Program Overview
The program in composition, music history and theory aims to develop the aural skills needed by all musicians to provide the necessary theoretical knowledge for the continuing study and performance of music, to develop analytical and esthetic understanding of music forms and styles, and to foster the creative impulse in music.
Students also have access to Westminster’s music computing center, where they can compose, orchestrate, and print their compositions in publishable quality using computers interfaced with sampler/synthesizers as well as sequencing and music printing software.
Curriculum Overview
The curriculum for the undergraduate Theory/Composition major is designed to foster individual creative ability and to develop a broad and informed musicianship along with a knowledge of the literature of all periods. The department welcomes diversity of compositional styles and esthetic viewpoints and encourages exploration on the part of its students. Theory/Composition majors take Composition Class, six semesters of Applied Composition, and complete a senior project which may be a large-scale composition or a theory research paper. The program culminates with a recital of original music written while a student is enrolled at Westminster.
Required musicianship and historiography courses, contemporary trends, music since 1900, and elective theory and music history courses form the core of undergraduate study. The elective courses provide students with opportunities to apply their skills to specific areas of inquiry after satisfying specific prerequisites. All Bachelor of Music candidates must elect one music history elective, a level I theory elective and a level II theory elective. Theory/Composition majors take four additional music theory and history electives.
Degree Offered
- B.M. in Theory and Composition
Contact
Sharon Mirchandani, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair of Music Composition, History, and Theory
Omega House #206
609-921-7100, ext. 8313
smirchandani@rider.edu
Program Website: www.rider.edu/wcc/undergraduate-programs/theory-and-composition
Associated Department: Department of Music History, Theory, and Composition
Related Programs
Faculty
Sharon Mirchandani • Professor and chair, Music History/Theory, 1997. B.M., Bowling Green State University; M.M., Temple University; Ph.D., Rutgers University.
Christian Carey • Associate Professor, Theory/Composition/Music History, 2004. B.M., Juilliard; M.M., Boston University; Ph.D., Rutgers University.
Charles Frantz • Adjunct Associate Professor, Theory/Music History, 2000. B.M., M.M., Temple University; Ph.D., Rutgers University.
Ronald A. Hemmel • Professor, Theory/Composition, 1994. B.M., Westminster Choir College; M.M., James Madison University; M.Phil., Ph.D., Rutgers University.
Jay Kawarsky • Professor, Theory, 1989. B.M.E., Iowa State University; M.M., D.M., Northwestern University.
Anthony Kosar • Professor, Theory, 1984. B.M., West Liberty State College; M.M., Southern Illinois University; Ph.D., The Ohio State University.
Joel Phillips • Professor, Theory, 1985. M.M., Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester; B.M., D.M.A., University of Alabama.
Stefan Young • Professor, Theory, 1979. B.M., Rollins College; M.M., The Juilliard School; Ph.D., Rutgers University.
Theory and Composition Program Requirements
(126 credits)
Learn more about General Undergraduate Requirements.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choirs and Conducting | ||
| CR 109 | Chapel Choir (2 terms) | 2 |
| CR 209 | Schola Cantorum (2 terms) | 2 |
| CR 509 | Symphonic Choir (4 terms) | 4 |
| CR 215 | Fundamentals of Conducting | 3 |
| Applied Music and Diction | ||
| Select one primary from Organ, Piano or Voice 1 | ||
| OR 101B | Organ Primary (2 terms) | 2 |
| or PI 101B | Piano Primary | |
| or VC 201B | Voice Primary | |
| OR 201B | Organ Primary (2 terms) | 2 |
| or PI 201B | Piano Primary | |
| or VC 201B | Voice Primary | |
| OR 301B | Organ Primary (2 terms) | 2 |
| or PI 301B | Piano Primary | |
| or VC 301B | Voice Primary | |
| OR 401B | Organ Primary (2 terms) | 2 |
| or PI 401B | Piano Primary | |
| or VC 401B | Voice Primary | |
| Voice or Piano secondary (4 terms) | 4 | |
| Private Composition (6 terms) | 12 | |
| VC 115 | English & Italian Diction 2 | 2 |
| VC 116 | French & German Diction 2 | 2 |
| Theory and Music History | ||
| TH 141 & TH 142 & TH 241 | Musicianship I and Musicianship II and Musicianship III | 12 |
| TH 342 | Contemporary Trends | 3 |
| Theory level I elective | 3 | |
| Theory level II elective | 3 | |
| MH 247 & MH 248 | Music Historiography I and Music Historiography II | 6 |
| MH 345 | Music Since 1900 | 3 |
| Music history elective | 3 | |
| Professional Studies | ||
| TH 237 | Composition Class | 3 |
| Additional Level I Theory elective | 3 | |
| Additional Level II Theory elective | 3 | |
| Additional Theory or Music History electives (2 courses) | 6 | |
| TH 480 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Arts and Sciences | ||
| CMP 125 | Seminar in Writing and Research | 3 |
| Foreign Language I/II (2 courses) 3 | 6 | |
| Literature or Philosophy elective | 3 | |
| Social/Behavioral/Natural Science elective | 3 | |
| History elective | 3 | |
| Arts & Sciences electives (4 courses) | 12 | |
| Free Electives | ||
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 126 | |
Notes
- 1
Eight terms of one-credit, half-hour lessons (suffix B) are covered under full-time tuition. Students wishing to take a full-hour lesson register for suffix G, and are billed for one half-hour.
- 2
VC 115 and VC 116 are required for voice primary students only. Organ and piano primary students may substitute four additional credits of free electives for these two courses.
- 3
If students are exempted from one or more semesters of foreign language study, they must replace the missing credits with other Arts & Sciences electives.
- 4
Students must present a public recital in the senior year that includes both compositions written by the student and performance on the applied primary instrument. Recitals must be approved in advance by both the Music Composition, History & Theory Department and the applied primary department.
- 5
Attendance requirements at monthly departmental forums must be met.
Academic Plan of Study
The following educational plan is provided as a sample only. Rider students who do not declare a major during their freshman year; who are in a Continuing Education Program; who change their major; or those who transfer to Rider may follow a different plan to ensure a timely graduation. Each student, with guidance from his or her academic advisor, will develop a personalized educational plan.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| CR 109 | Chapel Choir | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Organ Primary | ||
| Piano Primary | ||
| Voice Primary | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Piano Secondary I | ||
| Voice Secondary | ||
| TH 141 | Musicianship I | 4 |
| TH 237 | Composition Class | 3 |
| VC 115 | English & Italian Diction 1 | 2 |
| CMP 125 | Seminar in Writing and Research | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CR 109 | Chapel Choir | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Organ Primary | ||
| Piano Primary | ||
| Voice Primary | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Piano Secondary II | ||
| Voice Secondary | ||
| TH 101A | Composition Primary | 2 |
| TH 142 | Musicianship II | 4 |
| VC 116 | French & German Diction 1 | 2 |
| Arts & Sciences elective | 3 | |
| Literature/Philosophy elective | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CR 109 | Chapel Choir | 1 |
| CR 215 | Fundamentals of Conducting | 3 |
| Select on of the following: | 1 | |
| Organ Primary | ||
| Piano Primary | ||
| Voice Primary | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Piano Secondary III | ||
| Voice Secondary | ||
| MH 247 | Music Historiography I | 3 |
| TH 201A | Composition Primary | 2 |
| TH 241 | Musicianship III | 4 |
| Theory Level I elective | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 18 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CR 209 | Schola Cantorum | 1 |
| TH 201A | Composition Primary | 2 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Organ Primary | ||
| Piano Primary | ||
| Voice Primary | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Piano Secondary for Theory Comp Majors | ||
| Voice Secondary | ||
| MH 248 | Music Historiography II | 3 |
| Arts & Sciences elective | 3 | |
| Theory Level I elective | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CR 509 | Symphonic Choir | 1 |
| TH 301A | Composition Primary | 2 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Organ Primary | ||
| Piano Primary | ||
| Voice Primary | ||
| MH 345 | Music Since 1900 | 3 |
| TH 342 | Contemporary Trends | 3 |
| Social/Behavioral/Natural Science elective | 3 | |
| Theory Level II elective | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CR 509 | Symphonic Choir | 1 |
| TH 301A | Composition Primary | 2 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Organ Primary | ||
| Piano Primary | ||
| Voice Primary | ||
| MH 433 | Seminar in Music History | 3 |
| Arts & Sciences elective | 3 | |
| History elective | 3 | |
| Theory Level II elective | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CR 509 | Symphonic Choir | 1 |
| TH 401A | Composition Primary | 2 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Organ Primary | ||
| Piano Primary | ||
| Voice Primary | ||
| Foreign Language Level I | 3 | |
| Arts & Sciences elective | 3 | |
| Theory or Music History elective | 3 | |
| Free elective | 3 | |
| Applied recital | ||
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CR 509 | Symphonic Choir | 1 |
| TH 480 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Organ Primary | ||
| Piano Primary | ||
| Voice Primary | ||
| Foreign Language Level II | 3 | |
| Theory or Music History elective | 3 | |
| Free elective | 3 | |
| Compositional recital | ||
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Total Credit Hours for Graduation | 126 | |
Courses and Descriptions
CMP 125 Seminar in Writing and Research 3 Credits
Introduces students to the process of library research and documented writing. Emphasis will be on the refinement of critical reading, thinking, and writing strategies applied to multiple sources and documented papers. This course counts towards the fulfillment of the Essential Competencies element of the CLAS general education curriculum.
CR 109 Chapel Choir 1 Credits
Comprised of undergraduate students in their first year of study, Chapel Choir focuses on music for men’s, women’s, and mixed chorus. The ensemble provides the fundamentals of artistic choral ensemble singing and a foundation for all Westminster choral ensembles. Placement hearing required.
CR 209 Schola Cantorum 1 Credits
Comprised of undergraduate students in their second year of study, Schola Cantorum focuses on music for mixed chorus and continues to build and refine the skills developed in Chapel Choir. This ensemble presents campus, community, and regional performances. Placement hearing required.
CR 509 Symphonic Choir 1 Credits
A large mixed chorus comprised of students above the lower division, including graduate students from all disciplines. The ensemble regularly performs in the region and focuses on the major choral/orchestral repertoire along with a wide variety of repertoire for large mixed chorus. Placement hearing required.
CR 215 Fundamentals of Conducting 3 Credits
This course provides the foundation of conducting technique and philosophy as it relates to choral ensemble. Primarily, it deals with the development of basic pedagogical proficiencies, specifically alignment, Laban gestural vocabulary, breathing, beat patterns, consistent tempo, and the development of expressive gesture for relaying various styles of music, i.e., legato, staccato and marcato. Basic philosophical understandings concerning the human aspects of the music making process and the role the conductor plays in that process also are emphasized. Specific techniques for dealing with technical elements, e.g., fermata, dynamics, changes of tempo, contrasts in style, also are covered. The overall focus of the course is to establish the important relationship between ear, body, and the choral sound.
Prerequisite(s): TH 141.
MH 247 Music Historiography I 3 Credits
Historiography I begins by exploring similarities and differences between various music cultures around the world, and continues with an examination of selected genres of Western Art Music of the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods. Basic information literacy skills, such as searching library catalogs, databases and reading academic articles also will be covered.
Prerequisite(s): CMP 125.
MH 248 Music Historiography II 3 Credits
Examines Western Art Music since 1750 and includes a research assignment that builds upon the information literacy skills gained in MH 247.
Prerequisite(s): MH 247.
OR 101B Organ Primary 1 Credits
OR 201B Organ Primary 1 Credits
OR 301B Organ Primary 1 Credits
OR 401B Organ Primary 1 Credits
PI 101B Piano Primary 1 Credits
PI 201B Piano Primary 1 Credits
PI 301B Piano Primary 1 Credits
PI 401B Piano Primary 1 Credits
TH 141 Musicianship I 4 Credits
This course assists students in learning and integrating aural, performance, analytical and composition skills involving diatonic melody and harmony. Both the theoretical and the practical portion must be passed individually in order to receive a passing grade.
Prerequisite(s): TH 045 or passing a placement test.
TH 142 Musicianship II 4 Credits
A continuation of TH 141 involving chromatic melody and harmony with an introduction to binary and ternary form.
Prerequisite(s): minimum "C-" grade in TH 141.
TH 237 Composition Class 3 Credits
Class instruction in original composition. May be taken as a level I elective.
Prerequisite(s): For non Theory/Composition majors only, minimum "C-" grade in TH 142.
TH 241 Musicianship III 4 Credits
A continuation of TH 142 with an introduction to larger musical forms and counterpoint.
Prerequisite(s): minimum "C-" grade in TH 142.
TH 342 Contemporary Trends 3 Credits
An analytical study of the compositional techniques of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Prerequisite(s): TH 241.
TH 480 Senior Project 3 Credits
Independent study in theory or composition resulting in either a paper comparable to a substantial journal article or a composition in one of the larger forms.
Prerequisite(s): Five semesters of private composition study.
VC 101A Voice Primary 2 Credits
VC 115 English & Italian Diction 2 Credits
Introduction to the rules of singing English and Italian through the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) with oral and written drill.
VC 116 French & German Diction 2 Credits
Introduction to the rules of singing French and German through the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) with oral and written drill.
Prerequisite(s): VC 115.
VC 201B Voice Primary 1 Credits
VC 301B Voice Primary 1 Credits
VC 401A Voice Primary 2 Credits