Music Composition

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If your passion lies in creating new music, mastering writing techniques and discovering your unique compositional voice, the Music Composition major at Bradley University can prepare you to pursue these endeavors and embark on a successful career. Students will gain experience with digital audio workstations and notation software; master engraving, formatting, and score creation for new works; and create a professional portfolio of diverse musical compositions.

Experiential Learning

Students in this program will be able to:

Premiere compositions every semester at the New Music Concert.
Work with university large ensembles including the Bradley Chorale, Symphonic Winds, Bradley Symphony Orchestra, and Bradley Jazz Ensemble to read, record, and perform new compositions.
Develop senior composition recitals featuring works by faculty and fellow students.
Work with nationally known guest composers.
Attend conferences, concerts, lectures, and master classes for professional networking.
Collaborate with interactive media and animation students to compose music for projects.

Program Details

Required Courses – 35 hrs.

Applied Music (20 hrs.)
APL 180: Composition (4 hrs.)
APL 380: Composition (4 hrs.)
MUS 305: Counterpoint (2 hrs.) or MUS 319: Composition (one taken in core) (2 hrs.)
MUS 401: Orchestration (2 hrs.)
MUS 405: Theories of Atonal Music (3 hrs.)

Total Hours Required for Concentration: 35

Total Hours Required for Major: 79

Career Opportunities

Our graduates have gone on to begin exciting composition careers writing for large ensembles, chamber ensembles, and solo instrumentalists. Others have composed music for educational ensembles including bands, orchestras, choirs, and marching bands.

Minors

The 21-credit Jazz Studies Minor is open to all students, without audition. It will strengthen your understanding and performance of jazz through ensemble participation, music theory, jazz improvisation, jazz composition and arranging, and American music history.

This minor is easily paired with majors across campus.

The music minor, open to all students by audition, strengthens your understanding and performance of music through individual vocal or instrumental lessons in the area you select and courses in theory, history, keyboard skills, and ear-training.

You’ll also participate in one of the music department’s 15 ensembles. Designed for personal growth or career preparation, the minor can easily be paired with majors from across the university.

The 18-credit hour music industry minor is open to any student, regardless of major, with no audition requirement. You’ll be immersed in courses representing all facets of the music industry.

Electives allow you to focus on specific disciplines or you may complete the minor as part of the Hollywood Semester program.

This 20-hour minor, open to all students, includes courses in Acting, Piano, Music Theory, and Ear Training/Sight Singing. Acting the Song and History of American Musical Theatre. You’ll be involved in Theatre Arts productions through our Practicum program, and you’ll work closely with a Theatre Arts advisor, to keep you on track.

This minor pairs well with majors in Music, Theatre Arts, communication, TV arts, creative writing, and other majors within the fine arts, or the liberal arts and sciences.