Music (BM) in Composition

This program is offered by the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts/Department of Music and is only available at the St. Louis main campus.

Program Description

The composition program at Webster focuses on contemporary concert music or songwriting. Students are also encouraged to explore many other musical styles and technologies such as jazz, electronic, computer and MIDI applications. Faculty composers work directly with composition majors. Numerous opportunities exist for the performance of students' works, including the Student Songwriter Showcase, and the Wet Ink project.

Students in this major complete the required music core, performance, composition and supportive courses, and complete one of the two concentrations.

The bachelor of music in composition conforms to the guidelines specified by the National Association of Schools of Music for accreditation. Webster University is a full member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

Learning Outcomes

Students with the bachelor music in composition will:

• Conceptualize, develop and complete original compositions for different media (acoustic instruments, electronic, voice, etc.) utilizing melodic, harmonic, rhythmic and textural techniques/resources gained from study and experimentation.
• Notate compositions clearly and accurately, utilizing music publishing software to produce professional quality scores and parts suitable for performance.
• Analyze and understand a musical composition in terms of structure and historical/cultural context.
• Demonstrate the acquisition of skills that enhance the compositional process, including conducting, instrumental or vocal performance, technological skills, and musicianship.

Degree Requirements

For information on the general requirements for a degree, see Baccalaureate Degree Requirements under the Academic Policies and Information section of this catalog.

• 90-93 required credit hours
• Applicable University Global Citizenship Program hours, with accommodations for the bachelor of music
• Electives

Global Citizenship Program for the Bachelor of Music

• GLBC 1200 Global Cornerstone Seminar
• 6 credit hours from courses designated ‘Roots of Cultures’ (One course with the MUSC prefix can fulfill GCP and major requirements simultaneously.)
• 3 credit hours from courses designated ‘Social Systems & Human Behavior’
• 3 credit hours from courses designated ‘Global Understanding’
• 3 credit hours from courses designated ‘Physical & Natural World’ or ‘Quantitative Literacy’
• KEYS 4XXX Global Keystone Seminar

NOTE: Except where specified otherwise, the above courses must not also satisfy major requirements. GCP skills requirements may be fulfilled with the courses above, courses in the major, or electives. 'Arts Appreciation' is satisfied in meeting the requirements for the major.

Required Courses

Core Music Courses (28 hours)

• MUSC 1010 Music Theory and Aural Skills I (4 hours)
• MUSC 1020 Music Theory II (3 hours)
• MUSC 1820  Aural Skills II (2 hours)
• A minimum of 6 credit hours chosen from the following:
  • MUSC 1370 Jazz Keyboard Theory I (3 hours)
  • MUSC 2050 Songwriting Theory (3 hours)
  • MUSC 3060 Topics in Music Analysis (2-3 hours)
  • MUSC 3065 Topics in Music Analysis (2-3 hours)
  • MUSC 4030 Eighteenth-Century Counterpoint (3 hours)
• MUSC 2060 Social and Cultural Approaches to Music (3 hours)
• MUSC 2070 Music in Western Culture (3 hours)
• A minimum of 4 credit hours chosen from the following:
  • MUSC 3160 Topics in Musicology (1-3 hours)
  • MUSC 3165 Topics in Musicology (1-3 hours)
  • MUSC 3170 Jazz History (3 hours)
  • MUSC 3520 History of Popular Styles (3 hours)
  • MUSC 4040 Music of the Twentieth Century (3 hours)
• MUSC 4370 Advanced Topics in Entrepreneurship (3 hours)
• MUSC 0200 Candidacy Examination (0 hours)
• MUSC 0500 Senior Overview (0 hours)

Composition and Performance Courses (23 hours)

• MUSC 0890 Recital Attendance (0 hours)
  six semesters required
• MUSC 0990 Music Seminar (0 hours)
  taken ever semester
• MUSC 2601, MUSC 2602, MUSC 2603, MUSC 2604, MUSC 2605 Applied Music (8 hours)
  four semesters
• MUSC 3001, MUSC 3002, MUSC 3003, MUSC 3004, MUSC 3005 Applied Music (4 hours)
  two semesters 
• MUSC 3010 Fundamentals of Composition (3 hours)
• MUSC 4010 Studio Composition (8 hours)
  four 16-week terms, 2 credits per term
• MUSC 0420 Capstone Project (0 hours)

Note: Composition majors are required to complete a capstone project, which includes public performance and/or presentation. Further instructions can be found in the Department of Music Handbook.

Major Ensemble (6 hours)

6 hours over 8 semesters, as approved by advisor, to be selected from:

• MUSC 4900 Webster University Chorale (1 hour per semester)
• MUSC 4910 Webster University Chamber Singers (1 hour per semester)
• MUSC 4920 Webster University Aurelia (1 hour per semester)
• MUSC 4940 Webster University Orchestra (1 hour per semester)
• MUSC 4950 Webster University Chamber Music Ensemble (1 hour per semester)
• MUSC 4955 Webster University Jazz Singers (1 hour per semester)
• MUSC 4960 Webster University Jazz Combos (1 hour per semester)
• MUSC 4970 Webster University Jazz Collective (1 hour per semester)
• MUSC 4980 Webster University Wind Ensemble (1 hour per semester)

*A maximum of 2 hours of MUSC 4950 Webster University Chamber Music Ensembles may count toward the Major Ensemble requirement.

Supportive Courses (22-25 hours)

• MUSC 1080 1085 Class Piano I, II (4 hours) (may be waived on the basis of placement exam results)
• MUSC 1500 Music Software Applications: Notation (1 hour)
  (may be waived on the basis of portfolio assessment results)
• MUSC 2001, MUSC 2002, MUSC 2003, MUSC 2004, MUSC 2005, MUSC 2501, MUSC 2502, MUSC 2503, MUSC 2504, MUSC 2505 Applied Music: Secondary Instrument (two semesters required; secondary instrument as approved by advisor) (2 hours)
• MUSC 2050 Songwriting Theory (3 hours)
  or MUSC 4030 Eighteenth-Century Counterpoint (3 hours)
  (cannot be used for core music course requirement).
• AUDI 1110 Audio Technology Lecture (3 hours)
• AUDI 1131 Digital Audio Workstation (3 hours)
• 6-9 hours of additional AUDI coursework

Students choose a concentration in concert music or songwriting:

Concentration in Concert Music (11 hours)

• MUSC 3020 Techniques of the Contemporary Composer (3 hours)
• MUSC 3070 Orchestration I (3 hours)
• MUSC 3410 Conducting I (3 hours)
• MUSC 2001, MUSC 2002, MUSC 2003, MUSC 2004, MUSC 2005, MUSC 2501, MUSC 2502, MUSC 2503, MUSC 2504, MUSC 2505 Applied Music: Secondary Instrument (two semesters required; secondary instrument as approved by advisor) (2 hours) .

Concentration in Songwriting (11 hours)

• MUSC 3510 Arranging for Popular Styles (3 hours)
• MUSC 3520 History of Popular Styles (3 hours)
  cannot be used for core music course requirement
• MUSC 3530 Lyric Writing (3 hours)
• MUSC 4010 Studio Composition (2 hours)

Audition Requirements

To be admitted as an undergraduate music major, applicants must complete an audition/interview with the music faculty and complete various diagnostic examinations. Auditions are arranged through the Office of Undergraduate Admission. Specific information on the audition requirements for each music degree program is available from the department’s website. Priority consideration for talent scholarships is given to students who complete all admission requirements before March 1 of the application year.