Minor in Contemporary Writing
The contemporary writing minor provides an opportunity for students to focus and develop their writing skills in a variety of contemporary music styles. The minor allows writers of any genre and media to gain further knowledge in composition, orchestration, and arranging techniques for the rhythm section, horns, and vocals in diverse contemporary music environments that will allow them to complement their major focus and expand their scope of potential writing work in the music industry. The minor focuses on creative aspects, technical knowledge, and practical experiences of writing for these contemporary ensembles supported by the use of a digital audio workstation (DAW) and music technology tools for writers.
This minor is open to all students. Students must complete the following coursework before declaring this minor:
- AR-111: Arranging 1 for Entering Students or AR-123: Arranging 1 for Continuing Students
- ET-112: Ear Training 2 or ET-123: Ear Training 2 for Entering Students
- HR-112: Harmony 2 or HR-114: Harmony 2 for Entering Students
- MTEC-111: Introduction to Music Technology or MTEC-122: Accelerated Introduction to Music Technology
Upon successful completion of this program, students will:
- compose and arrange music for acoustic and hybrid ensembles of varying size and instrumentation;
- analyze and transcribe music in a variety of contemporary styles;
- synthesize and apply knowledge of contemporary styles to the composition of original music;
- write and produce music in a variety of contemporary styles; and
- gain knowledge of digital audio workstations (DAW) and music technology tools for writers.
Required Courses (three courses; 6 credits):
- AR-112: Arranging 2 for Entering Students or AR-124: Arranging 2 for Continuing Students
- CW-171: Groove Writing
- CW-216: Vocal Writing
Contemporary Writing Electives (choose two courses; 4 credits):
- CW-211: Advanced Ensemble Writing
- CW-213: Writing in South American Styles
- CW-218: Jingle Writing
- CW-225: Writing in Salsa Styles
- CW-227: Flamenco Music Composition and Arranging
- CW-257: Musical Theater Arranging and Orchestration
- CW-288: Writing for Brass Ensembles
- CW-316: Advanced Vocal Writing
- CW-358: Writing for Wind Ensemble
Production Elective (choose one course; 2 credits):
- CW-141: Hip-Hop Writing and Production
- PW-241: Remote Production for Writers
- PW-321: Music Writing and Production with the iPad
- PW-361: Multimedia for the Writer
- MP-113: Accelerated Pro Tools Online
- MP-114: Critical Listening Lab Online
- MP-115: Production Analysis Lab Online
- MTEC-214: Producing Music with Logic X
- MTEC-222: Introduction to Synthesizer Programming and Sound Design
- MTEC-225: Introduction to Sampling in Contemporary Music
- SCRN-202: Introduction to Scoring Technology for Media Composers
- SCRN-321: Film and Media Scoring for Composers