Music Composition, B.M.

The Bachelor of Music in Composition is for talented students wishing to pursue a career as a composer, an arranger, in related fields, or who wish to continue musical study in composition, music theory, or musicology at the graduate level. Students are admitted into the composition program based on an audition on their primary instrument and a portfolio review of their compositions; this may include arrangements, sound design, and other musical creative work.

Four-Year Plan: Click here to view the Four-Year Plan for this specific program. To find out more about Four-Year Plans, visit the Policies and Procedures page.

♦ Indicates prerequisite.

Degree Requirements (83 credits)

Courses

MUSM 109 Recital Review (0 credits) (must pass at least seven semesters)
MUSM 111 Music Theory I (3 credits) ♦
MUSM 112 Music Theory II (3 credits) ♦
MUSM 211 Music Theory III (3 credits) ♦
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Choose 1 of the following courses MUSM 212 Music Theory IV* or MUSM 371 Jazz and Communication Music Theory** * - required for the Traditional Track ** - required for the Commercial Music Production Track
MUSM 122 Aural Skills I (1 credit)
MUSM 124 Aural Skills II (1 credit) ♦
MUSM 132 Class Piano I (1 credit)
MUSM 134 Class Piano II (1 credit) ♦
Choose 1 of the following courses MUSM 232 ClassPiano III of Group Jazz Piano I

Choose 1 of the following courses MUSM 234 Class Piano IV or MUSM 272 Group Jazz Piano II
MUSA 196 Freshman Proficiency Jury (0 credits)
MUSA 296 Sophomore Comprehensive Jury (0 credits)
MUSM 312 Computer Applications for Musicians (1 credit) ♦
MUSM 313 Orchestration (3 credits) ♦
MUSM 365 Conducting I (2 credits) ♦
MUSM 380 Music Composition for Commercial Media (3 credits) ♦
MUSM 140 Introduction to Music History (1 credits)
MUSM 480 Music Composition for Visual Media (3 Credits)
MUSM 241 History of Music I: Antiquity through Early Baroque (3 credits)
MUSM 242 Survey of Western Music I (2 credits)
Ensembles (6 credits)

Applied Primary Instrument (8 credits)**

Applied Secondary Instrument (2 credits)

Traditional Track must choose piano, if piano is not the primary instrument
Choose 3 credits from the Following

MUSM 375 History of Jazz

MUS 108 Hisotry of Rock

MUS 106 World Music Cultures

MUS 200 Music and the Moving Image

MUS 394 Special Topics in Music (must be history focused)

Note:

* Piano majors should take 4 credits of Applied Music in a secondary instrument or voice.

Traditonal Track (40 credits)

MUSM 311 Form and Analysis (3 credits) ♦
MUSM 315 Materials and Techniques of Music Composition (2 credits) ♦
MUSM 316 Counterpoint (3 credits) ♦
MUSA 245 Applied Composition (1-2 credits) ♦
MUSA 345 Applied Composition (1-2 credits) ♦
MUSA 445 Applied Composition (1-2 credits) ♦
Music Electives (6 credits)

Choose Electives from the following

Commercial Music Production Track (26 credits)

MUSM 381 Music Technology I (3 credits) ♦
MUSM 382 Music Technology II (3 credits) ♦
MUSM 383 Mixing Techniques I (3 credits) ♦
MUSM 384 Mixing Techniques II (3 credits) ♦
MUSM 496 Senior Capstone (0-4 credits) ♦
MUSA 246 Applied Songwriting (1-2 Credits) ♦
Take four credits from the following MUSA 346 Applied Songwriting MUSA 245 Applied Composition

Electives

Choose from:

One elective must be music history

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