This text is exerpted from the CUA Announcements. Please refer to the Announcements for further information on academic policies and programs.

Master of Music Degree

COMPOSITION

Concert Music Emphasis

Entrance Requirements

In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to the music school, a student who desires to major in composition, concert music emphasis, must submit original compositions for evaluation. A student whose major for the undergraduate degree was something other than composition must show evidence of having completed the equivalent of the requirements of an undergraduate composition major. Any deficiencies must be made up by taking the necessary undergraduate courses or by passing proficiency examinations. All entering graduate students in the Master of Music degree program in composition must take the Theory Placement Examination. Details and dates are available in the music school office. In addition, they must take the Master of Music Composition Entrance Examination, which evaluates musicianship skills (sight singing, ear training, piano sight reading, score reading, figured bass realization and keyboard skills) and knowledge of music history. The composition division administers the second examination and can provide details regarding content and date. Both exams must be taken at the beginning of the first semester of matriculation in the degree program.

Students who require remediation as a result of these exams may be required to take remedial courses to satisfy these deficiencies as prerequisites to the master’s program. Remedial courses may be taken concurrently with courses in the master’s program. All students enrolled in applied composition instruction are required to submit samples of their work to a jury of the composition faculty for evaluation at the end of the semester.  

Graduation Requirement

As a thesis, the student must deposit a score of an extended work for orchestra or large instrumental ensemble.

Minor in Latin American Music

Requirements listed above apply, with the following exceptions:

1. Six semester hours of Latin American music electives replace the music history elective (three semester hours) and three of the six semester hours of music electives.

2. The final composition must be related to Latin American music.

Stage Music Emphasis 

Entrance Requirements

A student seeking admission to the Master of Music degree program in composition, stage music emphasis, must have earned a bachelor degree in music composition, or a bachelor degree in music that preferably includes a strong compositional component. The prospective student must also submit a representative portfolio of compositions for review by the composition committee. The prospective student’s portfolio should include at least some examples of concert works such as instrumental solo and chamber music and orchestral or wind ensemble music. Recordings (not MIDI realizations) of the portfolio compositions, if available, are strongly encouraged. All entering graduate students in the Master of Music degree program in composition must take the Theory Placement Examination. Details and dates are available in the music school office. In addition, they must take the Master of Music Composition Entrance Examination, which evaluates musicianship skills (sight singing, ear training, piano sight reading, score reading, figured bass realization and keyboard skills) and knowledge of music history. The composition division administers the second examination and can provide details regarding content and date. Both exams must be taken at the beginning of the first semester of matriculation in the degree program.

Students who require remediation as a result of these exams, or students whose baccalaureate programs exhibit significant curricular deficiencies in any of these areas, may be required to take remedial courses to satisfy these deficiencies as prerequisites to the master’s program.

Remedial courses may be taken concurrently with courses in the master’s program. All students enrolled in applied composition instruction are required to submit samples of their work to a jury of the composition faculty for evaluation at the end of the semester.  

Graduation Requirement

A public performance/production (MUS 940, 0 cr) featuring the student’s original music, in context, in one or more of the following genres:

• opera (workshop);

• musical (workshop);

• incidental music for a dramatic production;

• music for dance (ballet, modern, jazz, folk);

• performance art piece

A minimum of 30 minutes of fully composed music is required (improvised music is not included in this total).

More than one work may be necessary in order for this minimum time to be reached. The graduation recital is subject to the approval of the composition committee, based upon submission of the complete musical score (or, in the case of non-notated, electronic music, the complete edited recorded version of the music) at least 30 calendar days prior to the recital date. The composition committee must approve the graduation recital program in order for the student to receive credit. As far as possible, the music school will assist the student in assembling the requisite personnel and facilities for the graduation recital. However, it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to assemble and present the graduation recital.

Minor in Latin American Music

This degree program is not offered with a minor in Latin American music.