High School Composition Intensive (HSCI)

Boston
Ages 15-19
Boston Conservatory at Berklee High School Composition Intensive is a two-week program designed to challenge and engage students who are serious about music composition. Young composers will receive individualized lessons and coachings from acclaimed faculty and guest artists who will help them build a toolbox of techniques essential to developing a compositional voice.  By the end of the program, each student composer will have developed a portfolio of three works that includes properly notated scores and accompanying audio recordings, performed by the program’s professional ensembles in residence. Students will leave the program with greater confidence in their skills and creativity as composers.
Dates
July 14-July 25
Check-in Time
Coming Soon
Move-out
Friday, July 25, 7 PM
Tuition
$2,132
Housing
$1,560
Registration fee
$50 (nonrefundable)
 

How to Enroll

  1. Submit your registration by June 1.* Begin by submitting your registration online. If applicable, you may need to submit additional supporting materials.
  2. Make your tuition payment by June 1.* All programs have limited capacity, so be sure to complete your full tuition payment to reserve your space in the program.
  3. Request housing by June 1. Students who are 15 years of age or older by the start of their Boston-based program are eligible to stay in on-campus housing. If you meet the eligibility requirements and have indicated that you would like to request on-campus housing, please revisit your registration portal and submit a Residence Hall Agreement.

*Please note: This program has limited capacity. Submission of registration materials alone does not guarantee participation in the program. You will secure your spot by paying in full.

Curriculum

Over the course of the two-week program, you'll compose three pieces which will be workshopped and recorded by professional musicians and ensembles. You'll leave the program with a strong portfolio of new works which you can share with friends and family, and use for college applications if you wish. We're very proud to maintain a 5 to 1 student to faculty ratio, meaning you'll receive ample support and individual attention during the composition and rehearsal process.

We'll assist you in working efficiently by giving you prompts for inspiration. We'll also have daily studio lessons where you'll get feedback on your work, have your questions answered, and receive encouragement. It's good training as a composer to be able to write quickly when you don't have the luxury of waiting for inspiration to strike; we'll help you build proactive ways of expressing your musical ideas. 

 

Young composers will receive individualized lessons and coachings from acclaimed faculty and guest artists who will help them build a toolbox of techniques essential to developing a compositional voice. This includes:

  • Learning how to write quickly and effectively
  • Acquiring rehearsal techniques
  • Developing communication skills for collaborating with professional musicians and colleagues
  • Receiving feedback on revising scores

 

Schedule

Below is a sample schedule.

MondayActivities
8 AM–10 AMStudent Orientation
10 AM–11 AMWelcome Meeting
1 PM–2 PMStudio Lessons
4 PM–5 PMPiano Reading
6:30 PM–7:30 PMPiano Reading
8 PM–9 PMBroadcast: Piano
TuesdayActivities
9 AM–10 AMStudio Lessons
10 AM–11 AMMuseum Trip
4 PM–5 PMPiano Recording
6PM–7:30 PMPiano Recording
8 PM–9 PMWriting for woodwinds/percussion
WednesdayActivities
9 AM - 10 AMStudio Lessons
10 AM–11 AMFaculty Presentation
4 PM–5:00 PMDuo Reading
6:30 PM–7:30 PMDuo Reading
8 PM–9 PMConcert: Transient Canvas
ThursdayActivities
9 AM - 10 AMStudio Lessons
10 AM–11 AMFaculty Presentation
4 PM–5 PMDuo Reading
6:30 PM–7:30 PMDuo Reading
8 PM–9 PMConcert: Transient Canvas
FridayActivities
9 AM–10 AMStudio Lessons
10 AM–11 AMFaculty Presentation
4 PM–5 PMGroup Improvisation
6:30 PM–7:30 PMGroup Improvisation
8 PM–9 PMConcert: Transient Canvas
SaturdayActivities
10 AM–11 AMDuo Recording
1 PM–2 PMDuo Recording
4 PM–5 PMString Quartet Presentation

Schedule is subject to change.

Performance Opportunities

A final concert will also be broadcasted online so friends and family can tune in from anywhere.

Requirements

General Requirements

Students ages 15 to 18 with some foundation in music composition.

Participants must possess a proficient level of English to enroll in this program. We do not require proof of English language proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo) as part of the enrollment or application process; however, you are expected to have a sufficient command of the English language to understand class material and assignments.

Required Materials

  • Laptop with notation software or manuscript paper
  • Pencil
  • Notebook
  • Two to three objects from home that you can use to make noise with. Bring things that are lightweight, easy to carry in one hand, and on which you can make a few different sounds at different volumes. For instance, you might bring a bowl, a shoebox, a wooden cup, etc.
Program-Specific Details

Students interested in registering for this program should prepare the following materials:

  • PDF scores of two original compositions
  • Two links to audio recordings of your compositions. MIDI-based performances are acceptable if a live recording is not available. Your submissions should be three to five minutes in length.

Instructions on how to submit your materials are available in the online registration portal.

Once You've Enrolled

The Berklee Summer Programs Team is excited that you've taken the first step! Now that you've enrolled, here's what to know, to be sure you're prepared before and after you check in for the experience of a lifetime.

What to do first?

Complete These Tasks by June

Prepare to Arrive and Check In

Access the Summer Programs Help Center

Explore some of these top articles from the Summer Programs Help Center.