The NYU Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions offers a B.M degree in Music Composition.
Conceived as an eclectic program, a composition student may follow Traditional/General Composition studies, or specialize in Electronic and Computer Music Composition, Composition for Music Theater, or Composition for Film, Multimedia and Television.
Our students are actively involved in the scheduling and performance of their own works, in concerts and readings by NYU performance groups in residence, school performing ensembles, as well as chamber groups specially hired for specific composition concerts. There is a very active weekly meeting of our department's Composers Forum in which students have a great variety of activities: meeting and working with world-renowned composers and performers, preparing two student showcases per semester, and attending highlights in the New York City new music concert season.
Insofar as our large department includes dance and theater programs, our composers have countless opportunities to collaborate with performers, dancers, actors, and multimedia applications. Within the department there are very active collaborations with the Music Technology, Jazz Studies, and Instrumental and Vocal Performance Programs. In addition, we have a very active collaboration with musicians and other artists from New York City.
The composition faculty consists of internationally recognized composers. Many are recipients of prestigious awards and prizes: Prof. Justin Dello Joio is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and has regular performances and recordings of his works by major artists and ensembles. Prof. Mark Antonio Consoli is a winner of two Guggenheims and has a special collection of his compositions housed at the Lincoln Center Library. Prof. Robert Rowe, who worked at IRCAM in Paris with Pierre Boulez, is a much sought after composer of interactive computer music and has written two major books (M.I.T. Press) on electronic music. Prof. Joseph Church, the music director of “The Lion King” on Broadway, teaches students interested in composition for music theatre. Prof. Ron Sadoff has written scores for films that have won major awards including an Oscar.
Bachelor of Music in Composition — B.M. Degree Requirements
(Degree code: MUTC)
This program requires the completion of 130 points (credits), of which 90 are in music, and 40 are in the liberal arts. As part of this program, students receive training in professional skills such as: hands-on work in music technology/recording studios, conducting, keyboard harmony and improvisation, composing, and performing. Conceptual skills are advanced through analytical, theoretical, and historical studies.
In addition, interested students may opt for training in specialized areas such as composition for music theatre, music for film and multimedia, and computer music.
A new dual degree (B Mus / MA Music Education) is designed for undergraduate performance and composition majors interested in adding a music education component to the four-year degree. Students apply at the end of their sophomore year. Once accepted into the dual degree by the music education faculty, students complete their degree with the added concentration in music education beginning in their junior year. Upon graduation, students may continue to a one-year Masters degree in music education, where they complete their supervised student teaching internship to earn initial and professional teaching certification. Please see your current program director before contacting the Music Education program.