Nazareth College Department of Music
Studies in Applied Music:   Composition

Course Number(s):
MUP*1Q*01 — MUP*2Q*01 — MUP*3Q*01 — MUP*4Q*01 

Instructor:   Jonathan J. Turner, Ph.D.
E-mail: jturner9@naz.edu
Telephone: 585-389-2700 (Music Department office)

Room and Building:
Room A-81 (Electronic Studio),
Wilmot Arts Center

Meeting Times & Attendance:
One 50-minute lesson per week will be scheduled individually per semester, before classes begin. Other times, for special presentations or studio recitals, will be arranged per semester. For policy on attendance, see Grades (below).

Projected Time Requirements:
All students are required to spend one hour every day, with one day off per week; also, the lesson counts as one of those hours, too. This leaves a minimum expectation of 5 hours per week outside of class, to complete overall course requirements and make satisfactory progress.

Print this syllabus: MUP1Q01_Syllabus.pdf (88 KB PDF)

Course Description:

Private study in composition is offered by the Music Department. The process of composition is recognized as the primary source of all music and music literature. At Nazareth College, the study of composition provides an opportunity for students to improve their composing skills, consolidate their musicianship, acquire techniques and knowledge that will facilitate composing, and receive constructive feedback on their compositional efforts. The composition course of study is designed primarily for Music Department students, but qualified non-majors may also enroll with the permission of the instructor. Class work will consist of, but not be limited to:

Original creative music projects:

Students will design and work on at least one substantial composition project each semester, with progress monitored by the instructor in the weekly lessons. It is reasonable to expect a prepared student to take such a project, amounting to 3-10 minutes of original music, from conception through composition to completion within one semester: the student will invest one credit-hour of required labor; then, in addition to the academic credit, the student should finish the semester with at least one new musical work of their own authorship.

Practical assignments, exercises and drills:

In order to broaden the student's writing technique while fostering the development of musical imagination, the instructor will assign written exercises within circumscribed musical limits, for example, using certain pitch sets, forms, or models, or setting specified texts. These composition assignments will help the student's facility in the constructive and expressive use of a range of basic music materials. Selected compositional resources are available on Dr. Turner's Words & Music web page, such as the Composing with Nineteen Trichords worksheet.

Directed study related to composing and composition issues:

Arranging and orchestration, performers and venues, using traditional forms and styles, atonal techniques, proper notation in scores and parts, effective setting of text in vocal works, imagination and the genesis of ideas, practical electronic synthesis, uses of music software, other related topics.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS
Any student in need of special accommodations should present me with official notice from the Office for Students with Disabilities. If you have any questions about this, please ask me.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Academic Integrity is essential to the educational Mission of Nazareth College; for the free pursuit of knowledge and understanding is seriously impeded by any form of academic dishonesty. Hence, no form of academic dishonesty will be condoned by the college. Academic dishonesty is understood as any act of deceit bearing on one's own or another's academic work, where "academic work" is understood to mean any activity pertaining to the educational mission of the college. Such acts include, but are not limited to, plagiarism in any form and the use during an exam of information or materials not authorized by the instructor for such use.

STATEMENT OF RESPECT AND DIVERSITY
We, the Nazareth community, embrace both respect for the person and freedom of speech. The College promotes civility and denounces acts of hatred or intolerance. The free exchange of ideas is possible only when concepts, values and viewpoints can be expressed and challenged in a manner that is neither threatening nor demeaning.

It is the policy of Nazareth College, in keeping with its efforts to foster a community in which the diversity of all members is respected, not to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, marital or veteran status, disability, carrier status, genetic predisposition or any other protected status. Respect for the dignity of all peoples is an essential part of the College's tradition and mission, and its vision for the future.