Skip to main content
Belmont University Undergraduate Catalog 2016-17

Major in Composition

The Composition Major builds on a strong foundation of music theory and gives extensive training in the creation of music in a wide variety of styles. This major is designed for students who wish to pursue graduate study in composition with the ultimate aim of university teaching and/or professional composition.

Major in Composition Hours
General Education Core Requirements
43-44
Bachelor of Music (B.M.) 
Music Core 37
Common Music Core   33  
Specific Music Core   4  
MUK 1110, Introduction to Digital Musicianship 1
MUT 3310, Form and Analysis 3
Major Area 45
MA_ 1210,1220, 2210, 2220, 3210, 3220, 4110, 4120 (1)
Applied Principal (8 Semesters Required)
  14  
Support Courses   3  
a) Voice
MAA 1060, 2050, Diction & Song Literature I and II 2
MAA 3050, Opera & Oratorio Lit. & Vocal Pedagogy 1
b) Piano
MAB 2050, 2060, Piano Literature I and II 2
MAB 3050, Piano Pedagogy 1
c) Organ
MAC 2050, 2060, Organ Literature I and II 2
MAC 3050, Service Playing 1
d) Instrumental
MAI 2050, 2060, Technique & Literature of the Major Instrument I and II 2
MAI 3050, Instrumental Pedagogy 1
e) Guitar
MAD 2050, 2060, Classical Guitar Literature I and II 2
MAD 3050, Classical Guitar Pedagogy 1
Additional Required Coursework
MA_ 3070, Seminar
(Required every semester enrolled in Applied Principal,
minimum of 8 semesters)
0
MUG 2010, Piano Proficiency Examination 0
MUG 2020, Sophomore Technical 0
MA_ 3000, 25-minute recital 0
MA__ 1110,1120, 2110, 2120, Applied Secondary (2)(3)
(If piano is not the principal, a total of 7 semesters of piano is required.)
4
MAK 1110,1120, 2110, Private Composition 3
MAK 2220, 3210, 3220, 4210, Private Composition 8
MAK 3070, Composition Seminar (7 semesters required) 0
MUT 4360, Counterpoint 3
MUT 4380, Topics in Advanced Analysis 3
MUT 3320, Orchestration 3
MUC 2180, Computer Assisted Music Notation 3
MUC 2210, Music Technology I 3
Free Electives (with 43-hour General Education Core) (3) 7
Degree Total 132


1 No more than 14 hours of Applied Principal will count toward degree requirements.

2 Secondary applied study must be continued each semester until proficiency is passed. Piano is the required secondary for all principals except for keyboard. For keyboard principals, secondary area must be 4 semesters of classical study in the same instrument or voice.

3 Electives are reduced to 4 hours for non-keyboard principals.