Commercial Composition
Further expanding these options, the department offers concentrations in the areas of vocal studies, piano studies, jazz studies, commercial composition, and church music. Music students pursue courses of study that include a judicious mixture of music theory, music history, and individual and ensemble music performances while emphasizing practical applications and exposure to the technology and methodology relevant to the various concentrations. The Department of Music also offers a minor in each music concentration for musically talented students pursuing other disciplines.
Commercial Composition is the act of composing/arranging music for different contemporary genres (i.e., R and B, Gospel, Jazz, Country, Hip Hop, Pop, etc.) We have designed our program to give students the tools needed to pursue a future in writing, producing and recording music for many types of media. Students will acquire the aesthetic and technical skills required for work in a studio environment, as well as explore composing music for many different areas in the current music industry. You will work with a diverse community of musicians, faculty, and industry professionals, with access to our state of the art technology and recording facilities, combining your bachelor’s degree studies with real world experience.
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates with a Concentration in Commercial Composition will be able to:
- Compose, arrange, produce and record music within specific music industry guidelines.
- Demonstrate their proficiency in basic music technology and recording using ProTools System, Logic Pro X and other Digital Audio Workstations.
- Score for basic orchestral and vocal ensembles.
- Demonstrate a basic command of compositional process in both prepared and contemporary formats.
- Apply recording techniques to real world music environments.
Commercial Composition Concentration Required Courses
The following are required courses beginning in the junior year of study:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CMUS 308R | Junior Recital 1 | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Songwrit, Arranging, Recording | ||
| Music Business Seminar and | ||
| CMUS 403 | Orchestration | 3 |
| CMUS 450 | Recording Studio Internship | 3 |
| CMUS 451 | Senior Composition Project | 3 |
| Recommended electives for students interested in the “Production and Recording” aspect to Commercial Composition: | ||
| CMUS 327 | Music Business Seminar | 1 |
| CMUS 360 | 2 | 2 |
| CMUS 460 | Recording Studio Techniques 3 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 19 | |
- 1
Performance
- 2
Shall be used as a substitute for CMUS 351 Songwrit, Arranging, Recording
- 3
Shall be used as a substitute for CMUS 451 Senior Composition Project
Composition presentation
The Commercial Composition Concentration allows students who are not interested in the Songwriting component to take three electives that may be used as substitutes for CMUS 351 Songwrit, Arranging, Recording and CMUS 451 Senior Composition Project.
Music, B.A., with Commercial Composition Concentration
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| Select one of the following (Area E): | 3 | |
| Info. Technology & Comp. App. | ||
| Introduction to Computers | ||
CCIS 104 |
||
| CENG 105 | College Composition I (Area D) | 3 |
| CGED 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| CMAT 104 | Finite Mathematics (Area C) | 3 |
| CMUS 107 | Applied Music 1 | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| University Orchestra | ||
| University Choir | ||
| Philharmonic Society | ||
| University Band | ||
| Jazz Orchestra | ||
| CMUS 114A | Performance Seminar | 1 |
| CMUS 115A | Music Seminar | 0 |
| Select one of the following (Area A): | 3 | |
| United States,Africa & World | ||
| United States, Africa & World | ||
| History of the United States | ||
| History of the United States | ||
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CENG 106 | College Composition II (Area D) | 3 |
| CGED 101 | 1st-Year Seminar | 1 |
| Select one of the following (Area C): | 3 | |
| Biological Science | ||
CPHY 101 |
||
| Intro to Earth System Science | ||
| CMUS 105 | Sightsinging/Eartraining I | 3 |
| CMUS 108 | Applied Music | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| University Orchestra | ||
| Philharmonic Society | ||
| University Band | ||
| Jazz Orchestra | ||
| CMUS 114B | Performance Seminar | 1 |
| CMUS 115B | Music Seminar | 0 |
| CMUS 117A | Piano Class | 1 |
| CMUS 201 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Select one of the following (Area A): | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| The Biblical Heritage | ||
| Intro to Religious Studies | ||
| Select one of the following (Area D): | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Speech | ||
| Intro to World Literature I | ||
| Intro to World Literature II | ||
| Elementary French (Foreign Language French/Spanish) | ||
| CMUS 106 | Sightsinging/Eartraining II | 3 |
| CMUS 117B | Piano Class | 1 |
| CMUS 202 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| CMUS 207 | Applied Music | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| University Orchestra | ||
| University Choir | ||
| University Band | ||
| Jazz Orchestra | ||
| CMUS 214A | Performance Seminar | 1 |
| CMUS 215A | Music Seminar | 0 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Select one of the following (Area A): | 3 | |
| Art Appreciation | ||
| Theater Appreciation | ||
| World Music | ||
| Select one of the following (Area B): | 3 | |
| General Psychology | ||
| Intro. to Sociology | ||
| Intro. to Anthropology | ||
| CMUS 204 | Basic Conducting | 2 |
| CMUS 208 | Applied Music | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| University Orchestra | ||
| University Choir | ||
| Philharmonic Society | ||
| University Band | ||
| Jazz Orchestra | ||
| CMUS 214B | Performance Seminar | 1 |
| CMUS 215B | Music Seminar | 0 |
| CMUS 217A | Piano Class | 1 |
| CMUS 218A | 1 | |
| CMUS 301 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CMUS 217B | Piano Class | 1 |
| CMUS 302 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| CMUS 307 | Applied Music | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| University Orchestra | ||
| Philharmonic Society | ||
| University Band | ||
| Jazz Orchestra | ||
| CMUS 314A | Performance Seminar | 1 |
| CMUS 315A | Music Seminar | 0 |
| CMUS 316 | Music History & Literature | 3 |
| CMUS 351 | Songwrit, Arranging, Recording | 3 |
| CMUS 327 | Music Business Seminar | 1 |
| CMUS 350A | Music Production I | 2 |
| CMUS 218B | 1 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CMUS 320 | African-American Music | 3 |
| CMUS 304 | Form and Analysis | 3 |
| CMUS 308R | Junior Recital (Optional or Applied XXX) | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| University Orchestra | ||
| Philharmonic Society | ||
| University Band | ||
| Jazz Orchestra | ||
| CMUS 314B | Performance Seminar | 1 |
| CMUS 315B | Music Seminar | 0 |
| CMUS 317 | Music History & Literature | 3 |
| CMUS 403 | Orchestration | 3 |
| CMUS 350B | Music Production II | 3 |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CXXX | Free Elective | 3 |
| CXXX | Free Elective | 3 |
| CMUS 407 | Applied Music | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| University Orchestra | ||
| University Choir | ||
| University Band | ||
| Jazz Orchestra | ||
| CMUS 414A | Performance Seminar | 1 |
| CMUS 415A | Music Seminar | 0 |
| CMUS 450 | Recording Studio Internship | 3 |
| CXXX | Music Elective | 1 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| University Orchestra | ||
| Philharmonic Society | ||
| University Band | ||
| Jazz Orchestra | ||
| CMUS 414B | Performance Seminar | 1 |
| CMUS 415B | Music Seminar | 0 |
| CMUS 451 | Senior Composition Project | 3 |
| CMUS 408 | Applied Music | 1 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 122 | |
- 1
Commercial Composition Majors may study an Applied of their choosing; based on their Audition. If they study applied piano, they are exempt from The Class Piano Sequence (117A –217B) and will need 4 Credits in electives.
CMUS 101 Fundamentals of Music is a preparatory non-degree credit course and is NOT part of the degree requirement. Required only for students who does not past the Theory Diagnostic Test.