B.M. in Music Theory and Composition

Introduction

The Bachelor of Music in Composition is designed to:

1. Provide students with a learning environment conducive to the pursuit, fostering, development, and exchange of ideas and information, particularly as it pertains to music composition and performance.
2. To provide student access to varied composition communities.
3. To continue to build upon the Frost School of Music's reputation as an innovative, forward-thinking, and first-rate center for advanced study.
4. To maintain the highest educational, professional, and ethical standards.

Goals of the program are:

1. To provide students with training to be fluent in basic compositional skills.
2. To help students understand various directions that are available to composers in the 21st century.
3. To help students perform and realize their music.

The curriculum in Composition is designed for those students intending to pursue a career as a composer and/or to pursue graduate degrees in Composition. Prospective students are expected to furnish evidence of compositional ability.

Educational Objectives

• Students develop basic compositional skills of varying lengths and genres.
• Students compose works utilizing various compositional techniques and styles.
• Students compose works for varied instrumentation and/or media.

Advanced Writing and Communication Skills

Courses

All students are required to successfully complete 3 Advanced Writing and Communication Skills (AWC) courses. Student degree requirements will include courses that meet the desired communication outcomes in evaluated and revised writing, speaking, stage presence, and audience engagement.

All Music Theory and Composition students will successfully complete:

1. MCY 341 Music of the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Periods, which will include substantial evaluated and revised writing components.

2. MTC 402 Composition VIII, which will include evaluated communication skills in attracting an audience, engaging an audience during performance, and preparing program notes or similar media as appropriate to the medium/venue.

3. MTC 311 Analysis and Experience which will include discipline specific communication skills.

Assessment

There will be at least 2 specific assessments in each Advanced Communications Skills course for communications or writing equivalent to 4000 words, evaluated and revised.

Curriculum Requirements

¹

EMC core courses require a grade of “C” or higher.  Lessons require a grade of "B-" or higher.

²

 Jazz or Contemporary principals will be required to take MTC 140/MTC 107, MTC 141/MTC 108, MTC 240/MTC 207, MTC 241/MTC 208.

Suggested Plan of Study

* MTC 402 (Senior Composition Recital) may be taken the semester immediately preceding MTC 401 Composition VII with departmental approval. Neither MTC 401 or 402 may be taken earlier than the 7th semester of study.

Mission

The mission of the Bachelor of Music in Composition program is to:

• Provide students with a learning environment conducive to the pursuit, fostering, development, and exchange of ideas and information, particularly as it pertains to music composition and performance.
• To provide student access to varied composition communities.
• To continue to build upon the Frost School of Music's reputation as an innovative, forward-thinking, and first-rate center for advanced study.
• To maintain the highest educational, professional, and ethical standards.

Goals

• To provide students with training to be fluent in basic compositional skills.
• To help students understand various directions that are available to composers in the 21st century.
• To help students perform and realize their music.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will develop basic compositional skills of varying lengths and genres.
• Students will have works performed in concerts, recitals, and reading sessions.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to compose for a variety of instruments