https://composition.frost.miami.edu/index.html
Degree Programs
Known for its aesthetic diversity and openness to the ever-changing and progressive world of composition, the Frost School of Music’s Department of Music Theory and Composition has a long tradition of distinguished faculty and students. When today’s post-baccalaureate composers decide to pursue a Master’s Degree in Composition, they look to Frost faculty composers for inspiration and mentoring. At Frost, graduate students are well coached to take the next steps toward their professional maturation. They work one-on-one with our dedicated faculty to expand their music portfolios, enter competitions, apply for commissions and network in the music profession. Candidates for the Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition (D.M.A.) develop advanced research and teaching skills that are applicable to careers in higher education. For more information, please visit the website for the department of Music Theory and Composition.
MTC 605. Analysis and History of Electroacoustic and Acousmatic Music. 2 Credit Hours.
Course examines electroacoustic and acousmatic music from both a historical/literature and analytical perspective. Analytical techniques with a focus on an ecological analysis approach will be conducted as well as a survey of electroacoustic, acousmatic, and digital music.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall.
MTC 606. Digital Editing and Sequencing. 3 Credit Hours.
Computers as control devices for music synthesis and digital manipulation of pre-recorded sounds. Topics include interfacing sequencing software with software synthesizers, performance techniques, and sound design using samples.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Spring.
MTC 607. Studio Licensing. 2 Credit Hours.
Licensing for access to Digital Arts and Media Writing Studios. Topics covered include digital audio recording and editing, sound synthesis/design, audio signal processing, sound analysis and spatial placement of sound. Course includes studio-use qualifying exams.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Offered by Announcement Only.
MTC 615. Choral Arranging. 3 Credit Hours.
Arranging for choir and vocal groups with and without instrumental accompaniment in all styles.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Offered by Announcement Only.
MTC 616. Advanced Orchestration. 3 Credit Hours.
Scoring for the symphonic orchestra with an emphasis on recent techniques.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Spring.
MTC 617. Analysis of Popular Music Since 1950. 3 Credit Hours.
Course examines popular music in the second half of the Twentieth Century from a music analytical perspective. Critical skills needed for this analysis are identified and developed. Analytical techniques for understanding the determination and utilization of musical elements and structures in contemporary popular music are applied. Various contemporary genres and some precursors are examined and particular stylistic determinants of their compositional and performance models are discussed.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Offered by Announcement Only.
MTC 618. Advanced Counterpoint. 3 Credit Hours.
Three-voice fugal writing in Bach's style, followed by compositional projects i n a variety of twentieth-century contrapuntal style
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Spring.
MTC 621. Multimedia for Musicians. 3 Credit Hours.
Presents an overview and introduction to the creation of multimedia projects for presentation on the Web. Focus is placed on building websites, and the creation of multimedia content for online delivery. Software tools for the manipulation of digital media, including audio and video, are utilized in the realization of course projects.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
MTC 667. Graduate Composition and Technologies. 2 Credit Hours.
Advanced techniques and applications in electronic and computer music. Topics may include electronic projects in composition, performance, research, programming, or other as approved by instructor
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Offered by Announcement Only.
MTC 693. Special Projects in Music Theory and Composition. 1-3 Credit Hours.
Advanced individual instruction pertaining to faculty member’s area of expertise and student’s area of interest. This course includes a culminating project.
Components: IND.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
MTC 694. Special Topics in Music Theory and Composition. 1-3 Credit Hours.
Advanced group/classroom instruction pertaining to faculty member’s expertise and students’ areas of interest.
Components: SEM.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
MTC 701. The Aesthetics of Music. 3 Credit Hours.
Survey of thought and discourse about the nature, roles, values, experiences, a nd meanings of music. Variety of perspectives, including those of the listener, performer, and composer are addressed. Application to musical interpretation and criticism is included.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Offered by Announcement Only.
MTC 705. Digital Art and Sound Design. 3 Credit Hours.
Software-based techniques of sound synthesis. Topics will include synthesis using Ircam Tools, Max/Msp, Jitter, Csound, and PureData.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall Odd Years.
MTC 711. Experiential Musicianship and Theory Pedagogy. 3 Credit Hours.
This course advances two complementary facets: (1) students develop their musicianship skills—here understood as the combination of aural, analytical, performative (ensemble), sight-singing, and keyboard orientation skills—as a means for developing a strong foundation for music making and teaching; and (2) students develop an informed philosophy about pedagogical paradigms, particularly (but not exclusively) in relation to music theory and aural skills, by surveying scholarship on a wide range of topics, including repertoire, assessment, perception and cognition, diversity, improvisation, composition, writing, keyboard orientation, disability, and beyond.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
MTC 712. Advanced Comprehensive Theory. 3 Credit Hours.
Music theory as a research discipline is expanding in every conceivable direction, including a growing involvement with the non-Western canon, conscious inclusion of context and interpretation, and a heightened awareness of methodological advances in other disciplines. Students will become acquainted and engage with influential methodological paradigms of the last fifty years through weekly reading/analysis assignments and seminar discussions.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall.
MTC 713. Twentieth Century Idioms. 3 Credit Hours.
Relevant modes of perception, influences, and technical devices in 20th-century music.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall Even Years.
MTC 715. Graduate Composition. 2 Credit Hours.
Creative work in composition requiring a multi-movement work scored for full orchestra, symphonic band, or chorus with orchestra or band.
Components: LSN.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
MTC 717. Analytical Techniques. 3 Credit Hours.
Examination and practice of various techniques used in the analysis of music.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
MTC 719. Introduction to Schenkerian Analysis. 3 Credit Hours.
A first course in the theory and analytical practice of Heinrich Schenker. Students will learn the principles and techniques of Schenkerian analysis and will apply them to the study of works in smaller sectional forms.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Spring.
MTC 730. Introduction to Spectralism. 3 Credit Hours.
To give the student a further understanding of the art and techniques of spectral composition, through listening, research, analysis, and composition (optional).
Requisite: Must be in the School of Graduate Music.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Offered by Announcement Only.
MTC 748. Electronic Music Ensemble. 1 Credit Hour.
An in-depth study and performance of electroacoustic music compositions.
Components: ENS.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Offered by Announcement Only.
MTC 767. Advanced Graduate Composition and Technologies. 2 Credit Hours.
Advanced techniques and applications in electronic and computer music. Topics may include electronic projects in composition, performance, research, programming, or other as approved by instructor.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
MTC 782. Composition Workshop. 1 Credit Hour.
This course emphasizes composition pedagogy in which graduate students learn best practices of teaching composition.
Requisite: MTCP_MM or MTCP_DMA Majors Only.
Components: LAB.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
MTC 793. Special Projects in Music Theory and Composition. 1-3 Credit Hours.
Advanced individual instruction pertaining to faculty member’s area of expertise and student’s area of interest. This course includes a culminating project.
Requisite: Graduate Music Students Only.
Components: IND.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
MTC 794. Special Topics in Music Theory and Composition. 1-3 Credit Hours.
Advanced group/classroom instruction pertaining to faculty member’s expertise and students’ areas of interest.
Requisite: Graduate Music Students Only.
Components: SEM.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
MTC 797. Studio Rhythm Section. 1 Credit Hour.
A performing ensemble of student-generated contemporary musical repertoire.
Components: ENS.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Offered by Announcement Only.
MTC 799. Ensemble Ibis for New Music. 1 Credit Hour.
An in-depth study and performance of 20th century music.
Components: ENS.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
MTC 810. Master's Thesis. 1-6 Credit Hours.
The student working on the masters thesis enrolls for a minimum of 6 credits during the degree program as determined by the advisor.
Components: THI.
Grading: SUS.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
MTC 820. Research in Residence. 1 Credit Hour.
Used to establish research in residence and maintain full-time enrollment for the master’s degree after the student has completed the required hours of thesis or project credit.
Components: THI.
Grading: SUS.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
MTC 831. Doctoral Essay. 1-12 Credit Hours.
Required of all candidates for the DMA. The student will enroll in a minimum of 12 credits during the degree program as determined by the advisor.
Components: THI.
Grading: SUS.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
MTC 850. Research in Residence. 1 Credit Hour.
Used to establish research in residence and maintain full-time enrollment for the DMA after the student has completed the required hours of doctoral essay credit.
Components: THI.
Grading: SUS.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
