Composition
Audition and declaration requirements
Furman students intending to major in music must perform an audition and complete a music theory placement examination. Paperwork should be submitted to our department during your sophomore year.
Declare your major by downloading our form as a PDF.
General requirements
Furman's bachelor of music in composition provides an
opportunity to engage in the creation, analysis, and teaching of music.
You'll complete a series of courses designed to develop your overall
musicianship and your understanding of the
intricacies and beauty that comprise the language of music.
We have a group of dynamic composition faculty and energetic young composers in our major. Our students can get involved as soon as they arrive on campus by enrolling in a composition seminar that allows them to rub shoulders with upperclassmen as they study works by contemporary composers, write composition exercises, compose works, and produce concerts. We also have a number of guest composers each year who share their wisdom, skills and experience.
Core courses:
- Basic Musicianship I (MUS-111)
- Basic Musicianship II (MUS-112)
- Introduction to Music Literature (MUS-120)
- Basic Musicianship III (MUS-211)
- Basic Musicianship IV (MUS-212)
- World Music I (MUS-220)
- Music History I (MUS-221)
- Music History II (MUS-320)
- Music History III (MUS-321)
- Basic Conducting (MUS-352)
- Two credits of performance topics
- Recital Attendance for seven semesters (MUS-050)
- Freshman Music Colloquium for one semester (MUS-051)
- Membership in at least one ensemble: Symphony orchestra (MUS-060), Furman band (MUS-061), Furman Singers (MUS-062), Furman men's chorale (MUS-063), or Furman women's chorale (MUS-064)
Additional courses:
- Form and Analysis (MUS-310)
- Composition (MUS-311)
- Orchestration (MUS-312)
- Projects in Music Technology (MUS-314)
- Contemporary Styles and Techniques (MUS-411)
- Senior Project (MUS-412)
- Modal Counterpoint (MUS-313) or Tonal Counterpoint (MUS-410)
- At least two credits of performance studies, including at least one course each in strings, brass, percussion and woodwinds
- At least six credits in composition or independent study, which must include acoustic and electro-acoustic music
- Four credits of music electives
Course sequence
| Class |
Fall |
Spring
|
| Freshman |
MUS-111
MUS-113
Performance Studies Performance Topics
First Year Seminar
MUS-051
MUS-050
Major ensemble
|
MUS-112
MUS-113
Performance Studies
MUS-120
First Year Seminar
MUS-050
Major ensemble |
| Sophomore |
MUS-211
MUS-221
MUS-113
Performance Studies
Recital
Ensemble |
MUS-212
MUS-113
MUS-352
MUS-220
Performance Studies
Recital
Ensemble |
| Junior |
MUS-320
Music elective
Music elective 2
Performance Studies
MUS-311
Recital
Ensemble |
MUS-321
MUS-312
MUS-310
Performance Studies
MUS-314
Recital
Ensemble
|
| Senior |
MUS-411
Performance Studies
MUS-311
Recital
Ensemble
|
MUS-313 or MUS-410
Performance Studies
MUS-412
Recital
Ensemble
|