BM in Composition — All Emphases
The School of Music offers five majors in music composition:
- Bachelor of Music in composition — keyboard emphasis
- Bachelor of Music in composition — strings emphasis
- Bachelor of Music in composition — winds/percussion emphasis
- Bachelor of Music in composition — voice emphasis
- Bachelor of Music in composition — harp/guitar/bass emphasis
Program Requirements
With the exception of the ensembles required, the degree requirements are the same for each major. Please consult an advisor to determine which ensembles are needed for a specific major. Other requirements are:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Music | ||
| Chief performing medium | 16 | |
| Other performing media | 3 | |
| General Music | ||
| MUSC 127 & MUSC 129 | Theory I and Aural Skills I | 4 |
| MUSC 128 & MUSC 130 | Theory II and Aural Skills II | 4 |
| MUSC 227 & MUSC 229 | Theory III and Aural Skills III | 4 |
| MUSC 228 & MUSC 230 | Theory IV and Aural Skills IV | 4 |
| MUSC 259 & MUSC 260 | Introduction to Music Composition and Beginning Music Composition | 4 |
| MUSC 560 | Applied Composition | 4 |
| MUSC 660 | Applied Composition | 4 |
| MUSC 523 | Form And Analysis | 2 |
| MUSC 531 | Introduction to Electronic Music | 2 |
| MUSC 561 | 18th Century Counterpoint | 2 |
| MUSC 641 | Orchestration | 2 |
| MART 110 | Introduction to Music Technology and Industry | 2 |
| or MART 111 | Intro to Music Business | |
| History and Literature of Music | ||
| MUSC 113 | Music in Context | 3 |
| MUSC 334 | History of Music I | 3 |
| MUSC 335 | History of Music II | 3 |
| Conducting | ||
| MUSP 307 | Instrumental Conducting | 2 |
| or MUSP 308 | Choral Conducting | |
| MUSP 651 | Advanced Conducting and Score Reading | 2 |
| or MUSP 691 | Advanced Choral Conducting | |
| Ensembles | ||
| Ensembles 1, 2 | 8 | |
| Recital Attendance | ||
| MUSP 105 | Recital Attendance (four semesters) | 0 |
| Senior Recital | ||
| MUSP 400 | Senior Recital | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours | 78 | |
- 1
See degree check sheets for specified ensembles.
- 2
Ensembles are counted by semester.
Composition majors are required to present for public performance a selection of their compositions representing large and small forms, totaling a minimum of 20 minutes. Students must submit completed scores representing a majority of the program to an examining committee the semester prior to that of the proposed recital; the examining committee shall determine the acceptability of the program. The composition or compositions must be submitted in a minimum of two copies done manually in ink or by laser printing using an approved music typesetting computer program. These copies must represent a high quality of manuscript technique or music typesetting. In addition, students may elect to present a second recital in their chief performing medium with the permission of their applied music instructor and achievement of junior proficiency in that instrument.
Note: All music majors must pass a piano proficiency examination.
Applied Learning
Students in the Bachelor of Music in composition program are required to complete an applied learning or research experience to graduate from the program. The requirement can be met by completing a senior recital of original compositions, MUSP 400.