Master of Music in Composition
This concentration is designed for students who wish to pursue advanced studies in music composition. Students in this program can choose to do a thesis, a lecture-recital, or multimedia presentation about their final composition. Graduates of this program are qualified to pursue careers as composers, to become teachers of music composition-related subjects on the college level and to pursue doctoral study in music composition.
Entrance Requirements
Students applying for graduate study in composition theory should:
- Submit two or more (preferably three) compositions with recordings (midi files acceptable) representative of your work. Include pieces that show your ability to write for diverse instrumentations.
- Interview with members of the composition faculty.
No performance audition is required.
If you are applying for a graduate assistantship, you must pass the Ear Training Diagnostic Exam. This exam is given on the computer and must be taken at UT. The test usually takes at least 2 hours; some students have needed considerably more time. The test consists of melodic and harmonic dictation examples. The exam can be taken on the audition/interview day or another day before March 15.
In order to be considered for a theory/composition GTA position, you must set up an interview.
- Interview: We will ask you some questions about your background, your interest in teaching aural skills, your experience as well as your interest in our program and your area of research/composition.
- Discuss a mock teaching demonstration: We will discuss your already submitted (deadline December 15) approximately 10-minute teaching demonstration video on melodic dictation for a beginning aural skills class. You can choose a melodic dictation example. Do not feel that you have to finish the whole example. If you can get a friend or two to sit in as mock students in the video this might help but it is not required. We encourage you to include some singing in the teaching. Use any technology and techniques you like; we appreciate any creative teaching ideas with technology.
Course Outline
Diagnostic examinations in music theory and musicology must be taken by all entering students before registering for courses. If deficiencies are determined, specific courses may be recommended or required.
| Description | Course Name | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Studies in Research Methods and Music Scholarship | MUSC 510 | 3 |
| Music Academic Electives chosen from: | MUCO, MUTH, or MUTC 500-level (excluding MUCO 593) | 6 |
| Composition | MUPF 594 and 595 | 6 |
| *Thesis | MUSC 500 | 6 |
| **Special Topics in Performance | MUSC 521 | 3 |
| **Graduate Recital | MUSC 501 | 2 |
| ***Music Electives | 4 (project track) / 3 (thesis track) | |
| Choose One | ||
| Analytical Techniques | MUTH 520 | 3 |
| Analytical Techniques of Recent Music | MUTH 521 | 3 |
| Choose One | ||
| Music Theory Pedagogy: Written | MUTH 530 | 3 |
| Music Theory Pedagogy: Aural | MUTH 531 | 3 |
| Theory or Technology Electives – 3 hours chosen from: | ||
| Analytical Techniques | MUTH 520 | 3 |
| Analytical Techniques of Recent Music | MUTH 521 | 3 |
| Music Theory Pedagogy: Written | MUTH 530 | 3 |
| Music Theory Pedagogy: Aural | MUTH 531 | 3 |
| Special Topics in Music Theory | MUTH 551 | 3 |
| Scoring for Film and Media | MUTC 520 | 3 |
| Virtual Audio Modeling | MUTC 530 | 3 |
| ****Computer Music Transcription | MUTC 540 | 3 |
| Computer Projects | MUTC 550 | 3 |
| Independent Study in Music Technology | MUTC 593 | 3 |
| Total | 33 (for both project and thesis tracks) |
*Thesis track only
**Project track only
***A maximum of 2 ensemble hours may be counted as music electives.
****Can be taken for graduate credit only if not already taken at the bachelors level and if the student does not already have a proficiency in a notation program.
Final Requirements
- Comprehensive written and oral examinations.
- Capstone Project chosen from the following options:
- Thesis option and Thesis defense.
- Project option with a lecture-recital or multimedia presentation of the capstone.
Remember, consult the University Graduate School’s website for deadline dates and other important information.