Music : Composition Audition Requirements

Admission-Audition Requirements
For New Composition Students

The Bachelor of Music in Composition cannot be declared until the end of spring quarter of your first year of study.

Incoming Freshman with an interest in the Composition degree program need to first and foremost audition and be accepted on their primary instrument. The freshman year should be used to achieve a higher level on the applied instrument and acquire, and/or solidify, the necessary skill set (music theory) to become an informed, artistic, and more successful composer

Students who intend to apply for the composition degree program should plan on taking:

1. MUS 120 during the spring quarter.
2. MUS 120 – Introduction to Composition I (3 credit) To be taken spring quarter.
   This would be a class for all interested composition students addressing topics such as phrase structure, melodic development, transitions, and would include small projects. This would also include discussion of current compositional trends. All freshman would be encouraged to attend the Intermediate/Advanced seminar classes and studio recitals during the fall/winter quarters.Formal admission into the composition program with permission of the composition program advisor, Dr. Elaine Ross, would occur at the conclusion of this course. Students must demonstrate the appropriate level of proficiency on their major instrument and successfully complete the Freshman Music Theory Sequence with grades of at least a B-.

Until you have been officially accepted into the Composition degree program, students who desire this degree program should declare a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Changing your declared degree from the BA major to the BM in composition is a very easy process. Once you have permission to declare the composition major, it is simply a matter of filling out a new major declaration form in the Music office.

Transfer students
Transfer students may bypass MUS 120 with permission based upon composition submissions (2 or 3 short contrasting compositions) and sufficient audition on primary instrument. It will normally take transfer students 3 years to complete the degree requirements. A probationary year may be required before transfer students can officially declare a major in composition.

Note:
The Bachelor of Music in Composition degree has a strong performance component. There are two recital requirements: a half recital on your primary instrument w/ MUS 364; a full composition recital w/ MUS420

For more information contact Dr. Elaine Ross, head of the composition program. She can be reached by calling the Dept. of Music at 509-963-1216.

Last updated July 13, 2009