Composition Major
Program Overview
This major explores a wide range of styles and compositional techniques as well as providing students with the tools necessary to embark on a future in contemporary niches such as film scoring, music in advertising and songwriting. Access to modern production/recording technology gives students the ability to create a large portfolio of recorded music. Emphasis is put on developing each students unique compositional identity while focusing on the skills that are at the core of the compositional process. At the end of the fourth semester each student is responsible for organizing a 1/2 hour graduating recital that showcases their abilities.
To be a Composition Major, students must have achieved a minimum grade of "B" or better in MUSC 171 (Arranging II) and MUSC 175 (Harmony II). A maximum of 17 students will be accepted into this major. In the event that more students apply, preference will be given to those students who have achieved the highest GPA.
Upon successful completion students will be able to:
- transcribe and analyze musical compositions in a variety of styles.
- orchestrate music for ensembles of varying size and instrumentation.
- create original musical works.
- produce a recording of their own composition.
- evaluate the historical, social, and cultural context of musical compositions.
- rehearse and perform a recital of their own compositions.
Admission Requirements
In order to attend Selkirk College you must meet the admission requirements for the College and for the program you wish to enrol in.
Selkirk College's Admission Requirements:
- Have graduated from a BC Senior Secondary School or equivalent, or
- Be 19 years of age or over at the time of application, or
- Be under 19 years of age but have a written recommendation from your Secondary School Principal
- Read more about admission requirements according to Policy 8611
Academic Requirements for Music & Technology
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English Studies 12 with a minimum of 60% or higher
Non-Academic Requirements
- Successfully pass an audition/interview which consists of:
- Assessment of instrumental ability on an instrument/voice. The instruments that are accepted are: guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, voice, saxophone, trumpet, banjo, mandolin, and violin/fiddle.
- Demonstration of basic music theory proficiency equivalent to the Royal Conservatory Level 8 Theory, through a written examination that includes identifying intervals, key signatures and triads in basic music theory equivalent to Royal Conservatory Level 8 Theory requirements.
- An Ear Training Test for pitch, triads, rhythmic and melodic diction and interval recognition.
Audition and Interview
- An audition to assess instrumental ability, music theory and ear training knowledge, as well as pitch matching, is required before admission.
- Auditions will be arranged by the department when the completed application form and transcripts are completed and received.
- Applicants are expected to attend scheduled auditions in person. If you live a long distance from the College, other arrangements can be made.
- Completed applications (except for the audition) are recommended to be submitted to the Registrar’s office by April 30th prior to the start of the next intake of the program. Applications may be accepted after this date with permission of the school chair. The audition process must be completed before May 30th. A music teacher must invigilate the exam(s), if completing the tests by mail.
Theory Preparation Course
- Applicants who perform an exceptional audition but who do not meet the theory and ear training standard will be required to attend a two-week theory preparation course in August.
- This class will provide basic level entrance requirements for the applicant.
- The applicant must have a minimum final grade of 75% in both the ear training and the theory sections to be accepted into the Music Program for September.
International Students
International Students (students who are applying to Selkirk College from locations outside of Canada) should follow the application steps required by Selkirk International.
See additional admission requirements here
Courses
MUSC100C - Music Forum C
MUSC258 - Ensemble III
MUSC 258: Ensemble III. Ensembles, required of all students, are the focal point of the Music program. All students are placed by audition in one or more ensembles. Students must participate in a minimum of four ensembles to graduate. Types of ensembles offered will focus on contemporary music including rock, funk, fusion, jazz and vocal, with the goal of developing both the student's repertoire and improvisational abilities. Students are encouraged to participate in as many different types of ensembles as possible. A graduation showcase will be required from all students majoring in Music Performance.
MUSC264 - Instrumental Lab III
MUSC 264: Instrumental Lab III. This course is designed to help students develop instrumental skills. Grouped by instrument, students learn the fundamentals of reading, articulation, balance, dynamics, styles and technique as related to their particular instrument. This course is taught "instrument-in-hand" and also uses audio and visual aids to explore different techniques and styles. A requirement in all majors, students have weekly assignments.
MUSC274 - Contemporary Harmony III
MUSC 274: Contemporary Harmony III. This course continues with the principles of contemporary harmony in Harmony 2. Topics are expanded to include Deceptive Resolution, Substitute Dominants, Diminished Chords, Modulation, Blues and Chord Scale Relationships. This course provides students with a practical working knowledge of harmony in various styles of contemporary music as it applies to composition and improvisation.
MUSC280 - Ear Training III
MUSC 280: Ear Training III. This course continues to develop an aural perception of intervals, pitches, seventh chords, chord progressions, melodies and rhythms. The focus of this semester is on minor and secondary dominant melodies and chord progressions and 9th chords. The rhythms explore sixteenth note syncopated rhythms as well as cut time, 3/8, 6/8 and 5/4 meters
MUSC290 - The Business of Music
The purpose of this course is three-fold: to provide the student with an awareness of the career possibilities in the field of music; to introduce students to some of the major aspects of the music profession; and to introduce students to basic general business practices. This course is of particular benefit to students planning a career in the music industry.
MUSC268 - Songwriting I
MUSC 268: Songwriting I. This course is designed to help you prepare for survival in the competitive world of the songwriter's market. Learn about all types of styles while striving to define your own. Special attention is paid to the rudiments of songwriting: creativity, basic theory (usage of basic rhythms, scales, harmony, melodic patterns, lyrics, etc.), basic styles (pop, rock, folk, country, etc.), production patterns, and the legalities of the music business. The class also spends time analyzing the work of other writes (successful and unsuccessful; those who have maintained artistic integrity; those who have not).
MUSC282 - Film Scoring I
MUSC 282: Film Scoring I. This hands-on course focuses on TV and radio broadcasting. Students are required to score themes and cues for various TV and radio shows using mostly electronic equipment along with one or two live musicians.
MUSC284 - Composition I
MUSC 284: Composition 1. This course is designed to improve the skills of composers by presenting a wide variety of compositional tools in styles ranging from Classical to Jazz, Folk, Rock and Pop. By studying the recordings and scores of composers throughout history each student gains a musical awareness that strengthen their own compositional process. Particular attention is paid to the "building blocks of a composition;" the musical elements such as melody, harmony and rhythm that are at the core of the creative process. In class performance and analysis of student compositions occurs on a weekly basis and midterm and final assignments are recorded.
MUSC162 - Instrumental Lab I
MUSC 162: Instrumental Lab I. This course is designed to help students develop instrumental skills. Grouped by instrument, students learn the fundamentals of reading, articulation, balance, dynamics, styles and technique as related to their particular instrument. This course is taught "instrument-in-hand" and also uses audio and visual aids to explore different techniques and styles. A requirement in all majors, students have weekly assignments.
MUSC288 - Advanced MIDI Applications I
This course is an applied study of the software and concepts used in the recording home studio environment. The primary focus of the course is in the use of Pro Tools LE for the self-recording musician. Topics include: mixing console application, editing techniques, microphone technique, an introduction to effects processing for final mixing, auxiliary buss in the virtual mixing board, use of patch bay, outboard effects, and file maintenance.
MUSC100D - Music Forum D
MUSC253 - Private Lesson IV A
MUSC 253: Private Lesson IV A. A weekly one-hour private instrumental or vocal lesson is provided for all first year students. Instruction is available on keyboard, woodwinds, saxophone, percussion, guitar, electric and acoustic, bass, and voice. Lessons are designed to increase students' technical and musical abilities.
MUSC259 - Ensemble IV
MUSC 259: Ensemble IV, required of all students, are the focal point of the Music program. All students are placed by audition in one or more ensembles. Students must participate in a minimum of four ensembles to graduate. Types of ensembles offered will focus on contemporary music including rock, funk, fusion, jazz and vocal, with the goal of developing both the student's repertoire and improvisational abilities. Students are encouraged to participate in as many different types of ensembles as possible. A graduation showcase will be required from all students majoring in Music Performance.
MUSC265 - Instrumental Lab IV
MUSC 265: Instrumental Lab IV. This course is designed to help students develop instrumental skills. Grouped by instrument, students learn the fundamentals of reading, articulation, balance, dynamics, styles and technique as related to their particular instrument. This course is taught "instrument-in-hand" and also uses audio and visual aids to explore different techniques and styles. A requirement in all majors, students have weekly assignments.
MUSC275 - Contemporary Harmony IV
MUSC 275: Contemporary Harmony IV. This course continues with the principles of contemporary harmony in Harmony 3. Topics are expanded to include further concepts of Deceptive Resolution, Non-functional Dominant chords, Contiguous Dominants, Pedal Point and Ostinato, Modal harmony, Compound Chords, and Constant Structures. This course provides students with a practical working knowledge of harmony in various styles of contemporary music as it applies to areas of composition and improvisation.
MUSC281 - Ear Training IV
MUSC 281: Ear Training IV: Upon successful completion of this course you have will have mastered basic aural skills for professional musicianship. The emphasis on this level is chromatic and modal melodies. Mixed meters and odd time signatures are explored. Emphasis is given to transcribing pre-recorded songs.
MUSC269 - Songwriting II
MUSC 269: Songwriting II. This course is designed to strengthen your songwriting skills in every respect. Closer attention is paid to marketing skills, legal procedures, finding one's personal niche in the music business (whether to focus on one's own style, concentrate on writing tunes for other acts, or both; whether to go through a publisher or be your own publisher; etc.). Co-writing music is to be explored (you put lyrics to someone else's music; they put music to yours). Class time centers around the analysis of successful songwriters in every genre.
MUSC283 - Film Scoring II
MUSC 283: Film Scoring II. This hands-on course focuses on TV and radio broadcasting. Students are required to score themes and cues for various TV and radio shows using mostly electronic equipment along with one or two live musicians.
MUSC285 - Composition II
MUSC 285: Composition II. This course continues the study of compositional building blocks started in Composition 1 with an additional focus on arranging and orchestration. Topics include minimalism, world rhythm studies, chord progressions and voicings in classical and contemporary styles, and string and vocal arranging. Composers of interest include Sting, John Lennon, Bach, Stravinsky, Steve Reich, and Miles Davis.
MUSC257 - Stage Performance Techniques II
MUSC 257: Stage Performance Techniques II. Students will be asked to select five to eight musical pieces of any style (could also include original material) to form a 30 minute showcase to be performed in public as a graduating recital. Students will have to produce partitions for all instruments involved, and assume a leadership role in all rehearsals
MUSC163 - Instrumental Lab II
MUSC 163 Instrumental Lab II. This course is designed to help students develop instrumental skills. Grouped by instrument, students learn the fundamentals of reading, articulation, balance, dynamics, styles and technique as related to their particular instrument. This course is taught ''instrument-in-hand'' and also uses audio and visual aids to explore different techniques and styles. A requirement in all majors, students have weekly assignments.
MUSC262 - Survey of Recording Techniques
MUSC 262: Survey of Recording Techniques. An introduction to recording principles and practices, this course is open to students whose major is not music production. Topics include a brief history of the multi-track recording studio, procedures of a recording studio, procedures of a recording session, fundamentals of microphones and audio effects.
MUSC289 - Advanced MIDI Applications II
This course is a continuation of MUSC 288. The primary focus is the advanced use of Pro Tools LE. Topics will include: the musical application of effects plug-ins, computer components and related technology, and other recording formats.
Tuition & Fees
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