Composition Studies

AFA’s Composition Studies program is intended to provide school-age composers and young people interested in creating their own music with resources and access to instruction with professional composers/musicians in order to help them learn more about the process of creating, developing, refining and ultimately, performance of original musical works. In addition to one-on-one lessons, Composition Studies students experience a variety of workshops and gatherings, many through AFA’s collaborations with area professional arts organizations.

Students in grades 6 – 12 at any experience level may enroll in the Fall and/or Spring session of Composition Studies, which includes eight one-on-one composition lessons with an AFA Teaching Artist in order to hone their individual skills. Each student’s writing project is “workshopped” in a reading session with musicians from partner DACAMERA’s Young Artist fellowship and then performed again at the end of the session, offering students a way to hear their work at multiple stages of development. Students also gather together in person for a lively “Compose-a-Thon”, featuring the challenge of writing a short piece on a quick deadline and prescribed parameters – think “Iron Chef” for composers! This combination of individual learning and group activities is an important facet of this unique program, providing both the opportunity to grow as a writer and a connection to a community of creators.