Music Composition

Major Requirements

The Music Composition major consists of 71-87 s.h. distributed as follows:

B.A. Requirement

• One foreign language through the 1020 level (German, French, or Italian recommended).

Required Core Courses for All Majors

• MUS 1600 Music Fundamentals (Required if student does not pass the diagnostic exam) (3 s.h.)
• MUS 1610 Music Theory I (3 s.h.)
• MUS 1620 Music Theory II (3 s.h.)
• MUS 1070 Aural Skills I (1 s.h.)
• MUS 1080 Aural Skills II (1 s.h.)
• MUS 2070 Aural Skills III (1 s.h.)
• MUS 2080 Aural Skills IV (1 s.h.)
• MUS 2610 Music Theory III (3 s.h.)
• MUS 2620 Music Theory IV (3 s.h.)
• MUS 2600 Survey of Music Literature (1 s.h.)
• MUS 3110 Music History: Ancient Through Baroque (3 s.h.)
• MUS 3130 Music History: Classic Through Romantic (3 s.h.)
• MUS 3610 Conducting (3 s.h.)
• MUS 4190 20th-21st Century and Non-Western Musical Styles (2 s.h.)

Choose two of the following:

• MUS 4640 Orchestration (3 s.h.)
• MUS 4650 Introduction to Composition and Arranging (3 s.h.)
• MUS 4660 Form and Analysis (3 s.h.)

Students may take one applied composition semester in place of MUS 4650

Required Tech Courses

• MUS 3010 String Techniques (1 s.h.)
• MUS 3030 Woodwind Techniques (1 s.h.)
• MUS 3040 Brass Techniques (1 s.h.)
• MUS 3070 Percussion Techniques (1 s.h.)

Required Applied Courses

• MUS 0710 Concert Attendance (no credit)
  (must be taken concurrently and passed with applied lessons for 8 semesters; pass/fail)
• MUS 1140-4810 (12-16 s.h.)
  (see list of applied music courses)
• MUS 1270-4270 Applied Composition (4 semesters, 8 s.h.)
• MUS 1750-4750 (0-4 s.h.)
  (Students take the piano proficiency sequence until piano proficiency exam is passed/piano majors exempt from this requirement)
• MUS 3370 Applications of Piano Literature (piano majors only) (2 s.h.)

Required Ensemble Courses (8 s.h.)

• MUS 3480/3490 Concert Band
• MUS 3280/3290 Noblemen
• MUS 3860/3870 Grace Notes

Additional Requirements

1. String majors may enroll in an approved orchestra or string ensemble. Guitar majors must enroll in one of these ensembles (MUS 3480/3490, MUS 3280/3290, or MUS 3860./3870)
2. All students receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition are required to complete at least 12 semester hours on one instrument or voice. Therefore, continuous enrollment in the major instrument is required until a minimum of 16 continuous semester hours of applied lessons (C or higher) is completed. Percussionists must complete no fewer than 12 semester hours of applied lessons, with at least 10 semester hours in applied orchestral percussion.
3. A half recital in the major instrument or voice is required for graduation.
4. A half composition recital is required for graduation. Applied composition lessons do not take the place of applied instrument or voice. Applied instrumental or voice recital cannot take place in the same semester as the composition recital. It is recommended that the applied voice or instrumental recital take place in the junior year for composition majors.
5. Enrollment in upper 3000-4000 level courses is predicated on successful completion of 1000-2000 level classes.
6. Instrumental majors (wind, brass, and percussion) are required to participate in Marching Band for no fewer than two years. Qualified piano majors may be asked to accompany one of the choirs to fulfill requirement. String majors must be involved in an equivalent instrumental activity, e.g., International Youth Symphony.