Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for MUS 240C Winter 2025


Course Number:
MUS 240C
Course Title:
Music Composition
Credit Hours:
2
Lecture Hours:
10
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
30

Course Description

Covers music composition with focus on 20th and 21st century compositional techniques and materials. Includes composition of chamber and concert works with the goal of compiling a portfolio of original works. Prerequisites: MUS 240B. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon successful completion students should be able to:

  • Utilize advanced contemporary music composition techniques to create advanced-level musical works.
  • Compose advanced-level musical works using one’s continually developing musical language
  • Foster the creative exchange of musical ideas through the use of advanced-level compositional skills.

Course Activities and Design

Score and part preparation and proofing.Completion of a work from conception to performance.Improvisation as means of generating of musical ideas.Analysis of masterworks in variety of genres and styles (esempii classici).Transcription and/or arranging of preexisting works.Balancing unity, variety and form.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Portfolio of professionally prepared original scores for a variety of instrumentalcombinations including voice(s).Reading sessions of original works by peers, faculty, and semi-professional orprofessional performers.One-on-one instructor/student conferences.Participation in written and oral peer review and evaluation.Written quantitative/qualitative examination.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Variation techniquesTonality, modality and atonalityIntervallic cell-based composition and serialism as alternative means ofmelodic/harmonic organizationBasic orchestration and idiomatic instrumental/vocal writingMelodic transformation and development techniquePolyphony – contrapuntal and imitative proceduresNon-tertian harmony and synthetic melodic materialsWriting for the voice - selecting and setting textIndeterminancy in performance and music compositionGraphic notation and scoresExtended instrumental and vocal technique