Program: Composition (M.M.) - Shenandoah University

Apr 07, 2025

2022-2023 Graduate Catalog

Jonathan Newman, Associate Professor of Music
Ruebush Hall, Room 139, (540) 665-4630, jnewman2@su.edu

The Master of Music in Composition curriculum is designed to enhance the skills of the composer of serious art music, and to prepare students for professional work in composition, or for continued graduate study. The student’s creative skills are guided and developed through intense study in, and the practical application of, 20th and 21st Century art music. The curriculum does not include significant study of, or work in popular idioms or jazz. In addition to academic degree requirements and study designed to advance skills in the presentation of new music in professional and competitive venues, composition masters students complete a large-scale culminating project in their final year and fulfill an oral examination and defense of project material.

Program Outcomes

Students completing the Master of Music in Composition will be able to:

design, develop and complete collaborative projects appropriate to their discipline and career goals;
compose large-scale original concert music incorporating music theory concepts, historical styles and current technologies with an advanced level of compositional technique;
demonstrate creativity, maturity, and artistic self-possession.

Degree Requirements

The degree requirement is 30 credit hours and an overall grade point average of 3.0.

Course and Credit Requirements

APMC 502 Applied Composition Credit(s): 4 (two semester sequence)
APMC 602 Applied Composition Credit(s): 4 (two semester sequence)
CONR 601 Bibliography and Research in Music
MUCO 563 Advanced Choral Conducting OR
MUCO 564 Advanced Instrumental Conducting
Music Literature electives Credit(s): 4
MUPP 512 Composer Forum Credit(s): 2 (four semesters)
MUTC 523 Orchestration
MUTC 590 Music Theory Seminar
MUTC 601 Post-Tonal Analysis
Comprehensive Examination - Pass/Fail
CONR 694 Culminating Project * + (four credits; two semester sequence)

Conservatory Electives

Conservatory electives do not include additional AP** or AE** lessons in the student’s major applied area of study.

Total: 2 credits

Total: 30 credits

*Minimum grade of “C” required.

+After initial registration in CONR 694 , the student must remain continuously registered for that course for at least one credit each fall and spring semester until the requirement is fulfilled. Summer registration is optional. Registration for CONR 694 is the responsibility of the student until the requirement is fulfilled or the student submits a written statement of withdrawal from the curriculum. The course may be repeated for credit, but a maximum of four credits may be used to fulfill degree requirements. Extra CONR culminating research credits may not be used as elective credits.

Catalog