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Music Composition

Bring your original music to life with Converse’s Music Composition major. Develop your unique compositional voice through various active projects and learn to compose anything from a piano etude to an orchestral film score. Study alongside our diverse community of distinguished faculty, industry professionals, and world-class visiting musicians. A life and career filled with musical creativity are within reach at Converse University.

Degree Offered

  • Bachelor of Music in Composition

Related Degree

  • BMA in Contemporary Music (Media Applications)

About Music Composition

If you are truly passionate about creating music, a Composition degree will provide you with the foundation in music creation and analysis you need to launch your career. In addition to performing, you will study music historically and analytically, alongside other disciplines, and develop your original work under the mentorship of talented professionals who are also caring, dedicated teachers.

  • Our faculty members are practicing composers, producers, and performers
  • Our remarkably low student/teacher ratio ensures ongoing personal interaction with faculty
  • Explore unique, interdisciplinary courses and honors classes

Create Your Own Music–And Your Own Ensemble

At Converse, students can create their own ensembles centered on their interests. Want to write a piece for flute, oboe, and xylophone and get it performed? Go for it–the sky’s the limit! You’ll earn ensemble credit while developing relationships with fellow student musicians who will be part of your musical network for life.

The Annual Pajama Concert

One of Converse’s beloved traditions is the annual Pajama Concert featuring Converse composers and friends. Student and faculty composers, performers and friends wear their favorite jammies for an evening of original music written and performed by Converse’s own. Many styles of music are represented from classical to electronica to singer/songwriter.

A Bachelor of Music (BM) in Composition emphasizes the creation of music. As a composition major, you will take private lessons in composition for all four years of your program, in which you will focus on developing aural and analytical skills, composition techniques, expanding your unique creative instincts, and discovering your own compositional voice. You will also develop self-knowledge, a historical understanding, and a better appreciation of your own creative voice. As a composition student, you will develop composition skills and gain an in-depth understanding of history, theory and literature.

Music Composition at Converse

In your senior year, you will present a recital of original works, and have the opportunity to present an Honors Thesis.

Sample Courses

  • Composition Lessons
  • Diverse Cultures and Their Music
  • Principles of Harmony
  • Counterpoint
  • Electronic Music
  • 20th-Century Idioms
  • Piano Class
  • Music History
  • Fundamentals of Conducting

View the BM in Composition requirements.

Course Offerings & Academic Catalogs

What are common careers in Composition?

  • Freelance Composer
  • FIlm and Video Composer
  • Performer
  • Conductor
  • Music Teacher

Next Steps

  • Request info Connect with us Opens new window
  • Visit the campus We will be your home
  • Apply online Start your journey Opens new window

Department News

Mildred Roche ’79 Wins Fran Pinson Pianist Award

Mildred Roche, ’79, Instructor of Accompanying for Converse’s Petrie School of Music, is the 2023 Fran McMillan Pinson Collaborative Pianist Award recipient. The award, from the South Carolina Chapter of …

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Converse’s 2022-2023 Faculty Symposia Lineup

The Office of Research and Engagement at Converse University promotes collegewide engagement in research and scholarly creative work. The office supports and assists faculty, students, and staff from the conception …

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Music Business Students Hold Rock Concert to Benefit World Central Kitchen

By Yarelis Cardona ’23 The Cookin’ With Rock Concert was held by Converse’s Music Business & Technology Program to showcase the incredible talent among our faculty, students, and alumni. This …

Read More

Programs of Study

Converse offers over 100 majors, minors, certificates, and graduate programs across 2 campuses and online.

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