A student and faculty collaborate on an original work.
As a composition major, you'll be able to hear your own music performed by skilled musicians, and you can experiment with jazz, electronic music, or film scoring. In addition to learning from our award-winning faculty, you'll have the chance to work and study with distinguished composers through our Karel Husa Visiting Professor of Composition series. The likes of George Crumb, Chen Yi, and William Bolcom present master classes, critique student work, and give lectures on their own work.
Our bachelor's degree in composition will also provide a foundation in traditional Western art music that includes orchestration, arranging, counterpoint, and electroacoustic music. With our broad-based, practical approach, you'll not only learn traditional composition techniques, you'll also get experience in popular American styles and commercial media. And you'll find that our computer laboratories, which feature integrated technology, will enhance your study of theory and facilitate your own composing.
For example, if writing music using the latest computer software and MIDI applications appeals to you, check out the "smart" music technology classroom and lab, equipped with the latest in multimedia and Internet capabilities. Explore the composition of music and sound design in the electroacoustic studios, where students use MIDI programming to manipulate sound in a creative fashion.