Contemporary Writing and Production

The Contemporary Writing and Production Department provides many opportunities to develop and improve your composition, arranging, and production skills.

You will apply these skills by writing for and producing acoustic, electronic, and hybrid ensembles. You'll work in a wide range of creative settings, from small groups to orchestra. Whether these groups perform live or in recording studios, you'll have many opportunities to explore contemporary writing concepts, production techniques, and advanced notation practices.

You will gain valuable experience using digital audio workstations (DAWs), digital production suites, and your own portable laptop-based studio. You will learn how to recognize, analyze, and evaluate musical concepts of a wide variety of contemporary styles including electronic, jazz, Latin, pop, rock, musical theater, world music, and many others. You will develop the skills and knowledge to function as a professional writer, arranger, and producer for current and new media.

The Professional Writing and Music Technology Division and the Contemporary Writing and Production Department organize a series of faculty and student concerts, showcasing their compositions and arrangements. A series of prestigious awards and tuition credits are given to our most meritorious students in both the fall and spring semesters.