Music Performance Major: Composition (BMus)
In addition to a unique blend of Bible studies, integrated throughout the music education curriculum, students study under successful commercial and art music composers and enjoy masterclasses with superb performing artists and teachers. You will compose music in a variety of genres and styles – our curriculum spans instruction in songwriting to orchestral music and electronic composition. Aside from rubbing shoulders with music industry professionals, our composition students often collaborate with other music majors to bring their pieces to life through recordings and concerts.
Degree: Bachelor in Music
Majors: Biblical Studies, Music Performance (Composition)
Major Mission: The Music Performance major is designed to facilitate a high level of artistic training that, paired with the students' biblical and worship studies, will produce cross-cultural leaders uniquely prepared to influence the world of performing arts with grace and truth and to serve the local body with their gifts and talents.
Program Director:
Bruce Gerlach, Doctor of Musical Arts
Faculty List:
Paul Thorlakson, Doctor of Musical Arts
Major Outcomes:
Students will:
- Technical: Demonstrate basic musicianship skills in sight-singing, dictation, conducting, voice and piano.
- Faith Integration: Describe and demonstrate the integration of Biblical faith in life and career as artists.
- Synthesis: Apply historical and theoretical understanding to the analysis, performance, and creation of musical forms, processes, and structures found in representative examples from the western music tradition.
- Demonstrate professional skills in musical composition
- Demonstrate knowledge of diverse historic and modern compositional methods
Program Requirements: In order to fulfill the baccalaureate requirements in music performance, the student must:
Continuation in MWPA Programs Upon completion of 42 credits and/or during the second semester Sophomore year, the MWPA Faculty will vote on the student’s formal acceptance into the specific program leading toward graduation.
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Criteria for formal acceptance:
- Satisfactory evaluation of jury performance (2 semesters)
- Cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C average)
- Professional GPA of 2.7 (B- average)
- Applied GPA of 3.0 (B average)
- Attendance at required departmental events
- Participation in and attendance at departmental performance events
Probation
For freshmen, if applied gpa is between 2.0-3.0 and/or professional gpa is between 2.0-2.7, student will be on probation for sophomore year.
For sophomores, if applied gpa is between 2.0-3.0 and/or professional gpa is between 2.0-2.7, student will meet with the department chair to determine continued action plan.
If applied and/or professional gpa is below 2.0, students will be asked to find another major.
Music Performance Major: Composition Curriculum
Freshman Year
Fall Semester
| LBC 100 | Foundations Seminar | 1 |
| THE 105 | Prelude to Biblical & Theological Studies | 3 |
| LAN 101 | College Composition and Research | 3 |
ENS ____
| Ensemble (primary) | 1 |
ENS ____
| Ensemble (NC) | 0 |
MAP ____
| Applied Music Lesson | 1 |
| MAP 100 | MPWA Forum | 0 |
| MUL 101 | Piano Lab I | 1 |
| MUS 101 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUS 101L | Musicianship I Lab | 1 |
| MWP 102 | Intro to Music, Worship, & the Performing Arts | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Spring Semester
| BIB 106 | Interpreting the Bible | 3 |
| LAN 104 | Public Speaking | 3 |
MAT ____
| MAT Core | 3 |
ENS ____
| Ensemble (primary) | 1 |
ENS ____
| Ensemble (NC) | 0 |
MAP ____
| Applied Music Lesson | 1 |
| MAP 100 | MPWA Forum | 0 |
| MUL 102 | Piano Lab II | 1 |
| MUS 102 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUS 102L | Musicianship II Lab | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
| CSV 201 | Christian Service I | 0 |
| BIB 103 | Creation & Covenants: OT I | 3 |
HIS ____
| HIS Core (100/200 Level) | 3 |
| HUM 340 | Music History II | 3 |
LIT ____
| LIT Core (100/200 Level) | 3 |
ENS ____
| Ensemble (primary) | 1 |
ENS ____
| Ensemble (NC) | 0 |
MAP ____
| Applied Music Lesson | 1 |
| MAP 100 | MPWA Forum | 0 |
| MAP 100 | MPWA Forum | 0 |
| MUS 201 | Music Theory III | 3 |
| MUS 201L | Musicianship Lab III | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Spring Semester
| CSV 202 | Christian Service II | 0 |
| BIB 104 | Israel's Life & Literature: OT II | 3 |
| THE 223 | Christian Narrative I: Creation & Fall | 3 |
____ ____
| Human Culture Elective | 3 |
ENS ____
| Ensemble (primary) | 1 |
ENS ____
| Ensemble (NC) | 0 |
MAP ____
| Applied Music Lesson | 1 |
| MAP 100 | MPWA Forum | 0 |
| MUS 301 | Music Theory IV: Adv. Harmony | 3 |
| MUS 301L | Musicianship Lab IV | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Junior Year
Fall Semester
| BIB 203 | Life of Christ: NT I | 3 |
| THE 224 | Christian Narrative II: Redemption | 3 |
____ ____
| Arts & Sciences Elective | 3 |
ENS ____
| Ensemble (primary) | 1 |
ENS ____
| Ensemble (NC) | 0 |
| MAP 302 | Applied Music - Composition | 1 |
| MAP 100 | MPWA Forum | 0 |
| MUS 212 | Contemporary Theory & Arranging | 3 |
| MUS 330 | Form & Analysis | 3 |
| MWP 301 | Worship & Performing Arts Internship I | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Spring Semester
Senior Year
Fall Semester
BNT ____
| Bible New Testament Exegetical Elective | 3 |
____ ____
| Arts & Sciences Elective | 3 |
ENS ____
| Ensemble (primary) | 1 |
ENS ____
| Ensemble (NC) | 0 |
| MAP 302 | Applied Music - Composition | 1 |
| MAP 100 | MPWA Forum | 0 |
| MUS 312 | Rhythm Section Methods | 3 |
| MUS 332 | Orchestration | 3 |
| MWP 450 | Worship and Performing Arts Practicum | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
THE 320
| | |
| HUM 440 | Music History III | 3 |
SCI ____
| SCI____ Science with Lab 4 credits | 4 |
ENS ____
| Ensemble (primary) | 1 |
ENS ____
| Ensemble (NC) | 0 |
| MAP 302 | Applied Music - Composition | 1 |
| MAP 100 | MPWA Forum | 0 |
| MPR 401 | Performance Career Seminar | 1 |
| MPR 499 | Senior Recital | 1 |
| MUS 335 | Composition with Electronic Media | 3 |
| MWP 400 | MWPA Cross Cultural Externship | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |