Music B.M. – Composition Emphasis
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Contact: Paul Elwood, Ph.D., Coordinator, Composition and Music Theory
Location: Frasier Hall 108
Telephone: 970.351.2993
Fax: 970.351.1923
Website: www.arts.unco.edu/music
Advising Information:
Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.
Assigned advisor is available through the Ursa login; ursa.unco.edu; under Student tab Academic Profile channel and is term specific. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.
The program consists of two parts:
- Liberal Arts Core (LAC) Credits
- Required Major Credits
Program Description:
The Bachelor of Music degree is the initial professional degree in music. Its primary emphasis is on development of the skills, concepts and sensitivity essential to the professional life of a musician. It also prepares students for advanced study in graduate school.
Program Admission Requirements:
- Students seeking admission to this program must audition and be accepted by an applied area. In addition, they must submit copies of their written compositions for evaluation by their theory/ composition faculty.
- Students are admitted as undergraduate majors to the composition program only after an audition, interview and thorough assessment of a portfolio of their compositions by the faculty of the theory/composition program.
- Students seeking this major must demonstrate adequate keyboard skills as well as advanced skills in musical analysis and composition. Composition majors at the undergraduate level must have either keyboard, vocal or instrumental performance competence equivalent to that expected of a Bachelor of Arts student.
Program Requirements:
- MUS 100 Recitals, Concerts and Productions must be taken each semester in residence.
- Students must take Individual Performance and Major Musical Organizations during each semester in residence. See “Major Musical Organizations”.
- A half Junior Recital and full Senior Recital are required for all emphasis.
- Four semesters of piano are required. Levels are to be determined by advisement.
- Composition emphasis students must be enrolled in composition lessons each semester in residence.
Degree Requirements — 120 Credits
Degree Requirements
1. Required Specified LAC — 6 credits
LAC area 3.a. — Arts
LAC — Electives
Remaining LAC — 34 credits
See “Liberal Arts Core”.
2. Required Major — 70 credits
Take all of the following courses:
MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
MUS 113 | Music Theory I | 2 |
MUS 114 | Aural Skills and Sight Singing I | 2 |
MUS 115 | Music Theory II | 2 |
MUS 116 | Aural Skills and Sight Singing II | 2 |
MUS 143 | Musical Styles and Context | 3 |
MUS 209 | Introduction to Music Technology | 2 |
MUS 213 | Music Theory III | 2 |
MUS 214 | Aural Skills and Sight Singing III | 1 |
MUS 215 | Music Theory IV | 2 |
MUS 216 | Aural Skills and Sight Singing IV | 1 |
MUS 277 | Individual Instruction in Composition | 2-4 |
MUS 301 | 18th Century Counterpoint | 3 |
MUS 302 | Form and Analysis | 3 |
MUS 303 | Instrumentation | 2 |
MUS 313 | Digital Composition | 2 |
MUS 319 | Instrumental Techniques and Conducting | 1 |
MUS 323 | Choral Techniques and Conducting | 2 |
MUS 403 | Acoustics of Music | 2 |
MUS 477 | Individual Instruction in Composition | 2-4 |
| Major Musical Organization | 8 |
| Individual Performance (a minimum of six semesters) | 12 |
Choose one of the following music technology or music business courses:
Choose eight hours of electives:
For students whose primary instrument is not piano, select at least four hours from the following:
MUS 160 | Beginning Class Piano I | 1 |
MUS 161 | Beginning Class Piano II | 1 |
MUS 260 | Intermediate Class Piano I | 1 |
MUS 261 | Intermediate Class Piano II | 1 |
MUS 271 | Individual Performance in Piano | 2-4 |
MUS 471 | Individual Performance in Piano | 2-4 |
And choose four hours of Music major electives selected in consultation with your advisor.
For students whose primary instrument is piano, choose eight hours of Music major electives selected in consultation with your advisor.
NOTE: Each student must demonstrate proficiency in functional piano. Each entering student must schedule a conference/audition with the piano faculty to determine proficiency level and recommendations for further study, if any. Composition students must pass a formal piano proficiency exam.