Bachelor of Music Composition

Overview

What to expect

Flexible, personalized, and well-rounded, the Bachelor of Music in Composition offers an exceptional student experience delivered by distinguished faculty, including some of Canada’s most active and distinguished composers. Students learn to write in the Western art music tradition for instruments and voices in solo, small, and large ensemble contexts. They develop strong compositional techniques, sound notation practices, and familiarity with the music technology tools essential to the craft. Exploring the strengths and limits of individual instruments (instrumentation) and discovering how to blend groups of instruments effectively (orchestration) are important areas of study.

Why it stands out

We provide students with opportunities to present their work to real audiences. Our numerous resident ensembles issue calls for student works, our New Music Festival stages a complete student-composed operas, and our annual Karen Kieser Prize competition culminates in the professional performance of a student chamber work. These are just some of the ways students get their music heard.

Who it's for

Composition is designed for student composers eager to explore their creativity in collaboration with conductors and performers. The program welcomes students with interdisciplinary interests in film/animation, dance, opera, and theatre. It encourages the kind of applicants who attend performances of works of living composers whenever they can.

Successful candidates will demonstrate some experience in composition through a portfolio of music written for various ensembles. Students will typically enter the Bachelor of Music in Composition after having completed their first year at U of T Music, but they may be admitted into the program directly based on positive review of a composition portfolio during the admissions process.

Admissions Cycle

This program is offered on a full-time basis and begins in September.

Outcomes

Opportunities for study

Students encounter a broad spectrum of opportunities for developing their artistic talents and creating works performed in public.

Instruction occurs in studio, small-class, and weekly private formats. Coursework addresses subjects such as counterpoint, orchestration, songwriting, specialized instrumental techniques, compositional techniques, and musical style. Courses on electronic and computer music and composing for film and other media are also available.

Collaboration plays a key role. As well as participating in our “Composer’s Forum” workshops and presentations, students have options for collaborating across years and within programs. They are also provided opportunities to interact with the several guest composers the Faculty of Music hosts each year.

Opportunities after graduation

Graduates emerge ready for the broader world of contemporary composition. They will have a thorough grounding in compositional theory and practice and a comprehensive understanding of music’s culture, history, theory, and performance. Some graduates explore work in related areas such as music technology and production, arts administration, and new music curation.

Among the key benefits of a U of T Composition degree are the connections students will have established with fellow composers, performers, arts organizations, and audiences on and off campus. Through their studies at the Faculty of Music, students gain access to the vibrant music community of one of North America’s great centres of culture. Toronto is home to many organizations that specialize in presenting the music of living composers.

Employment opportunities include working as an independent composer and teaching. Many graduates pursue opportunities writing music for film, television, and games.

Postgraduate opportunities

A Bachelor of Music in Composition qualifies graduates for further study at the postgraduate level. The two-year Master of Music (MMus) in Composition provides advanced course learning and independent composition under faculty supervision. The four-year Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) culminates in the supervised creation of an extended composition (a “thesis”) defended at a final oral examination. Opportunities include composing for music and dance, collaborative opera, and orchestra.

Curriculum

Bachelor of Music

20
Total Credits over 4 years
  • Core courses
  • Specialization courses
  • Music electives
  • Breadth electives

Core Courses

 Core courses focus on music history and culture, music theory, musical skills and keyboard harmony or skills. Students also receive individual instruction in their major performance medium and participate in major ensembles. Composition students begin their specialized studies in second year unless they are accepted for direct entry into Composition in Year 1. The first-year requirements for direct-entry students are enriched with opportunities for private lessons in composition.

See Classical Core Curriculum for more information.

Specialization Courses

Specialized courses are required courses in Composition, including Introduction to Composition I & II, Introduction to Computer Applications in Music, Orchestration, Counterpoint and Conducting.

Music & Breadth Electives

All programs require the completion of a specific number of Music Electives and Breadth Electives. A Music Elective is any Faculty of Music course (excluding Basic Music Courses) that is not required for a specific program. A Breadth Elective is a course offered by the Faculty of Arts & Science; however, up to one full credit of designated Music courses can be counted towards this requirement. Students have the opportunity to benefit from the diverse course offerings, that span different areas and traditions of music.

Options within the Degree

Music: Certificates are offered in conjunction with a degree. Currently there are Certificates offered in Health Applications in Music, Music Technology, Popular Music Studies and Ethnomusicology, and Piano Pedagogy.

Currently there are Minor programs offered in History and Culture, Composition, and Historical Keyboard. (The Minor in Composition is not available to students in the Bachelor of Music in Composition.)

Arts & Science: Within the Breadth Electives, students have the option of completing requirements towards a Minor or a Major from the Faculty of Arts & Science, in a discipline that sparks their interest.

For further details on any of the above options, please refer to the Classical Core Curriculum.

Visit our Composition Area

Students studying on a bench.

The admission requirements include two components:

  • academic admission requirements
  • theory admission requirements

The application process is the same for all Classical undergraduate programs:

  • review the application deadlines and save them to your calendar
  • follow the steps outlined on Apply to Degree Programs
  • prepare for your audition

Connect with the Admissions and Recruitment Team

U of T Music brings together the brightest researchers, educators, creators and performers. 
We welcome you to join us. 

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