MUSI 361 - Composition

This course is designed to provide students with the fundamental tools for composing expressive
and cohesive concert music. Through a combination of lectures, individual lessons, seminars,
instrumental workshops, group projects, reading sessions, guest lectures, and a final recital,
students will engage with diverse teaching formats that foster both technical mastery and creative
exploration. The curriculum emphasizes the analysis and application of compositional
techniques, spanning from traditional to contemporary styles. Students will be encouraged to
conduct independent research and explore their own compositions, working with both acoustic
and electronic idioms. The course embraces a wide array of musical techniques, instruments,
styles, and genres based on Eastern and Western practices and traditions, allowing students to
develop a broad understanding of music’s diverse possibilities. Furthermore, students will have
opportunities to engage with the global music community through guest lectures, reading
sessions, and masterclasses. These experiences enrich the learning process and prepare students
to contribute to the wider musical landscape.

By the end of the course, students will have developed the skills necessary to transform their
musical ideas into complete, professionally notated works and will have enriched their portfolios
with polished compositions and recorded performances. Prerequisite(s): MUSI 113 or permission of the instructor. Once a year. (4 Credits)