Music-COMP
Music-COMP is a Vermont-based 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides online music composition mentoring to grades 3-12 students, pairing them with professional composers via a web platform, supplemented by annual concerts and teacher professional development.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersEssex Junction, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Music-COMP does
Music-COMP (Music Composition Mentoring Program), founded in 1995 in Essex Junction, Vermont as the Vermont MIDI Project, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Waterbury, Vermont that provides online music-composition mentoring to students in grades 3-12. Its core product is a password-protected online platform that pairs student composers with professional composer mentors who provide asynchronous feedback on student-posted compositions via threaded comments and email notifications; each student typically receives 4-8 hours of one-on-one mentor guidance per composition. The organization reaches students through annual school memberships ($75-$200 depending on district size) plus per-composition fees ($20-$40 for member schools, $75-$100 for independent students), and supplements the mentoring program with free composition resources, an annual Opus concert series (1,052 world premieres since 2000, with the 40th edition on April 27, 2026), an Electronic Music Showcase (since 2024), summer workshops, and graduate-credit professional development courses for music educators priced $595-$1,780.
Music-COMP firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Music-COMP
- Legal name
- Music-COMP
- Website
- https://music-comp.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Music-COMP is a Vermont-based 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides online music composition mentoring to grades 3-12 students, pairing them with professional composers via a web platform, supplemented by annual concerts and teacher professional development.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Music-COMP industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Composition Education
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Online / Virtual Music Instruction & Platforms (EDAMANAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Music Theory, Ear Training & Musicianship (EDAMANAF), Private Music Lessons (Instrumental) (EDAMANAA)
Keywords
Where Music-COMP is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Essex Junction
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Music-COMP business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Individual Contributions: Music-COMP relies heavily on donations from individuals, including one-time gifts, monthly subscriptions, and tribute gifts in memory or honor of loved ones. The organization celebrated 30 years of operations in 2025.
- School Memberships: Schools pay annual membership fees ($75 basic for individual schools, $125 for 2-5 school districts, $200 for 6+ school districts) plus per-composition mentoring fees ($20-$40 depending on grade level).
- Independent Student Fees: Independent students pay $75 for elementary/middle school compositions and $100 for high school compositions.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Business sponsors support the organization at various levels with recognition and promotional benefits. Current sponsors include Music First (title sponsor), Vermont Community Foundation, and The Alchemist Foundation.
- Professional Development Courses: Graduate-level courses and workshops for music educators offered in summer sessions. Courses include Conversational Solfege certification (3 graduate credits for $1,780) and Music Educators Methods Intensive (2 graduate credits for $1,290).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | School Membership - Individual School |
| Subscription | Annual | District Membership - 2-5 Schools |
| Subscription | Annual | District Membership - 6+ Schools |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Level I Mentoring - Grades 2-5 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Level II Mentoring - Grades 6-8 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Level III Mentoring - Grades 9-12 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Independent Student - Elementary/Middle School |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Independent Student - High School |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Conversational Solfege Certification |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Music Educators Methods Intensive |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Composer Diversity Course |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Music-COMP product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Music-COMP is a Vermont-based 501(c)(3) non-profit that operates an online mentoring program pairing student composers in grades 3-12 with professional composer mentors. Each student averages 4-8 hours of one-on-one mentoring per composition through a secure password-protected website where works-in-progress are posted and feedback is exchanged via threaded comments. The program is supplemented by free composition resources, annual Opus concerts that premiere student works performed by professional musicians, an Electronic Music Showcase, summer workshops, and graduate-level professional development courses for music educators.
Product overview
Music-COMP (Music Composition Mentoring Program) is a Vermont-based nonprofit founded in 1995 that operates a unified online mentoring platform connecting young composers in grades 3-12 with professional composer mentors. The core Mentoring Program forms the central offering, supplemented by live performance events (Opus Concerts and Electronic Music Showcase), annual Summer Composition Workshops, and Professional Development courses for teachers (including Conversational Solfege Certification, Music Educators Methods Intensive, and Composer Diversity training). The organization provides free Composition Resources including worksheets, guides, and podcasts, and facilitates Student Composer Showcase broadcasts on Vermont Public Radio. Schools and teachers access these offerings through annual membership, while independent students register individually.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mentoring Program Core online mentoring service that pairs student composers in grades 3-12 with professional composer mentors who provide feedback on original compositions through a secure, password-protected website. Each student averages 4-8 hours of one-on-one mentoring per composition via threaded comments and email notifications.
- Opus Concerts Annual live concert events where 20-30 selected student compositions are premiered by professional musicians. The series includes rehearsals, workshops, and performances by ensembles such as TURNmusic and the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. Free and open to the public.
- Electronic Music Showcase Annual showcase event featuring live performances of student-created electronic music compositions, providing an alternative performance pathway for electronic music student composers.
- Summer Composition Workshop Week-long intensive online workshop where student musicians work with composer mentors to write original music for professional ensembles, culminating in a live performance.
- Conversational Solfege Hybrid Certification Course 3-credit graduate course teaching the Conversational Solfege pedagogical approach for developing notational literacy skills, offered in hybrid format for music educators. Tuition options: $1,780 for 3 graduate credits or $1,350 for workshop hours only.
- Music Educators Methods Intensive Week-long professional development offering for music teachers covering practical techniques including instrumental skills, vocal pedagogy, general music approaches, and modern band and jazz methods. Tuition options: $1,290 for 2 graduate credits, $1,000 for 30 workshop hours, or $250/day à la carte.
- Composer Diversity in YOUR Music Classroom 1-credit asynchronous online course exploring program diversity in music education using research from the Institute for Composer Diversity, including database tools and strategies for equitable repertoire selection. Tuition: $595 for 1 graduate credit or $450 for 15 PD/workshop hours.
- Composition Resources Free educational composition resources including worksheets, guides, podcasts, and handouts developed by professional composer mentors covering topics such as melody writing, rhythm notation, instrument ranges, dynamics, orchestration, text setting, and score preparation.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2,880+ new works created since 1995
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Music-COMP
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Music-COMP technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature2 records
Music-COMP partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Vermont Symphony OrchestracoreThe Vermont Symphony Orchestra performs student compositions and collaborates on special projects. Students have compositions premiered by VSO musicians at Opus concerts.
- Vermont PhilharmoniccoreVermont Philharmonic musicians perform student compositions at Opus concerts and other Music-COMP events.
- TURNmusiccoreTURNmusic provides professional musicians for Opus concerts, including the Opus 40 performance on April 27, 2026 led by Anne Decker.
- Vermont Public Media (VPR)coreStudents are regularly featured on VPR Classical as part of the Student Composer Showcase, hosted by Kari Anderson and James Stewart.
- Vermont Youth OrchestraminorVermont Youth Orchestra provides performance opportunities and collaboration for student composers.
- Lake Champlain Chamber Music FestivalminorFestival provides chamber music performance opportunities for student compositions.
- LCATVminorLocal community television station provides media support, filming Opus concerts and producing documentary content.
- Vermont Music Educators Association (VMEA)coreProfessional development courses offered through VMEA, with fees paid directly to VMEA for graduate credits.
- Orca MediaminorMedia sponsor for workshops and events, providing livestream coverage of concerts.
- Big Heavy WorldminorLocal Vermont music organization providing support and promotion for youth music education.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Music-COMP competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Soundtrap (by Spotify): Online music creation platform with strong K-12 adoption. Comparable as a tool students use to compose, and partial overlap with Music-COMP's electronic music composition offerings.
- Flat.io: Online music notation and education platform used by Music-COMP students. Comparable in adjacent role within digital music composition in classrooms; potential partial overlap as Music-COMP expands its online platform features.
- Noteflight: Cloud-based music notation platform used by Music-COMP students and mentors. Comparable as adjacent technology in the music composition education stack; complementary rather than competitive but on the same teacher-student composition workflow.
Direct peers
- National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC): Federation of music clubs supporting young musicians through festivals, competitions, and grants. Comparable as a nonprofit in music education with programs targeted at student composers and performers nationwide.
- Little Kids Rock (Music Will): National nonprofit providing music education access to K-12 students through school partnerships. Comparable mission of removing barriers to music creation for school-aged children, similar nonprofit funding model with corporate sponsors.
- Education Through Music (ETM): Nonprofit partnering with schools to deliver music instruction to students in underserved communities. Comparable school-district partnership and nonprofit funding model.
- Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation: Nonprofit that supports music education through instrument donations and school programs. Comparable nonprofit model funding K-12 music access via donations and corporate sponsorships.
Regional players
- Project Music Heals Us: Smaller nonprofit bringing music education and performance to communities. Comparable nonprofit, K-12 music education mission with school partnership model, though typically more performing- than composition-focused.
Broad incumbents
- Berklee Online: Online music education provider serving a much broader age and skill range with paid courses. Comparable as an online music education provider and a channel through which Music-COMP could expand its professional development offerings.
- Carnegie Hall's Musical Connections Program: Major performing arts institution with national music education programs serving K-12 students. While much larger and broader, overlaps in mission of expanding music composition and performance opportunities for young composers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Music-COMP social profiles
Digital presenceMusic-COMP financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Music-COMP leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Music-COMP funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Music-COMP M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Music-COMP
What does Music-COMP do?
Music-COMP is a Vermont-based 501(c)(3) non-profit that operates an online mentoring program pairing student composers in grades 3-12 with professional composer mentors. Each student averages 4-8 hours of one-on-one mentoring per composition through a secure password-protected website where works-in-progress are posted and feedback is exchanged via threaded comments. The program is supplemented by free composition resources, annual Opus concerts that premiere student works performed by professional musicians, an Electronic Music Showcase, summer workshops, and graduate-level professional development courses for music educators.
Is Music-COMP a public or private company?
Music-COMP is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Music-COMP founded?
Music-COMP was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Music-COMP based?
Music-COMP is headquartered in Essex Junction, United States, in the North America region.
How does Music-COMP make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Donations and Individual Contributions are the primary driver. The others are school Memberships, independent Student Fees, corporate Sponsorships and professional Development Courses.
Who are Music-COMP's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Soundtrap (by Spotify), Flat.io and Noteflight. Direct peers are National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC), Little Kids Rock (Music Will), Education Through Music (ETM) and Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation. Project Music Heals Us is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Berklee Online and Carnegie Hall's Musical Connections Program.
Does Music-COMP have an API?
No public API is recorded for Music-COMP.
What industry is Music-COMP in?
Music-COMP's product category is Music Composition Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMANAI, Online / Virtual Music Instruction & Platforms, with a secondary code of EDAMANAF, Music Theory, Ear Training & Musicianship. Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.