The Music Composition major at UNH is ideal for students aspiring to write music for bands, orchestras, choirs, films, video games or innovative chamber ensembles. The program focuses on music theory, analysis, and composition, preparing students for professional careers or advanced studies. Students work with renowned composition faculty and guest composers and they can showcase their work at the university's dynamic Undergraduate Research Conference, which highlights performances of student composers' works each spring. The program also offers opportunities to perform in diverse ensembles, engage with guest artists, along with our enriching study abroad opportunity at Cardiff University in the U.K. If you are interesting in developing your skills as a composer while also pursuing a broad liberal arts education, check out our Bachelor of Arts in music with an option in composition: Music Major: Composition Option B.A.
If you dream of writing inspiring music for bands, orchestras, choirs, films, video games or innovative chamber ensembles, then the Bachelor of Music in composition is for you. The music composition degree program at UNH builds on a core set of classes in music theory, analysis and history, and places heavy emphasis on composition and continuing to develop your skills as a performer. The major is recommended for students considering a professional career in composition or graduate study leading to an advanced degree.
Why study composition at UNH?
As a music student at UNH, you’ll study composition with nationally and internationally known composition faculty and learn from guest composers. You’ll be able to participate in the university’s dynamic Undergraduate Research Conference, which highlights performances of student composers’ works each spring. Our ensembles include touring chamber and choral groups, as well as orchestras and bands that inspire from the stage to the football field. Our department also hosts dynamic guest artists and lecturers throughout the year and offers a study abroad exchange program with Cardiff University in the U.K.
Potential Careers
- Composer
- Conductor
- Music arranger and orchestrator
- Music industry executive
- Music professor
- Music teacher
- Performer
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2nd Place Winner in the Rachel Moore Choral Composition ContestCurrent Music Composition student Wes Coffin has won second place in the Rachel Moore Choral Composition Contest, a competition open to high school students (grades 9-12) and undergraduate college students. His composition is entitled "In May", a piece he wrote during his sophomore year. The competition is designed to encourage the creation of original works for choir and to…Learn More
Curriculum & Requirements
If you dream of writing inspiring music for bands, orchestras, choirs, films, video games or innovative chamber ensembles, then the Bachelor of Music in composition is for you. The music composition degree program at UNH builds on a core set of classes in music theory, analysis and history, and places heavy emphasis on composition and continuing to develop your skills as a performer. The major is recommended for students considering a professional career in composition or graduate study leading to an advanced degree.
Degree Requirements
All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.
Major Requirements
All bachelor of music students are required to give a public performance during their senior year, which fulfills the Discovery Program capstone requirement:
- For students in the composition option, a full lecture, lecture-recital or recital including at least one original composition is required.
Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of each individual major program. B.M. in music majors may use MUSI 502 Musics in Context (a required core course for the major) to satisfy the Inquiry Discovery category requirement, and MUSI 515 Music in World Cultures (a required core course for the major) to satisfy the World Cultures Discovery category requirement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | ||
| MUSI 471 & MUSI 472 | Theory I and Theory I | 6 |
| MUSI 473 & MUSI 474 | Ear Training I and Ear Training I | 2 |
| MUSI 475 & MUSI 476 | Functional Piano I and Functional Piano I 1 | 2 |
| MUSI 571 & MUSI 572 | Theory II and Theory II | 6 |
| MUSI 573 & MUSI 574 | Ear Training II and Ear Training II | 2 |
| MUSI 575 & MUSI 576 | Functional Piano II and Functional Piano II 1 | 2 |
| MUSI 501 & MUSI 502 | The Western Musical Canon and Musics in Context | 6 |
| MUSI 515 | Music in World Cultures | 4 |
| MUSI 540 | Recital Attendance | 0 |
| MUSI 691 | Music Internship I | 1-2 |
| MUSI 731 | Conducting | 2 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
MUSI 701 | Topics in Music History | |
MUSI #713 | Art Song | |
MUSI 715 | Survey of Opera | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
MUSI 771 | Counterpoint | |
MUSI 781W | Analysis: Form and Structure | |
| Performance Study (Applied Lessons): select from the following courses | Variable | |
MUSI 541, MUSI 545, MUSI 546, MUSI 547, MUSI 548, MUSI 549, MUSI #550, MUSI 551, MUSI 552, MUSI 553, MUSI 554, MUSI 555, MUSI 556, MUSI 557, MUSI 558, MUSI 559, MUSI 560, MUSI 561, MUSI 562, MUSI 563, MUSI 564, MUSI 741, MUSI 745, MUSI 746, MUSI 747, MUSI 748, MUSI 749, MUSI 751, MUSI 752, MUSI 753, MUSI 754, MUSI 755, MUSI 756, MUSI 757, MUSI 758, MUSI 759, MUSI 760, MUSI 761, MUSI 762, MUSI 763, MUSI 764 | ||
| Performing Ensemble: select from the following courses | Variable | |
MUSI 441, MUSI 442, MUSI 448, MUSI 450, MUSI 452, MUSI 453, MUSI 454, MUSI 455, MUSI 456, MUSI 457, MUSI 459, MUSI 460, MUSI 462, MUSI 463, MUSI 464 | ||
| Total Credits | 39-40 | |
- 1
Students will be given the opportunity to test out of MUSI 471 Theory I, MUSI 475 Functional Piano I, MUSI 476 Functional Piano I and MUSI 575 Functional Piano II, MUSI 576 Functional Piano II.
Bachelor of Music in Composition
Degree program has final approval from the National Association of Schools of Music.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 9 credits of MUSI 771, MUSI 795 (Independent Study/Advanced Counterpoint), MUSI 781W, and MUSI 782W | 9 | |
| Select 4 credits of MUSI 775, MUSI 776 | 4 | |
| Select 12 credits of MUSI 777 | 12 | |
| MUSI 779 | Reading and Writing Musical Scores | 3 |
| MUSI 791 | Music Internship II | 2-4 |
| MUSI 795 | Special Studies (Advanced Music Theory ) 1 | 3 |
| MUSI 795 | Special Studies (Electronic Music) | 2 |
MUSI 701 | Topics in Music History | |
MUSI #713 | Art Song | |
MUSI 715 | Survey of Opera | |
| Performance Study (Applied Lessons): select from the following courses | 8 | |
MUSI 541, MUSI 545, MUSI 546, MUSI 547, MUSI 548, MUSI 549, MUSI #550, MUSI 551, MUSI 552, MUSI 553, MUSI 554, MUSI 555, MUSI 556, MUSI 557, MUSI 558, MUSI 559, MUSI 560, MUSI 561, MUSI 562, MUSI 563, MUSI 564, MUSI 741, MUSI 745, MUSI 746, MUSI 747, MUSI 748, MUSI 749, MUSI 751, MUSI 752, MUSI 753, MUSI 754, MUSI 755, MUSI 756, MUSI 757, MUSI 758, MUSI 759, MUSI 760, MUSI 761, MUSI 762, MUSI 763, MUSI 764 | ||
| Performing Ensemble: select from the following courses | 8 | |
MUSI 441, MUSI 442, MUSI 448, MUSI 450, MUSI 452, MUSI 453, MUSI 454, MUSI 455, MUSI 456, MUSI 457, MUSI 459, MUSI 460, MUSI 462, MUSI 463, MUSI 464 | ||
| Total Credits | 51-53 | |
- 1
This is in addition to the other 700-level theory classes outlined above.
- 2
This is in addition to the core required 700-level music history class.
Students in the bachelor of music in composition degree program may use a maximum of 8 ensemble credits toward graduation.
Students in the bachelor of music in composition degree are required to attend 8 semesters of composition seminar.
- Students will exhibit the skills necessary for artistic expression at the highest possible level as defined by their particular area of concentration in solo and small ensemble (not conducted) and large ensemble (conducted) settings.
- Students will exhibit competency in musicianship and analysis through: their understanding of musical forms and processes; aural, verbal and visual analyses; skill in performance; academic, pedagogical, and compositional applications; rudimentary ability to create derivative or original music.
- Students will demonstrate familiarity with musical literature from the formal concert repertory and from musical traditions outside of that repertory. Students will demonstrate the ability to place music in historical, cultural, and stylistic contexts.
- Students will demonstrate collegiate-level skill in the English language and competence in written and oral communication in English.
- Demonstrate the ability to use technologies current to their area of specialization for professional development and entrepreneurship, and career preparation and promotion.
- Demonstrate skill in the use of standard concepts, tools, techniques, and procedures to develop a composition from concept to finished product.
- Manage a formal performance of a finished product.
Explore Program Details
Use these checklists to track your completion of major requirements. Always check with your advisor if you have any questions.
