“What originally drew me to composition was writing my own songs,” says Ian Davis, frontman of Ian Davis: Rock Band, one half of the experimental folk group Relatives, and BKCM’s resident theory maestro since 2019. In his music theory classes, he familiarizes students of all ages with staffs, notation and time signatures. He also directs BKCM’s Composition Club with the kind of playful, collective energy that ignited his interest in orchestral composing in the first place. “During undergrad [at NYU] I worked with some student filmmakers who needed film music,” he says. “It was all very collaborative.”

As Ian puts it, this openness is also a key to sparking students’ interest, especially for those who may be less experienced. “I find that young people – as young as eight or younger – do have ideas and a vision, and they can create music,” he says. In this way, even the biggest technical hurdles (cough cough notation) can become exercises in experimentation: “If they have an idea and they’re writing something down, even if it’s not exactly what they’re singing or playing on the piano, I let them have the full autonomy of creating the piece and hearing what it will sound like anyway.”

One does not need a theory background to join the Composition Club. “I’ve seen all types of students,” Ian says. “Some are very savvy with theory but have a harder time writing their own music because they’re a little more afraid of breaking some rule.” But the reverse is also often true: “I definitely see kids who know theory, and use those concepts to explore and experiment. For composing, it can definitely be your friend.”