing music for real people playing real instruments (so think classical musicians performing on a concert stage).

Why aren’t we also exploring songwriting, beat making, and music for film?  Great question.  In future iterations of this program we might.  But for now, we want to stick with the core elements of composing; melody, harmony, rhythm, form, counterpoint, structure, gesture, texture, and orchestration.  THESE are the central components to all successful music creation.  Ask any film composer if they feel that their training in counterpoint or orchestration was essential to their success … of course they will say yes!

The Jacobs Composition Academy is committed to creating an inclusive, diverse community.  We welcome participants of all backgrounds, races, genders, and religions.  Our faculty reflects this inclusivity so that students can see themselves represented and can find mentors to whom they relate.

All are welcome!

Video Highlights from Session 1, 2022

COURSE OFFERINGS

Track 1A

Tailored for pre-college students and adults, this offering includes:

• Weekly 60-minute masterclass (Tuesdays 8:30–9:30 pm ET)
• Weekly 45-minute private lesson
• In addition, Track one includes a performance of the students’ newly composed works by a trio of IU students upon the conclusion of the 12-week program. During Week 9, participants will have the opportunity to workshop their works in-progress with the trio.

Tuition: $750

Track 1B

Designed for pre-college students and adults who already study composition privately, this offering includes:

• Weekly 60-minute masterclass (Tuesdays 8:30–9:30 pm ET)
• In addition, Track one includes a performance of the students’ newly composed works by a trio of IU students upon the conclusion of the 12-week program. During Week 9, participants will have the opportunity to workshop their works in-progress with the trio.

Note: Track 1B students will participate in all the same masterclasses, reading session and concert performance as Track 1A, only that they will not take private lessons with JCA faculty; rather, they will continue to work with their own private lesson instructor to ensure progress on their composition for the trio concert performance.

Tuition Track 1B: $525

Track One is specifically designed to provide the experience and tools that a high-school age composer needs to develop in order to pursue future studies at the college level.  This is a perfect course for someone preparing their composition portfolio for undergraduate applications.  It is also perfect for the adult musician (professional or amateur) desiring experience and growth in their compositional craft.  All participants in Track One will have their works performed by talented IU students in a live streamed concert.  Hearing your music performed by real people is absolutely the best way to learn to compose!

Track 2

Tailored for pre-college students and adults, this offering includes:

• Weekly 30-minute private lesson

Tuition: $400

Track Two is setup for those only wanting to take private composition lessons.  This may include adults who would like to ease into composing without a public performance, or for younger composers who have just recently started writing music.

Track 3

Exclusively for those ages 9-14 years, this offering includes:

• Weekly 60-minute group composition class (Thursdays 7:30-8:30pm ET)

Tuition: $215

Track Three is designed for young composers ages 9-14 feeling very new to composing and just wanting to explore music creation a bit more.  You may consider this masterclass series to be a music creation laboratory; a judgement-free zone of exploration, collaboration and creation.

*Please note, Tracks 1–3:

1. These programs are entirely virtual (using Zoom)
2. Spring and Fall sessions each run 12 weeks in length; our Summer session runs for
   2 weeks and only includes track 1A and track 3
3. Lessons will be scheduled according to the availability of the student and instructor

REGISTRATION AND SCHEDULE

https://jacobsacademy.indiana.edu/descriptions/composition-academy.html

We are looking forward to making great music together!