I love music. I listen to mostly classical, and some rock. I was wondering if it would be possible to get into a college for a music degree without playing any instruments. I would love to go to college to study composition.


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You have to play an instrument (or sing)... sorry. In most schools, you have to audition on an instrument or on your voice to even get accepted for a music major.

Even in a composition major, you have to be able to perform for other people the pieces that you compose. And even for sound recording/acoustics, (at least in my school and I believe in most others) you still have to play an instrument well enough to get into the music school.

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Nope, you will have to have enough piano skills to pass keyboard harmony. Where I trained every music major had to take that course, and we could all play from a simple figured bass.

My comp teacher refused to touch the keyboard during lessons, and of course other than just looking at student manuscripts and hearing them in his head, he did require of all his students to play their work on the piano (this includes any and all reductions of instrumental, orchestra, voice and piano, etc.)

And you will have to sing a bit, out loud in front of others, for sight singing and ear training (solfege)

And then there are performance ensemble requirements. Perhaps choir for you?


best regards, p.b.

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I'm going to concur with the previous answers.

There is NO way you can get a music degree without playing an instrument. Sorry, singing IS considered an instrument.

Composition, for the most part, really doesn't require an instrumental proficiency. However, every prof worth his weight in gold will encourage that your play your own works and your peer's works as well. If you play an instrument, you'll also find that other composers will write music for your instrument in the hopes you'll play it ;-)

After all, how can you effectively write music for instruments if you have no real understanding of an instrument at all. Sure you can learn orchestration/instrumentation through a book - but it's experimenting with an instrument that can really lead to some interesting music.

Far be it from me to discourage anyone - but life will be tough for you without instrumental instruction!!!!

Let me clarify - if you can play something and you suck at it - so what. If your compositions are rock solid they'll take you IF they see promise in your compositoin talents. You may not get any scholarships, and the road may be hard - but they'll take you on your comp talent IF you have some instrumental talent.

Regardless, you will be required to take some instrumental courses, be it class piano, and the like.

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Well<sigh>,
In a word no. Now my answer comes with a question why oh why would you ask that? Are you that lazy? I mean they couldn't keep me from a instrument?
Now if your not any good at one or your abit shy don't worry with time and practice you will get it!
Now for-the-record let me ask why is a group of voices called a choir and a group of instruments called an ensemble not convinced?
Why is an instrumentalist called an instrumentalist and a vocalist called a vocalist <crickets chirping>.
In a recording why is a vocal track called a "vocal part" and a person playing a instrument wether its a bass, guitar, drums called an "instrument part"?
My Bad ? MAN UP SHEELA get the dictionary?

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Basically no. Even vocalists end up having to learn at least basic keyboard skills to pass. I mean, how can you say you have a music degree when you don't even know how to play an instrument? If you're going to study composition, how can you compose for instruments that you don't know how they work? Depending on what college you go to, the requirements are different (some might require you to do more than just keyboard studies) but you;ll end up learning to play some instrument one way or another. Good luck!

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Petr B said about all I was going to say.
You need to learn to play the piano.
In my senior theory class, I found that those who could play the piano did well in the class and those who couldn't play the piano had trouble.
And if you intend to study composition, you certainly need to do well in theory class.

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You could not get a musical degree without playing an instrument. If you want a degree in music, I suggest you start playing one now. Because most (if not all) music schools require you to audition before entering.

Good luck to you.

-b-

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Your best bet is to go for a DMA.
I haven't heard one play yet.

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