Degree Requirements

Composition

MM • Composition

Overview

The two-year Master of Music (M.M.) degree in Composition trains students to create music and convey their musical ideas through a variety of performance media. Students are expected to exhibit a thorough knowledge of the theoretical and historical basis of music and to develop strong pedagogical skills. A comprehensive general curriculum and optional concentrations in various areas of specialization help to prepare students for advanced careers as composers and teachers.

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Contacts
Degree Requirements
Advising & Registration
Graduation Timeline
Important Links

Contacts

Administrative Contacts

Graduate Advisor | Director of Graduate Studies

Hannah Lewis

Scholarships & Assistantships

Lynda Oh

Graduate Admissions Coordinator

Daniel Seriff

HR Coordinator

Theresa Orendain

Graduate Coordinator

Marina Martinez

Operations & Scheduling

Page Stephens

Division Contacts

Division Head, Theory & Composition

Marianne Wheeldon

Area Head, Composition

Yevgeniy Sharlat

Area Counselor, Composition

Donald Grantham

Faculty

Donald Grantham

Professor of Composition
Sam Lipman

Lecturer in Film Scoring
Russell Podgorsek

Lecturer in Composition
Yevgeniy Sharlat

Associate Professor of Composition
Januibe Tejera De Miranda

Director, Experimental & Electronic Music Studios
Omar Thomas

Assistant Professor of Composition

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Degree Requirements

The M.M. in Composition requires 31 hours of registered coursework, a comprehensive examination, and a recital.

Major Coursework

Major Coursework for the M.M. in Composition
Hours	Course Number	Course Title/Description
6	MUS 388C	Composition (2 semesters)
3	MUS 388 T	Analytical Techniques
3	MUS 388	Other than Composition
6	MUS 698A and MUS 698B	Thesis and Recital

The master’s composition recital must be approximately 30 minutes in length, must consist of works approved by the student’s composition instructor, and must be given no later than the student’s last semester in residence. Find recital scheduling procedures on the Butler School Operations website.

A comprehensive examination is required of all master’s degree candidates, usually in the final semester.

Supporting Work

Supporting Coursework for the M.M. in Composition
Hours	Course Number	Course Title/Description
3	MUS 387L or Mus 380	Advanced Studies in Music Literature Advanced Studies in the History and Culture of Music
2	ENS 18x	Problems in Performance Practice (2 semesters)
8-9		Semester hours chosen from any of the following areas: conducting, electronic/computer music, jazz, musicology/ethnomusicology, Music & Human Learning, music theory, or performance. The student has the option of declaring one of these areas as a concentration, in which case at least eight hours must be taken in that area. In order to pursue this option, the student must propose a list of courses within the area of concentration to the Theory/Composition faculty for approval.

Juries

At the end of each semester, all composition majors except those students enrolled in thesis or dissertation courses or who have given a degree recital during the semester must appear before a jury of the composition faculty. The jury session will last approximately 15 minutes during which the student will present their work and answer any questions the jury may ask. The jury will assign the grade for the semester’s work. The instructor will assign the course grade.

Factors the jury considers when determining the final grade include: the quality and quantity of the music written during the semester, the difficulty of the medium composed for, the number of performances of original music during the semester, growth and improvement, the quality and quantity of work relative to other students’ work at the same level, and participation in the life of the division (attendance at composition forums, CLUTCH concerts, student degree recitals, New Music Ensemble concerts, Electronic & Experimental Music Studio concerts, etc).

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Advising & Registration

For information about course registration, deadlines, adding and dropping courses and other policies, visit the Graduate School Academic & Registration Policies webpage.

Students who wish to take an independent study course need to fill out a Consent Form. Once the faculty member and Graduate Coordinator have approved your request, the bar to register for the course will be lifted.

To be eligible for fellowships, scholarships and assistantships, graduate students are required to be enrolled full-time (at least 9 hours).

All international students are also required to be enrolled full-time during each long semester, regardless of whether they receive funding from the Butler School of Music.

View a List of Upcoming Courses offered by Musicology & Ethnomusicology

Transferring Coursework

A new master’s student may petition to transfer up to six credits of graduate level coursework completed at another institution, subject to approval by both the Butler School of Music Graduate Studies Committee chair and the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Detailed transfer regulations and forms for master’s students are maintained by the Graduate School.

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Graduation Timeline

Semester-by-Semester Overview

Prior to 1st semester

All students must take the diagnostic examinations in music history and music theory. Additional diagnostic exams are administered for students in composition, voice, jazz and music theory.

Semester 3

Registration for the following if required – MUS 698RA, 698A.
M.M. Piano Performance students take their group comprehensive exam.
With the approval of their studio teacher, some performance area students may perform their thesis recital.

Semester 4

Students must submit a completed M.M. degree check form to verify their completion of coursework.
Students must apply to graduate – check graduate school website for deadline.
Registration for the following if required – MUS 698RB, 698B, 398M.
M.M. String students take their group comprehensive exam.
All other students take individual comprehensive exams as arranged by their studio teacher (for performance area students) or their supervising professor (for academic area students).
Most performance area students perform their thesis recital.
M.M. Music & Human Learning – Non-Thesis Track complete their master’s project.
M.M. Music Theory, M.M. Music & Human Learning – Thesis Track and M.M. Composition students complete their master’s thesis or master’s report and submit it to the Graduate School.
M.M. Ethnomusicology and M.M. Musicology students complete their master’s report and submit it to the Graduate School.