Theory and Composition

Auditions for Scholarship and Admission

All students wishing to enter the School of Music as Theory/Composition majors must successfully complete an audition on their principal instrument or voice and submit examples of their compositions. An Interview with Dr. Scott Meister is also required. The School of Music schedules four audition/interview dates each year. In addition, individual appointments are possible. Contact Dr. Scott Meister for scheduling an interview. NOTE: portfolios should be submitted two weeks prior to the interview.

Composition/Theory Degree Program

The following are required areas of study for the student pursuing the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Performance - Composition/Theory:

Applied Music (Composition) 16 hrs.
Applied Music (Instrument & Voice) 14 hrs.
Music Theory 22 hrs.
Electronic/M.I.D.I. Music 3 hrs.
Music History and Literature 8 hrs.
Conducting 3 hrs.
Orchestration 2 hrs.
Secondary Applied 4 hrs.
Ensembles 8 hrs.
General Studies 38 hrs.
Electives 6hrs.

Total Semester Hours: 122 hrs.

The Hayes School of Music also offers a Master of Music degree in Music Performance with a composition emphasis.

Music Composition majors explore electronic music in the acoustically enginneered Electronic Music Suite of the Broyhill Music Center. They are given reserved lab times to assure the availability of the facility.

The suite is fully equipped with state-of-the-art electronic keyboards: Kurzweil, Roland, Yamaha, Emu, Ensonique, Casio, Alesis, Opcode, Fostex, Tascam. The main MIDI control keyboard has the capability to access all synthesizers and samplers for sequencing or recording. The lab is driven via an Apple Macintosh G4 computer complete with a variety of software packages for sampling, editing, and music printing: Sibelius, Mosaic, Finale, Digital Performer, Pro Tools. Students are able to receive laser or bubble jet printouts of their scores. The Electronic studio is also equiped with an ethernet hookup. Students have complete access to the internet for down loading music/MIDI files as well as many software applications. Through the university server other software applications are also available online. Also, there is the Hayes School of Music's general computer lab on the forth floor.

The Hayes School of Music is committed to the purchase of new hardware and software on a continuing basis to provide music students with the latest resources in today's evolving technology.