Undergraduate Academic Programs
Graduate Academic Programs
International Exchange & Language Programs
General University Information
Course Listing

 

UM Home > Academic Bulletin > Undergraduate Academic Programs > Music > Music Theory - Composition

Academic Bulletin

PHILLIP AND PATRICIA FROST SCHOOL OF MUSIC - UNDERGRADUATE
www.music.miami.edu

MUSIC THEORY - COMPOSITION - Dept. Code: MTC

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, production, and performance; (2) to provide student access 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; and (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 available to composers in the 21st century; and (3) to help students perform, produce, or realize their music.

The Commercial Music & Production track within the Theory & Composition curriculum is designed to prepare undergraduate students for the many issues facing today’s commercial music writers and producers. In this specialized program, successful students complete diverse compositional assignments, develop technical and practical skills in the recording studio, and acquire an understanding of the music industry. Prospective students should furnish evidence of outstanding compositional ability as well as basic sequencing and music notation skills.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

• Students develop basic compositional skills of varying lengths and genres.

• Students compose or produce works utilizing various compositional techniques and styles.

• Students compose works for varied instrumentation and/or media.

DEGREE PROGRAMS

Bachelor of Music in Composition

MAJOR

Music Theory and Composition (MTC)
Media Writing & Production (MWP)

MINOR

MINOR IN MUSIC COMPOSITION

A minor in music composition is primarily intended for students in the Frost School of Music who are pursuing majors in other fields within the Frost School.  Students interested in this minor are required to submit a portfolio to the chairman of the department for approval before declaring the minor.  The minor consists of 15 credits.

Composition I (MTC 101)

2 credits

Composition II (MTC 102)

2 credits

Composition III (MTC 201)

2 credits

Composition IV (MTC 202)

2 credits

Composition Workshop (MTC 182)

4 credits

Orchestration (MTC 416) or Twentieth Century Techniques (MTC 312)

3 credits

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

COMPOSITION

FRESHMAN YEAR
First Semester
Second Semester
MTC 012 Composition Forum
0
MTC 012 Composition Forum
0
Principal Instrument Forum
0
Principal Instrument Forum
0
Principal Instrument (A Level)
2
Principal Instrument (B Level)
2
MKP 101 Class Piano
1
MKP 102 Class Piano
1
MTC 182 Composition Workshop
1
MTC 182 Composition Workshop
1
Ensemble
1
Ensemble
1
MTC 101 Composition I
2
MTC 102 Composition II
2
*MTC 111 Music Theory I
2
*MTC 112 Music Theory II
2
*MTC 121 Music Theory Laboratory I
1
*MTC 122 Music Theory Laboratory II
1
MCY 101 The World of Music and Its Powers
1
ENG 106 English Composition II
3
ENG 105 English Composition I
3
MTH 103 Finite Mathematics

3
**MTH 101 Algebra for College Students
3
TOTAL
16
TOTAL
17
   
SOPHOMORE YEAR
First Semester
Second Semester
MTC 012 Composition Forum
0
MTC 012 Composition Forum
0
Principal Instrument Forum
0
Principal Instrument Forum
0
Principal Instrument (C Level)
2
Principal Instrument (D Level)
2
MKP 103 Class Piano
1
MKP 104 Class Piano
1
MTC 182 Composition Workshop
1
MTC 182 Composition Workshop
1
Ensemble
1
Ensemble
1
MTC 201 Composition III
2
*MTC 212 Music Theory IV
2
MKP 220 Computers, Keyboards, and Music
2
*MTC 222 Music Theory Laboratory IV
1
*MTC 211 Honors Music Theory III
2
MTC 202 Composition IV
2
*MTC 221 Music Theory Laboratory III
1
MTC 313 18th Century Counterpoint
3
MCY 541 Music of the Mediaeval, Renaissance, and Baroque Periods
3
MCY 542 Music of the Classical, Romantic, and Modern Periods
3
People and Society Elective
3
TOTAL
16
TOTAL
18
   
JUNIOR YEAR
First Semester
Second Semester
MTC 012 Composition Forum
0
MTC 012 Composition Forum
0
Principal Instrument Forum
0
Principal Instrument Forum
0
Principal Instrument (E Level)
2
Principal Instrument (F Level)
2
MTC 182 Composition Workshop
1
MTC 182 Composition Workshop
1
Ensemble
1
Ensemble
1
MIP 317 Basic Conducting or
MVP 181 Choral Conducting I
1
MIP 418 Instrumental Conducting or
MVP 182 Choral Conducting II
1
MTC 301 Composition V
3
MTC 302 Composition VI
3
MTC 312 Twentieth Century Techniques
3
MTC 505 Electronic Music Studio
2
MTC 516 Advanced Orchestration
3
MTC 518 Advanced Counterpoint
3
Humanities Elective
3
MTC Elective
3
TOTAL
17
TOTAL
16
SENIOR YEAR
First Semester
Second Semester
MTC 012 Composition Forum
0
MTC 012 Composition Forum
0
Ensembles
2
MTC 499 Senior Recital
1
MTC 401 Composition VII
3
Ensembles
2
MTC 506 MIDI and Control Processing
2
300+ Level MCY Elective
3
MTC Elective
3
Non-Music Elective
3
300+ Level MCY Elective
3
Natural World Elective
3
Natural World Elective
3
People and Society Elective
3
TOTAL
16
TOTAL
15

* Must pass with grade of C or above.

** Required if math placement is MTH 101 or lower.

COMMERCIAL MUSIC AND PRODUCTION EMPHASIS

FRESHMAN YEAR
First Semester
Second Semester
MTC 015 Commercial Music & Production Forum
0
MTC 015 Commercial Music & Production Forum
0
Principal Instrument Forum
0
Principal Instrument Forum
0
Principal Instrument/Voice (A Level)
2
Principal Instrument/Voice (B Level)
2
Ensemble
1
Ensemble
1
MTC 182 Composition Workshop
1
MTC 182 Composition Workshop
1
*MTC 111 Music Theory I
2
*MTC 112 Music Theory II
2
*MTC 121 Music Theory Laboratory I
1
*MTC 122 Music Theory Laboratory II
1
MTC 101 Composition I
2
MTC 102 Composition II
2
MCY 101 The World of Music and Its Powers
1
MAS 110 Quantitative Applications in Business
3
MTH 103 Finite Mathematics
3
ENG 106 English Composition II
3
ENG 105 English Composition I
3
Natural World Elective
3
TOTAL
16
TOTAL
18
SOPHOMORE YEAR
First Semester
Second Semester
MTC 015 Commercial Music & Production Forum
0
MTC 015 Commercial Music & Production Forum
0
Principal Instrument Forum
0
Principal Instrument Forum
0
Principal Instrument/Voice (C Level)
2
Principal Instrument/Voice (D Level)
2
Ensembles
2
Ensembles
2
*MTC 211 Music Theory III
2
*MTC 212 Music Theory IV
2
*MTC 221 Music Theory Laboratory III
1
*MTC 222 Music Theory Laboratory IV
1
MSJ 203 Jazz Piano Class I
1
MSJ 204 Jazz Piano Class II
1
MTC 251 Audio, Computers and MIDI I
1
MTC 252 Audio, Computers and MIDI II
1
MTC 203 Pop Composition I
2
MTC 204 Pop Composition II
2
CAD 114 Principles of Advertising
3
MMI 173 Multinational Recorded Music Industry
3
CEM 102 Introduction to Electronic Media
3
People and Society Elective
3
TOTAL
17
TOTAL
17
JUNIOR YEAR
First Semester
Second Semester
MTC 015 Commercial Music & Production Forum
0
MTC 015 Commercial Music & Production Forum
0
Principal Instrument Forum
0
Principal Instrument Forum
0
Principal Instrument/Voice (E Level)
2
Principal Instrument/Voice (F Level)
2
Ensemble
1
Ensemble
1
MSJ 305 Jazz Piano Class III
1
MSJ 306 Jazz Piano Class IV
1
MTC 416 Orchestration
3
MTC 312 Twentieth-Century Techniques
3
MIP 317 Basic Conducting (Instrumental) or
MVP 181 Choral Conducting I
1
MIP 418 Instrumental Conducting or
MVP 182 Choral Conducting II
1
MTC 303 Media Composition I
3
MTC 304 Media Composition II
2
MMI 573 International Music Publishing
3
MCY 542 Music of the Classical, Romantic, and Modern Periods
3
MCY 541 Music of the Mediaeval, Renaissance and Baroque Periods
3
CEM 245 Introduction to Electronic Media Production
3
TOTAL
17
TOTAL
16
SENIOR YEAR
First Semester
Second Semester
MTC 015 Commercial Music & Production Forum
0
MTC 015 Commercial Music & Production Forum
0
Ensemble
1
Ensemble
1
MMI 520 Audio Technology for Musicians
3
MTC 499 Senior Recital
1
MTC 403 Media Production Project I
2
MTC 404 Media Production Project II
1
MTC 511 Film Scoring I or
MSJ 509 Jazz Composition I
2
MMI 574 A & R Administration and Music Licensing or
MMI 530 Entrepreneurship for Musicians
3
Non-Music Elective
3
MTC 512 Film Scoring II or
MSJ 510 Jazz Composition II
2
Humanities Elective
3
Non-Music Elective
3
Natural World Elective
3
Musicology Elective
3
TOTAL
17
TOTAL
16
UM Home
UM Home Academic Bulletin Home askUM Calendar myUM Site Map