Composition Faculty
Dr. Dave Morgan
Bliss Hall 3041
Phone: 330.941.1930
E-mail: dsmorgan@ysu.edu
Composition
The Bachelor of Music (B.M.) in Composition provides exceptional individualized applied studio instruction, large and chamber ensemble performance experiences as both composers and performers, and supportive courses in piano and music theory and history. In addition, the program provides multiple avenues for students to diversify their studies with elective classes and professional skills that are relevant to their areas of interest. The B.M. focuses on the professional development and unique career goals of each student.
B.M. in Composition students work closely with faculty to develop skills they will use throughout their professional careers and that support their development as artists who communicate with their audiences with authenticity. They have the opportunity to take classes in music technology, music industry, and recording to ensure that they are prepared for the variety of media in which contemporary composers work (e.g., concert stage, film, musical theatre, video games, advertising, internet, arranging, orchestration). They also have numerous chances to have their music performed, compose for marquee ensembles (e.g., Jazz Ensemble and Combos, Contemporary and Pop Ensembles, Dana Chorale, Wind Ensemble), and premiere their works in venues throughout the region.
Students pursuing the B.M. in Composition work closely with a world-class faculty of performers, composers, and scholars who hold advanced degrees from some of the world’s finest institutions, including Juilliard, Cincinnati Conservatory, Eastman, Cleveland Institute of Music, New England Conservatory, University of Southern California, Florida State University, and University of Texas. Our faculty work with students to support their unique aspirations through the development of strategic experiences, thus enabling them to pursue a variety of professional opportunities in multiple contexts.
The B.M. in Composition prepares students to develop careers in a myriad of fields. Our alumni are Grammy®Award winning composers, arrangers, and audio engineers and may be found recording in Hollywood and Nashville studios; touring with diverse acts; and working as academic faculty. Our degree helps students define future professional goals and equips them with exceptional skills for a successful career.
Dana School of Music Contact Information
To learn more about our degree programs, scholarships, performances, faculty, and students, contact the Dana School of Music directly at 330-941-3635. To schedule a personalized campus visit, contact the Cliffe College of Creative Arts Program Coordinator of Admissions and Recruitment at 330-941-2346 or sawaltman@ysu.edu. We would love to hear about your interests, show you our school, and become an important part of your future.
COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
---|---|---|
FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT - STUDENT SUCCESS | ||
YSU 1500 | Success Seminar | 1-2 |
or SS 1500 | Strong Start Success Seminar | |
or HONR 1500 | Intro to Honors | |
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS | ||
ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3-4 |
or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 with Support | |
ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
Any Gen Ed Math (Recommended MATH 2623) | 3 | |
Arts and Humanities (2 courses) | ||
Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with lab) | 7 | |
Social Science (2 courses) | 6 | |
Social and Personal Awareness (need 1 additional course) | 3 | |
One course satisfied by 3 SH of MUHL 3771, which is required in the major. | ||
CORE MUSIC REQUIREMENTS | ||
Music Theory (22-24 hours). (Music Theory and Aural Theory of the same level must be taken concurrently.) | ||
MUTC 1531 | Music Theory 1 | 2-3 |
or MUTC 1531N | Music Theory 1 Intensive | |
Students who score below 80% on the Theory Placement Exam will substitute MUTC 1531N for MUTC 1531 | ||
MUTC 1541 | Aural Theory 1 | 2 |
MUTC 1532 | Music Theory 2 | 2-3 |
or MUTC 1532N | Music Theory 2 Intensive | |
Students who score below 80% on the Theory Placement Exam will substitute MUTC 1532N for MUTC 1532 | ||
MUTC 1542 | Aural Theory 2 | 2 |
MUTC 2631 | Music Theory 3 | 2 |
MUTC 2641 | Aural Theory 3 | 2 |
MUTC 2632 | Music Theory 4 | 2 |
MUTC 2642 | Aural Theory 4 | 2 |
Upper Division MUTC courses, Choose two from the following: | 6 | |
Orchestration and Arranging | ||
Jazz Arranging 1 | ||
Analytical Techniques | ||
Theory Seminar | ||
Instrumentation | ||
Keyboard Musicianship | ||
MUAC 1581 | Class Piano 1 | 1 |
Keyboard majors will substitute MUAC 2691 | ||
MUAC 1582 | Class Piano 2 | 1 |
Keyboard majors will substitute MUAC 2692 | ||
MUAC 2681 | Class Piano 3 | 1 |
MUAC 2682 | Class Piano 4 | 1 |
Music History and Literature (12 hours) | ||
MUHL 3771 | Music History and Literature 1 | 3 |
MUHL 3772 | Music History and Literature 2 | 3 |
MUHL 3773 | Music History and Literature 3 | 3 |
MUHL 3774 | Music History and Literature 4 | 3 |
Conducting (3 hours) | ||
MUCO 3715 | Choral and Instrumental Conducting | 3 |
Applied Lessons (Should be taken concurrently with an ensemble) | ||
Applied Lesson 1501 | 2 | |
Applied Lesson 1502 | 2 | |
Applied Lesson 2601 | 2 | |
Applied Lesson 2602 | 2 | |
Applied Lesson 3703 | 3 | |
Applied Lesson 3704 (with Junior Recital) | 3 | |
ENSEMBLES (6 hours) | ||
Large Ensemble: Select from the following (4 hours) | 4 | |
Chamber Ensemble: Select two from the following (2 hours) | 2 | |
COMPOSITION EMPHASIS (28 hours) | ||
Composition Studio (17 hours) | ||
MCMP 1501 | Composition | 2 |
MCMP 1502 | Composition | 2 |
MCMP 2601 | Composition | 2 |
MCMP 2602 | Composition | 2 |
MCMP 3703 | Composition | 3 |
MCMP 3704 | Composition | 3 |
MCMP 4803 | Composition ( with Senior Recital) | 3 |
Music Recording/Technology (6 hours) | ||
MUIN 1561 | Music Recording Workshop | 4 |
MUIN 3762 | Digital Sound Production | 2 |
Methods Courses - Select from the Following (5 hours): | 5 | |
MUAC 3732 Brass Methods | ||
MUAC 3733 Woodwind Methods | ||
MUAC 3734 String Methods | ||
MUAC 3735 Jazz Methods | ||
MUAC 3755 Guitar Methods | ||
MUAC 3759 Voice Class | ||
MUAC 3763 Percussion Methods | ||
Electives to Meet 120 hours | 2 | |
Total Semester Hours | 120-124 |
- Music students must attend 36 convocations as a graduation requirement.
- Music students must attend 30 Dana School of Music concerts or recitals.
- Applied lesson must be taken concurrently with an ensemble each semester.
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | S.H. | |
ENGL 1550 or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 or Writing 1 with Support | 3-4 |
YSU 1500 | Success Seminar or Strong Start Success Seminar or Intro to Honors | 1-2 |
MUTC 1531 or MUTC 1531N | Music Theory 1 or Music Theory 1 Intensive | 2-3 |
Students who score below 80% on the Theory Placement Exam will substitute MUTC 1531N for MUTC 1531 | ||
MUTC 1541 | Aural Theory 1 | 2 |
MUAC 1581 | Class Piano 1 | 1 |
Keyboard Majors will substitute MUAC 2691 | ||
Applied Lesson 1501 | 2 | |
MUEN 00XX | 1 | |
MCMP 1501 | Composition | 2 |
Semester Hours | 14-17 | |
Spring | ||
ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
General Education Elective - Natural Science | 3 | |
MUTC 1532 or MUTC 1532N | Music Theory 2 or Music Theory 2 Intensive | 2-3 |
Students who score below 80% on the Theory Placement Exam will substitute MUTC 1532N for MUTC 1532. | ||
MUTC 1542 | Aural Theory 2 | 2 |
MUAC 1582 | Class Piano 2 | 1 |
Keyboard majors will substitute MUAC 2692 | ||
Applied Lesson 1502 | 2 | |
MUEN 00XX | 1 | |
MCMP 1502 | Composition | 2 |
Semester Hours | 16-17 | |
Year 2 | ||
Fall | ||
CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
MUTC 2631 & MUTC 2641 | Music Theory 3 and Aural Theory 3 | 4 |
Any Gen Ed Math | 3 | |
MUAC 2681 | Class Piano 3 | 1 |
Applied Lesson 2601 | 2 | |
MUEN 00XX | 1 | |
MCMP 2601 | Composition | 2 |
Semester Hours | 16 | |
Spring | ||
MUTC 2632 & MUTC 2642 | Music Theory 4 and Aural Theory 4 | 4 |
MUAC 2682 | Class Piano 4 | 1 |
Applied Lesson 2602 | 2 | |
MUEN 00XX | 1 | |
MCMP 2602 | Composition | 2 |
MUAC 37xx (Methods Elective) | 1 | |
MUAC 37xx (Methods Elective) | 1 | |
MUIN 1561 | Music Recording Workshop | 4 |
Semester Hours | 16 | |
Year 3 | ||
Fall | ||
MUHL 3771 | Music History and Literature 1 | 3 |
Upper Division MUTC Course (choose from MUTC 3712, MUTC 3750, MUTC 5833, or MUTC 5840) | 3 | |
Applied Lesson 3703 | 3 | |
MUEN 00XX | 1 | |
MCMP 3703 | Composition | 3 |
MUIN 3762 | Digital Sound Production | 2 |
MUAC 37xx (Methods Elective) | 1 | |
Semester Hours | 16 | |
Spring | ||
MUHL 3772 | Music History and Literature 2 | 3 |
Applied Lesson 3704 (with Junior Recital) | 3 | |
MUEN 00XX | 1 | |
MCMP 3704 | Composition | 3 |
MUCO 3715 | Choral and Instrumental Conducting | 3 |
MUAC 37xx (Methods Elective) | 1 | |
Semester Hours | 14 | |
Year 4 | ||
Fall | ||
General Education Elective - Social Science | 3 | |
General Education Elective - Social/Personal Awareness | 3 | |
MUHL 3773 | Music History and Literature 3 | 3 |
MCMP 4803 | Composition (With Senior Recital) | 3 |
MUAC 37xx (Methods Elective) | 1 | |
Electives | 2 | |
Semester Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
MUHL 3774 | Music History and Literature 4 | 3 |
Upper Division MUTC Course (choose from MUTC 3710, MUTC 5833, or MUTC 5840) | 3 | |
General Education Elective - Social Science | 3 | |
General Education Elective - Natural Science + Lab | 4 | |
Semester Hours | 13 | |
Total Semester Hours | 120-124 |
- Music students must attend 36 convocations as a graduation requirement.
- Music students must attend 30 Dana School of Music concerts or recitals.
- Applied lesson must be taken concurrently with an ensemble each semester.
Learning Outcomes
The student learning outcomes for the major in music are as follows:
- Students will perform a public recital in their applied area.
- Students will analyze music, discriminate pitch, harmony, and rhythm and perform harmonic progressions at the piano.
- Students will demonstrate critical thinking about the various historical periods, cultural contexts, and social forces that influence musical activity.
- Students will demonstrate basic keyboard proficiency including scales, arpeggios, harmonization, repertoire, transpositions, and score reading.
- Students will compose music in a variety of genres.