Composition Certificate

Location(s): Cedar Valley

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

(Level I Certificate)

Cedar Valley campus only

Students pursuing this certificate are waived from the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standards, but must meet course prerequisites.
Complete at least 25% of the credit hours required for graduation through instruction by Dallas College.

Degree Plan Code: C1.CM.COMPOSITION.21

This program is designed to prepare musicians to compose music for the dynamic commercial music industry. In addition to preparing the student to compose, arrange and orchestrate original melodies in commercial idioms (including jazz, rock, pop, hip-hop, rhythm and blues, Electronic Dance Music (EDM), film, video game, etc.); students are given a firm foundation in fundamentals of music theory, ear training, ensembles, and music notation technology. Emphasis is placed on relevance to the demands of the current music industry and the specific needs of each commercial music student composer.

Semester 1 (Fall)

MUSC 1313 - Commercial Music Theory I (3 Credit Hours)
Elective - Commercial Music Ensemble (one course) (1 Credit Hours) +
OR
Elective - Applied Commercial Music (1 Credit Hours) ++
MUSC 2330 - Commercial Music Arranging and Composition (3 Credit Hours)
MUSP 2103 - Commercial Class Piano (1 Credit Hours)
OR
MUSP 1110 - Applied Commercial Music: Piano (1 Credit Hours)
OR
MUSP 1123 - Applied Commercial Music: Synthesizer (1 Credit Hours)
Elective - Commercial Music Ensemble (one course) (1 Credit Hours) +
Elective - Applied Commercial Music (two 1-CR hour courses or one 2- CR hour course) (2 Credit Hours) ++
MUSC 2141 - Forum/Recital (1 Credit Hours)

Semester Total: 12 Credit Hours

Semester 2 (Spring)

MUSC 1311 - Commercial Music Sight Singing and Ear Training I (3 Credit Hours)
Elective - Commercial Music Ensemble (one course) (1 Credit Hours) +
OR
Elective - Applied Commercial Music (1 Credit Hours) ++
MUSP 1110 - Applied Commercial Music: Piano (1 Credit Hours)
OR
MUSP 1123 - Applied Commercial Music: Synthesizer (1 Credit Hours)
MUSC 2319 - Commercial Orchestration (3 Credit Hours)
MUSC 2355 - Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) II (3 Credit Hours)
Elective - Commercial Music Ensemble (one course) (1 Credit Hours) +
Elective Applied - Commercial Music (two 1-CR hour courses or one 2- CR hour course) (2 Credit Hours) ++
MUSC 2141 - Forum/Recital (1 Credit Hours)

Semester Total: 15 Credit Hours

Minimum Hours Required: 27 Credit Hours

Electives

+Ensemble Elective

NOTE: All Ensembles are intended for repeatability for advanced practice. A student can take the same ensemble multiple times in different semesters or take different ensembles.

Must be selected from the following:

++Applied Music Elective

Must be selected from the following. NOTE: Student has an option to take two 1-credit hour courses or one 2-credit hour course:

Note(s)

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program who plan to transfer to a four-year institution should consult an advisor or counselor regarding transfer requirements and the transferability of these courses to the four-year institution of their choice.