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Curriculum

BM, Music Theory and Composition: Contemporary Production and Songwriting

In Steinhardt’s unparalleled facilities, you’ll explore diverse musical traditions and work closely with our faculty of internationally recognized composers. Songwriting students write and develop songs, receive feedback from professional songwriters and faculty, and collaborate with composers and musicians throughout the Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions. Students engage in private lessons with faculty and complete specialized courses in music and liberal arts.

Core Course Sequence

While taking full advantage of NYU’s acclaimed liberal arts core, you’ll work one-on-one with today’s musical innovators, developing your personal artistry while acquiring the skills to succeed after graduation.  

Additional music specialization courses in the area of composition are completed with other undergraduate composition students. Courses in music technology develop your production skills. You'll also take courses in songwriting history and criticism, orchestration, DAWs, narrative songwriting, and vocal production. Additional courses in industry-standard music technology are provided.

You'll also take part in the Songwriters Forum, a seminar focused on honing the art and craft of writing popular music. Additionally, you'll receive personalized, one-on-one lessons from our exceptional faculty members.

Sample Elective Courses

Students can take a variety of classes throughout the Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions, collaborating with the programs in Music Business, Music Technology, Screen Scoring and Songwriting, and Instrumental and Vocal Performance. 

Culminating Experience 

Students complete an undergraduate capstone course and project, working with a faculty mentor to coordinate and develop all aspects of the concert experience, including production, marketing, and programming. The realization of their composition culminates in a final public performance.

Course Title Credits
Liberal Arts Requirements
Foreign Language
Select four credits of a foreign language4
Expository Writing
EXPOS-UA 1Writing as Inquiry4
ACE-UE 110Advanced College Essay: Educ & The Professions4
Foundations of Contemporary Culture
Texts and Ideas4
Cultures and Contexts4
Foundations of Scientific Inquiry
Quantitative Reasoning/Mathematics4
Physical/Life Science/Societies and the Social Sciences4
Other Liberal Arts Requirements
MPATC-UE 1195Songwriting History and Criticism: 14 Songs I (14 Songs)2
MPATC-UE 1196Songwriting History and Criticism: 14 Songs II2
Select two additional music history courses by advisement4
Unrestricted Liberal Arts Elective
Select 4 Unrestricted Liberal Arts Elective credits4
Specialization Requirements
Required Music Courses
MPATC-UE 1302Aural Skills I: Global Approaches to Music1
MPATC-UE 1322Aural Skills II: Popular Music1
MPATC-UE 1301Theory & Practice I: Global Approaches to Music 12
MPATC-UE 1312Theory & Practice II: Popular Music2
MPATC-UE 1344Advanced Aural Skills: Popular Music Transcription1
MPAJZ-UE 1039Jazz Theory & Ear Training I2
MPAPE-UE 72Keyboard Skills I1
MPAPE-UE 73Keyboard Skills II1
MPATC-UE 1092Junior Experience1
Music Composition Specialization Courses
MPATC-UE 1634Drums, Drum Machines and DAWs2
MPATC-UE 1021Composition (Private Lessons) 224
MPATC-UE 1088Orchestration I3
MPATC-UE 1156Rights, Revenue & Relationships: Career-Building for Music Creators2
MPATE-UE 1022Rcdg Tech for Non Majors3
Concentration in Contemporary Songwriting and Production
MPATC-UE 1052Introduction to Songwriting2
MPATC-UE 1424Composer’s Forum (2 semesters for 1 credit)2
MPATC-UE 1190Songwriters Forum (2 semesters for 2 credits)4
MPATC-UE 1501Narrative and Theatrical Songwriting3
MPATC-GE 2637Production for Songwriters3
or MPATC-GE 2638 Production for Producers
MPAVP-UE 1152Vocal Prod for Singers2
MPATC-UE 1049Contemporary Scoring: Creative & Technological Practices3
MPATC-UE xxxx By Advisement3
Unrestricted Electives
Select 20 elective credits. May include MPAMB-UE 1320 Music Business Internship for 1-6 credits.20
Additional Requirements
SAHS-UE 1New Student Seminar0
Writing Proficiency Examination
Total Credits128
1

Students are placed into this course through a placement exam.  Students who do not place into this course will first enroll in MPATC-UE 1300 Music Fundamentals. 

2

Students take this 3-credit course every semester for 8 semesters.

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
EXPOS-UA 1 Writing as Inquiry 4
MPATC-UE 1302 Aural Skills I: Global Approaches to Music 1
MPATC-UE 1301 Theory & Practice I: Global Approaches to Music 2
MPAPE-UE 72 Keyboard Skills I 1
MPATE-UE 1801 Fundamentals of Music Technology 2
MPATC-UE 1052 Introduction to Songwriting 2
MPATC-UE 1021 Composition (Private Lessons) 3
SAHS-UE 1 New Student Seminar 0
 Credits15
2nd Semester/Term
ACE-UE 110 Advanced College Essay: Educ & The Professions 4
MPATC-UE 1322 Aural Skills II: Popular Music 1
MPATC-UE 1312 Theory & Practice II: Popular Music 2
MPAPE-UE 73 Keyboard Skills II 1
MPATC-UE 1049 Contemporary Scoring: Creative & Technological Practices 3
MPATC-UE 1190 Songwriters Forum 2
MPATC-UE 1021 Composition (Private Lessons) 3
 Credits16
3rd Semester/Term
Texts and Ideas 4
MPATC-UE 1195 Songwriting History and Criticism: 14 Songs I 2
MPATC-UE 1344 Advanced Aural Skills: Popular Music Transcription 1
MPAJZ-UE 1039 Jazz Theory & Ear Training I 2
MPATC-UE 1634 Drums, Drum Machines and DAWs 2
MPATC-UE 1501 Narrative and Theatrical Songwriting 3
MPATC-UE 1021 Composition (Private Lessons) 3
 Credits17
4th Semester/Term
Foreign Language 4
Cultures and Contexts 4
MPATC-UE 1196 Songwriting History and Criticism: 14 Songs II 2
MPATC-UE 1088 Orchestration I 3
MPATC-UE 1021 Composition (Private Lessons) 3
 Credits16
5th Semester/Term
Quantitative Reasoning Mathematics 4
Music History Elective (by advisement) 2
MPATC-UE 1092 Junior Experience 1
MPATC-GE 2506 Rights, Revenue & Relationships: What Music Creators Need to Know 3
MPAJZ-UE 1119 Jazz Arranging & Composition I 3
MPATC-UE 1021 Composition (Private Lessons) 3
 Credits16
6th Semester/Term
Physical/Life Sciences or Societies and Social Sciences 4
Music History Elective (by advisement) 2
MPATC-GE 2637
or MPATC-GE 2638
Production for Songwriters
or Production for Producers
3
MPATC-UE 1021 Composition (Private Lessons) 3
Unrestricted Electives 4
 Credits16
7th Semester/Term
MPATC-UE 1424 Composer’s Forum 1
MPATC-UE 1190 Songwriters Forum 2
MPATC-UE 1021 Composition (Private Lessons) 3
Unrestricted Liberal Arts Elective 4
Unrestricted Elective (by advisement) 7
 Credits17
8th Semester/Term
MPATC-UE 1192 Music Composition Undergraduate Capstone 1
MPATC-UE 1424 Composer’s Forum 1
MPATC-UE 1021 Composition (Private Lessons) 3
Unrestricted Elective (by advisement) 10
 Credits15
 Total Credits128

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