Bachelor of Music in Composition

As a composition major, you will develop your individual compositional voice through a variety of active composing projects, alongside the study of contemporary music, orchestration, analysis, harmony, and counterpoint. Over eight semesters, while completing the college’s core music curriculum, you’ll receive opportunities to work with a diverse community of student musicians, distinguished faculty, industry professionals, and world-class visiting artists.

WATCH

Meet the Composition Department

Berklee’s Composition Department is an open-minded program providing you the opportunities to find and develop your own compositional voice.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Learn about financial aid, scholarships, and others ways of paying for your Berklee education.
Study Abroad

Study abroad at our Valencia, Spain, campus. It is recommended that Composition majors study in Valencia during their third or fourth semester. For specific program information, please see the chair of your major or contact the study abroad office.

Student Works

Watch Performances of New Works by Composition Majors

Listen to Eunike Tanzil's original "Winter Matcha" and works by other students in Berklee's composition major.

Alumni Story

Jessie Cox, B.M. '17

Described by VAN magazine as “a multifaceted Black Swiss composer, performer, and scholar,” Jessie Cox makes music about the universe and our future in it.

Alumni Story

Roberto Toscano, B.M. '06

Great results sometimes come through serendipitous meetings. The success of contemporary composer Roberto Toscano might be traced to an introduction to late Berklee professor Vuk Kulenovic when Toscano was a Berklee student. After that, the young Brazilian changed his direction from guitar to composing, studying intensely with Kulenovic.

Full Description

Composition majors study contemporary composition approaches, analysis, orchestration, harmony, counterpoint, and music history. The composition program prepares a composer to enter the contemporary music field by building strong fundamentals, developing their own individual compositional voice, and interacting with the vibrant and vast contemporary concert music field of today. Majors can choose from a variety of internationally recognized composition faculty for individual composition lessons. Most classes in the major utilize composition as a learning tool, giving students robust opportunities to develop their writing skills. While deeply knowledgeable in regard to historical trends and techniques of the 16th–21st centuries, composition faculty embrace contemporary practices and diverse styles and approaches. The student will demonstrate mastery of these skills and concepts by completing a portfolio of scores that include (but are not limited to) solo, chamber, vocal, and orchestral music.

In addition to studying the aesthetics and craft of composition, students gain valuable professional skills by working with performers, leading rehearsals, conducting and performing new music, and producing their own performances. Students also have opportunities to gain skills as orchestrators, arrangers, conductors, and assistants. Program graduates are ready to gain entry to a graduate program in composition and pursue a career as a professional composer, orchestrator, music director, teacher, scholar, or practitioner of music composition.

What Will I Learn?

Upon completion of a major in composition, students will:

compose original scores of solo and chamber music, vocal and choir music, and full symphony orchestra;
develop their own individual compositional voice;
interact with internationally recognized visiting artists and ensembles;
understand the contemporary music practices active today;
analyze musical compositions in a variety of contemporary and historical styles;
master the fundamentals in composition, orchestration, harmony, counterpoint, contemporary techniques, analysis, and history;
synthesize and apply historical knowledge of compositional practices to the creation of original musical works;
rehearse and conduct a performance of original composition;
produce a recording of original compositions; and
evaluate the historical, social, and cultural context of musical compositions.

Entrance Requirements

There are no entrance requirements to declare this major.

Curriculum and Courses

There are 32 required credits specific to this major in addition to the B.M. required core music courses (41 credits), liberal arts courses (40 credits), and general electives (7 credits) for a degree total of 120 credits. See the sample curriculum for more information.