Master of Music in Composition

Composition audition requirements:

The graduate program in composition assumes reasonable compositional attainment and experience as a prerequisite for admission.   Applicants are expected to have a Bachelor's degree in composition, or the equivalent, and to submit mature works for various media for approval by the composition faculty.  These should be in the Admissions Office by December 15.

Entrance/Placement Examinations:

Applicants must demonstrate good musicianship, solid academic skills, and substantive musical knowledge through performance and written examinations.  All entering students take placement examinations at the time of their auditions.

M. M Composition Majors

The Master of Music degree in Composition normally requires a minimum of two years to complete. Coursework in the master's program will be chosen with the advice and approval of the Composition Department, in keeping with the candidate's background and special interests, to ensure a solid and comprehensive training. Skill in the utilization of various chamber and choral resources is emphasized, as is composition for orchestra in larger forms. The study of computer music and orchestration must be included in the curriculum, unless previous experience in these areas has been documented.

Composition students have numerous opportunities to hear their works performed, in recitals scheduled by the Composition Department or by individual teachers or students, in readings by the Peabody Orchestra, the Opera Workshop, and other Peabody ensembles, and through personal contact with the many excellent performers at Peabody. Many of these are recorded for later listening and study.

M.M Curriculum-Composition


Major (minimum semester hours)-------------------
 12
   
180.601-602
 Instruction
8
310.845-846
 Composition Seminar
2
310.691
 Composition Portfolio
2
Core Coursework-------------------------------------
 14
<610.651>
 Music Bibliography
2
Musicology Seminar
6
Music Theory
6
Ensemble---------------------------------------------
 4
 
<910.811-812>
 Chorus
4
Electives----------------------------------------------
 6
36

<Music Bibliography>-Bibliography must be completed in the first year of study, with the exception of students placed in English As A Second Language Level I, who may defer Bibliography to their second year in the program.

<Chorus>-Qualified instrumentalists may audition for placement in other large ensembles.

Portfolios

All MM/DMA graduating students are required to submit a portfolio of compositions to the composition faculty for approval. The deadline for submitting the portfolio is March 1, 2007. This is one month before the Academic Affairs Office’s deadline (April 1, 2007), which allows a month for the faculty to request and approve any modifications.