Music Composition BM
Program Purpose
This is a limited-enrollment program requiring departmental admissions approval. Please see the college advisement center for information regarding requirements for admission to this major.
The BM in Composition degree program teaches young composers to write with modern and experimental music vocabularies (for artistic expression) as well as historic vocabularies (for accompanying theatrical or cinematic productions), write for diverse color combinations (including orchestral and electroacoustic), and recruit and rehearse players to perform their music.
Curricular Structure
The program offers courses not only in the core but in orchestration, counterpoint, as well as private lessons and group seminars in composition, including electronic composition.
Learning Outcomes
Composition
Compose music with modern, contemporary, or experimental music vocabularies rooted in historical principles.
Write for diverse color combinations, including orchestral, vocal, and electroacoustic resources.
Prepare and present a juried recital of their own music during their senior year.
Expand and deepen one's knowledge of the contemporary canon of serious composition.
Evidence of Learning
We accept the online teacher evaluation forms. Also, since all composition faculty and students meet in seminar together at least once every week, we continually discuss ways of improving, new processes and prospects, new formats, and so on, to keep our program limber. Students submit portfolios for jurying every semester of composition study. As a composition faculty we meet together in a monthly planning/evaluation meeting. We have a semi-annual end-of-semester meeting to take stock.
Direct Measures
We recognize the difficulty of assessing musicality, creativity, and originality objectively, and understand the very act of measuring them drains away their virtue and value. We assess other more explicit evidence of learning using traditional tools throughout the course of classes and lessons, and at periodic advisement points as determined by the college advisement center. These tools include:
- Examinations
- Quizzes
- Term papers
- Evaluation of performance in private lessons and large ensemble
- Monitoring progress through the College Advisement Center
Indirect Measures
Indirect evaluations include reviewing the following information:
- Alumni Questionnaire
- Senior Survey
- Feedback from colleagues outside of BYU
- AIMS survey
- Student evaluations
- Student focus groups
Learning and Teaching Assessment and Improvement
- We do not have current data to analyze and evaluate other than the placement record of our students in fine graduate programs, winning competitions and commissions, establishing professional careers, and so forth.
- We will explore the implementation of regular updates to the college curriculum committee.