Bachelor of Music in Composition
Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of compositional craft and orchestration through the creation of art music using a variety of techniques.
- Students will hone and critically reflect on their personal voice as a composer.
- Students will develop the interpersonal, musical, and technical skills required to curate and manage a concert of their own works.
- After completing a two-semester sequence, students will be able to identify significant genres, composers, and repertories in an established canon of Western music and explain political, cultural, philosophical, artistic and social contexts in order to also question and diversify that canon through processes of research in music.
- Through the music theory and aural skills sequence, students will explore a variety of musical styles to develop proficiency in analyzing, conceptualizing, recognizing, interpreting, and researching common elements and organizational patterns related to melody, rhythm, harmony, form, and composition.
- Students will demonstrate proficiency in functional piano skills through the performance of repertoire; scales, arpeggios, and chord progressions; sight reading; score reading; harmonization and transposition; improvisation; and accompaniment.
- Students will demonstrate progressive technical and artistic abilities in a primary performance medium, through individual study in an applied studio and ensemble participation.
Sample Degree Plan
Updated 8/23
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 140 | Recital Attendance Requirement* | 0 |
| MUS 101 | Theory of Music I | 3 |
| MUS 151 | Aural Skills I | 1 |
| MUS 142 | Applied Music | 2 |
| MUS 100 | Music Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS 160 | Functional Piano | (1) |
| MUS 171 | Composition Seminar | 3 |
| ENG 111 | Composition and Rhetoric (MA PA1B) | 3 |
| -- | MP fulfilling course1 | 3 |
| -- | Total | 16(17) |
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 140 | Recital Attendance Requirement | 0 |
| MUS 102 | Theory of Music II | 3 |
| MUS 152 | Aural Skills II | 1 |
| MUS 142 | Applied Music | 2 |
| MUS 100 | Music Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS 161 | Functional Piano | (1) |
| MUS 171 | Composition Seminar | 3 |
| MUS 221 | Music Technologies [Spring only] | 3 |
| -- | MP fulfilling course | 3 |
| -- | Total | 16(17) |
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 140 | Recital Attendance Requirement | 0 |
| MUS 201 | Theory of Music III | 3 |
| MUS 251 | Aural Skills III | 1 |
| MUS 242 | Applied Music | 2 |
| MUS 244 | Composition Lesson | 3 |
| MUS 100 | Music Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS 260 | Functional Piano | (1) |
| MUS 306 | Advanced Electronic Music | 3 |
| -- | MP fulfilling course | 3 |
| -- | Total | 16(17) |
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 140 | Recital Attendance Requirement | 0 |
| MUS 202 | Theory of Music IV | 3 |
| MUS 252 | Aural Skills IV | 1 |
| MUS 242 | Applied Music | 2 |
| MUS 244 | Composition Lesson | 3 |
| MUS 100 | Music Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS 261 | Functional Piano | 1 |
| MUS 185 MUS 186 |
Multicultural Perspectives in Music (MP PA4B + SI) [Fall only]+ -OR- Global Popular Music (Fulfills no MP) |
3 |
| -- | MP fulfilling course | 3 |
| -- | Total | 17 |
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 140 | Recital Attendance Requirement | 0 |
| MUS 211 | History of Western Music (MP PA3A) | 3 |
| MUS 344 | Composition Lesson | 3 |
| MUS 100 | Music Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS 301 / MUS 451 |
Counterpoint (even-numbered Fall only) -OR- Advanced Aural Skills I (odd-numbered Fall only) |
3 1 |
| MUS 352 | Conducting I [fall only] | 2 |
| -- | MP fulfilling course | 3 |
| -- | MP fulfilling course | 3 |
| -- | Total | 18/16 |
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 140 | Recital Attendance Requirement | 0 |
| MUS 212 | History of Western Music | 3 |
| MUS 344 | Composition Lesson | 3 |
| MUS 100 | Music Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS 406 / MUS 370 + MUS 452 |
Advanced Aural Analysis (MP Capstone) (odd-numbered Spring only) -OR- Orchestration (even-numbered Spring only) Advanced Aural Skills II (even-numbered Spring only) |
3 / 3 + 1 |
| -- | MP fulfilling course | 3 |
| -- | MP fulfilling course | 3 |
| -- | Total | 17/16 |
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 140 | Recital Attendance Requirement | 0 |
| MUS 444 | Composition Lesson | 3 |
| MUS 100 | Music Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS 301 / MUS 451 |
Counterpoint (even-numbered Fall only) -OR- Advanced Aural Skills I (odd-numbered Fall only) |
3 1 |
| -- | MP fulfilling course | 3 |
| -- | MP fulfilling course | 3 |
| -- | Total | 13/11 |
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 444 | Composition Lesson | 3 |
| MUS 100 | Music Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS 406 / MUS 370 + MUS 452 |
Advanced Aural Analysis (MP Capstone (odd-numbered Spring only) -OR- Orchestration (even-numbered Spring only) Advanced Aural Skills II (even-numbered Spring only) |
3 / 3 + 1 |
| MUS 494 | Senior Recital | 0 |
| -- | MP fulfilling course | 3 |
| -- | Free Electives | 3 |
| -- | Total | 14/13 |
| -- | Total Hours: 124 | |
*MUS 140 Recital Attendance requires seven semesters of registration
+If a student elects to take MUS 185, 6 credit hours may be used as 6 credit hours of MP Signature Inquiries that do not double dip with 6 credit hours of MP Perspectives Areas OR as 6 credit hours of free electives only if 9 credit hours of Perspectives Areas double dip with 9 credit hours of Signature Inquires.
1 9 credit hours of MP Perspectives Areas must double dip with 9 credit hours of MP Signature Inquiries unless 9 hours of free electives are used as MP fulfilling courses.
Applied Music requirement: Eight semesters of applied composition, plus four semesters of applied study in the student’s primary instrument (includes two semesters at 142 level and two semesters at 242 level). Students must achieve sophomore standing in their major applied area; typically this occurs at the end of the second semester of study.
Functional Piano requirement: Completion of MUS 261 or proficiency examination required.
^Performance requirement: MUS 494 Senior Recital in year 4, semester 8 featuring the student’s original compositions.
Chamber Music requirement: MUS 139 Chamber Music Experience requires one semester of registration
Music Ensemble requirement: Students must complete:
- Three semesters in a large ensemble in the primary performance medium. The large ensembles include: MUS 100B Men’s Glee Club, MUS 100C Symphony Orchestra, MUS 100D Choraliers, MUS 100E Marching Band, MUS 100F Symphony Band, MUS 100G Wind Ensemble, and MUS 100Q Chamber Singers. Entrance to each group is by audition. Pianists may fulfill the ensemble requirement through participation in a large instrumental ensemble, a large vocal ensemble, accompanying (MUS 110/120), or chamber music as a pianist. (MUS 110/120 fulfills either accompanying requirement or large ensemble requirement in a single semester, but not both). Guitarists may fulfill the ensemble requirement through enrollment in a vocal ensemble, an instrumental ensemble, or chamber music as a guitarist.]; AND,
- two semesters in MUS 100Z Laptop Ensemble; AND,
- three semesters in any non-chamber departmental ensemble of the student’s choice. This includes any of the Large Ensembles above as well as MUS 100K Jazz Ensemble, MUS 100M Percussion Ensemble, MUS 100N Steel Band or MUS 100Z Laptop Ensemble.
It is the responsibility of the student to see that all university requirements are fulfilled – please refer to the General Bulletin.
Electronic and Computer Music
The study of digital and analog technology for the creation of music is an integral component of the Composition degree. All majors have access to state-of-the-art electronic music studios. We offer a variety of classes covering a range of topics from basic production to music programming languages. Additional technology classes are offered through 兔子先生’s renowned and the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering.
Auditions and Applied Study
All Composition students and study a primary instrument. These include:
|
Bassoon Cello Clarinet Double Bass Euphonium Flute Guitar |
Harp Horn Oboe Percussion Piano Saxophone |
Trombone Trumpet Tuba Viola Violin Voice |
Department of Music
The 兔子先生 University Department of Music encourages its students to develop their relationship to the discipline of music as they explore the world through the lens of a superb liberal arts education.
