Composition develops each student's technical knowledge and craft, and challenges and extends their artistic understanding and creativity. It promotes the development of the student's understanding of a range of styles, genres, approaches and idioms. 

The student will analyse theories, structures, methods, approaches and techniques in a range of twentieth century styles and in a range of instrumental and vocal repertoire. This allows systematic development of understanding and application of knowledge in the development of their own musical works. The study of instrumentation and orchestration, with reference to scores from a range of historical periods, informs the techniques required for a composer to function in the complexities of the profession. The composition courses also include a variety of contexts for the demonstration of compositional craft: film scoring, arranging, the use of music technology in composition, song writing, and others.

Consideration of the history of ideas as expressed in literature, the visual and the performing arts, both within European and other traditions, is encouraged to further the students' range of conceptual and aesthetic understanding.

At the end of this course, you should be able to:

1. Compose and present their works professionally utilising correct notation, instrumentation and orchestration techniques.
2. Analyse and evaluate works both from the recent repertoire and historical 20th centry masterworks
3. Describe relevant issues in aesthetic and technical terms
4. Produce work according to deadlines that demonstrates a growing professionalism
5. Demonstrate an emerging compositional voice

• Folio of  1-3 compositions (70%)  [Learning Outcomes 1,2,4,5]
• Reflective journal or Research project c. 1500 words (30%), [Learning Outcomes 2,3].

Total contact time 3 hours per week, including individual/small group tuition (1 hour) and composition seminar (2 hours).

Departmental consent

Prerequisite:  MUSM3014

Incompatibility:  MUSM3218