Music Composition - Major (Bachelor of Music)

The Bachelor of Music in Composition provides the musical, aesthetic, practical, and entrepreneurial skills necessary for an emerging creative artist to build a meaningful and satisfying career in music composition. The program provides extensive involvement with professional organizations in composition, film and media scoring, and related fields at the regional and national levels, through internships and other collaborations and professional opportunities. In addition, the Music Composition program provides exposure to other Rochester area musical organizations. The Bachelor of Music in Composition requires a minimum of 120 credits.

This degree is designed for:

Students seeking to major in composition, leading to graduate school and/or professional practice.
Careers after graduation include: composition, film and media scoring, commercial music, orchestration and arrangement, copying and score preparation, and music production.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will develop a high artistic level of composition and be prepared for careers in composition (both concert and media), orchestration and arrangement, production, and score preparation, as well as matriculation into graduate programs in music, through:

Understanding the means to develop a composition from concept to finished product
Practical knowledge of a variety of forms, styles, and notation
Competency to work with both electronic and acoustic media
Knowledge of composers who represent the highest standard of achievement in the art
Fluency in the use of tools needed by composers, including keyboard skills, spoken and written language, analytical techniques, conducting and rehearsal skills, and applicable technology
Understanding of the business aspects of music composition in a context of community involvement in arts leadership
Opportunities for the performance and recording of the students’ work
Private instruction aimed at developing the student’s strengths, diagnosing and solving problems, while instilling an artistic vision and purpose.

Core Curriculum Requirements

All Nazareth students complete Core Curriculum coursework as part of their degree requirements. The Core provides a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences while guiding students to pose and explore their own intellectual questions. See Academic Policies and Procedures for specific core curriculum requirements.

Music Core (Composition)

MUX 019 Concert Attendance Credits: 0 (4 semesters)
MUX 099 School of Music Orientation Credits: 0
MUP 1_ Performance Primary Lessons Credits: 8
ENS 0_ Major Ensembles Credits: 4 (8 semesters). Accepted Ensembles include:
Senior Performance Recital; students choose one of the following courses:

Bachelor of Music Core (Composition)

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Composition must take the following (in addition to the courses listed above):

MUS.Q 104 - Introduction to World Music Credits: 3
MUS 123 - Music Theory I Credits: 3
MUS 124 - Music Theory II Credits: 3
MUS 125 - Aural Skills I Credits: 1
MUS 126 - Aural Skills II Credits: 1
MUS 211 - The History of Western Music I: Antiquity to the Baroque Period Credits: 3
MUS 212 - The History of Western Music II: The Baroque Period to the Late Nineteenth Century Credits: 3
MUS 223 - Music Theory III Credits: 3
MUS 224 - Music Theory IV Credits: 3
MUS 225 - Aural Skills III Credits: 1
MUS 226 - Aural Skills IV Credits: 1
MUS 317 - The History of Western Music III: Music Since 1900 Credits: 3
MUS 272 - Introduction to Conducting Credits: 1
MUX 232 - Keyboard Proficiency Exam Credits: 0
Take one 4-credit group from the following:

Piano Class
MUG 131 - Piano Class I Credits: 1
MUG 132 - Piano Class II Credits: 1
MUG 231 - Piano Class III Credits: 1
MUG 232 - Piano Class IV Credits: 1
or

Voice Class, Instrumental Techniques, Performance Secondary Lessons (4 credits)
MUP 2_ Secondary Performance Instrument
Credits: 1
MUP 1_ Primary Performance Instrument
Credits: 1
MUG 141 - Voice Class I Credits: 1
MED 103 - Percussion Techniques I Credits: 1
MED 104 - Percussion Techniques II for Music Education Credits: 1
MED 105 - Brass Techniques I Credits: 1
MED 106 - Brass Techniques II Credits: 1
MED 203 - Woodwind Techniques I Credits: 1
MED 204 - Woodwind Techniques II Credits: 1
MED 205 - String Techniques I Credits: 1
MED 206 - String Techniques II Credits: 1

Music Composition Major Required Courses

In addition to the courses listed above, Music Composition students must take the following courses:

MUP 1Q - Applied Composition Credits: 20
MUP 097 - Composition Studio Forum Credits: 0 (8 semesters)
SCI.Q 167 - Integrated Science of Sound Credits: 4
SCI.Q 168L - Integrated Science of Sound Lab Credits: 0
MUS 321 - Orchestration and Arranging Credits: 3
MUS 323 - Modal and Tonal Counterpoint Credits: 3
MUS 371 - Choral Conducting Credits: 2 or MUS 372 Instrumental Conducting Credits: 2
MUX 294 - Sophomore Composition Portfolio/Recital Credits: 0
MUX 499 - Senior Honors Composition Portfolio/ Recital Credits: 0

Upper Division Electives, Music Composition

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Music in Composition program must complete three upper division music electives. Options include:

Upper Division Music Theory Electives
MUS 310 - Jazz Composition and Arranging Credits: 3
MUS 322 - Jazz Theory Credits: 3
MUS 417 - Special Topics in Music Theory Credits: 3
MUS 423 - Form and Analysis I Credits: 3
MUS 424 - Form and Analysis II Credits: 3
MUS 485 - Independent Study Credits: 1 to 3
MUS 486 - Independent Study Credits: 1 to 3
Upper Division Music History Electives
MUS 303 - Jazz History Credits: 3
MUS 333 - Music and Gender Credits: 3
MUS 375 - The Liberal Art of Music Credits: 3
MUS 401 - Music Research and Writing Credits: 3
MUS 411 - Topics in Medieval/Renaissance Music History Credits: 3
MUS 412 - Topics in Baroque Music History Credits: 3
MUS 413 - Topics in Classical Era Music History Credits: 3
MUS 414 - Topics in Romantic Era Music History Credits: 3
MUS 415 - Topics in Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Music History Credits: 3
MUS 416 - Special Topics in Music History Credits: 3
MUS 418 - Special Topics in Jazz Credits: 3
MUS 450 - Musical Styles and Expression Credits: 3
MUS 460 - Evolution of Film Music Credits: 3
MUS 470 - Musical Borrowing Credits: 3
MUS 471 - Music and Magic in Western Culture Credits: 3
MUS 477 - Music and Culture in Austria and Germany Credits: 3
MUS 485 Independent Study Credits: 1 to 3
MUS 486 Independent Study Credits: 1 to 3

Additional Upper Division Music Elective Options

MUB 301 - Music Business II Credits: 3
MTR 302 - Psychology of Music Credits: 3
MUS 306 - Digital Composition Credits: 3
MUS 307 - Scoring for Video Games Credits: 3
MUS 320 - Contemporary Commercial Music Composition and Recording Credits: 3

Bachelor of Music in Composition Senior Experience

The culminating senior course for the BM in Composition is the Senior Portfolio/Recital, an experiential learning course engaging students in demonstrating the practical application of knowledge and skills acquired in the study of composition and applied music lessons, music history, music theory, and the liberal arts.

MUX 499 - Senior Honors Composition Portfolio/ Recital Credits: 0

Sample Program

Freshman Year
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
ENGW 101 Exposition	3	ENGW 102 Argument and Research	3
FYS - PEQ (1)	3	MUS.Q 104 Introduction to World Music PEQ (2)	3
ACS 101 Academic and College Success	1	MUS 124 Music Theory II	3
Health & Wellness Course	0	MUS 126 Aural Skills II	1
MUX 099 School of Music Orientation	0	MUG 132 Piano Class II or MUP 2_ Performance Secondary Lesson (or equivalent)	1
MUS 123 Music Theory I	3	MUP 1Q Composition Primary Lesson	2
MUS 125 Aural Skills I	1	ENS __ Major Ensemble	.5
MUG 131 Piano Class I or MUG 141 Voice Class I (or equivalent)	1	MUP 1__ Performance Primary Lesson	1
MUP 1Q Composition Primary Lesson	2	MUX 019 Concert Attendance	0
ENS __ Major Ensemble	.5	MUP 097 Composition Studio Forum	0
MUP 1__ Performance Primary Lesson	1
MUX 019 Concert Attendance	0
MUP 097 Composition Studio Forum	0
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	15.5	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	14.5

Sophomore Year
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
PEQ (3) & (4)	6	SCI.Q 167 Integrated Science of Sound / SCI.Q 168L Integrated Science of Sound Lab (5)	4
MUS 223 Music Theory III	3	MUS 224 Music Theory IV	3
MUS 225 Aural Skills III	1	MUS 226 Aural Skills IV	1
MUG 231 Piano Class III or MUP 2_ Performance Secondary Lesson (or equivalent)	1	MUG 232 Piano Class IV or MUP 2_ Performance Secondary Lesson (or equivalent)	1
MUS 211 The History of Western Music I: Antiquity to the Baroque Period	3	MUS 212 The History of Western Music II: The Baroque Period to the Late Nineteenth Century	3
MUP 1Q Composition Primary Lesson	2	MUS 272 Introduction to Conducting	1
ENS __ Major Ensemble	.5	MUP 1Q Composition Primary Lesson	2
MUP 1__ Performance Primary Lesson	1	ENS __ Major Ensemble	.5
MUX 019 Concert Attendance	0	MUP 1__ Performance Primary Lesson	1
MUP 097 Composition Studio Forum	0	MUX 019 Concert Attendance	0
		MUP 097 Composition Studio Forum	0
		MUX 294 Sophomore Recital/Portfolio	0
		MUX 232 Keyboard Proficiency Exam	0
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	17.5	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	16.5

Junior Year
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
PEQ (6)	3	Integrative Studies/DEIB (IS/DEIB) - 1	3
MUS 371 Choral Conducting or MUS 372 Instrumental Conducting	2	Integrative Studies (IS) -2	3
MUS 317 The History of Western Music III: Music Since 1900	3	MUS 321 Orchestration and Arranging	3
MUS 323 Modal and Tonal Counterpoint	3	MUP 1Q Composition Primary Lesson	3
MUP 1Q Composition Primary Lesson	3	ENS __ Major Ensemble	.5
ENS __ Major Ensemble	.5	MUP 1__ Performance Primary Lesson	1
MUP 1__ Performance Primary Lesson	1	MUP 097 Composition Studio Forum	0
MUP 097 Composition Studio Forum	0
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	15.5	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	13.5

Senior Year
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
Integrative Studies (IS) -3	3	PEQ (8)	3
CME 050 Core Milestone Experience	0	Upper Division Music Elective (300/400 level)	3
PEQ (7)	3	Upper Division Music Elective (300/400 level)	3
Upper Division Music Elective (300/400 level)	3	MUX 499 Senior Honors Composition Portfolio/ Recital	0
MUP 1Q Composition Primary Lesson	3	MUP 1Q Composition Primary Lesson	3
ENS __ Major Ensemble	.5	ENS __ Major Ensemble	.5
MUP 1__ Performance Primary Lesson	1	MUP 1__ Performance Primary Lesson	1
MUP 097 Composition Studio Forum	0	MUP 097 Composition Studio Forum	0
		MUX 49_ Senior Performance Recital	0
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	13.5	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	13.5