The School of Music, Theatre, and Dance offers a range of coursework, opportunities, and facilities for the study of music composition. Applied lessons in composition are available to undergraduate and graduate music majors as well as additional course offerings in arranging, orchestration, electronic music, and music analysis.
Study With
Composition Laboratory
The Music Composition Laboratory (inside the University Center for the Arts) boasts state-of-the-art hardware and software for both composition and audio production. This lab is specifically dedicated for use by composition students only who have 24-hour secure access to the space. It also provides students with access to high-quality laser printers and binding machines for the creation of professional quality scores. The following software programs are currently available:
Notation Software:
- Finale
- Sibelius
Digital Audio:
- Ableton Live Suite
- Max/MSP
- Pro Tools HD
- Logic Pro X
- MOTU Digital Performer
- Reason
- East-West Symphonic Libraries
- Tapspace Percussion Library
Student Achievement
Student composers at CSU have been accepted to numerous prestigious graduate music programs throughout the nation and abroad. Some of the more notable programs are listed below:
- Brandeis University
- Royal Northern College of Music (UK)
- University of Texas – Austin
- University of Kansas
- University of Missouri – Kansas City
- University of Missouri – Columbia
- University of Massachusetts – Amherst
- University of Southern California
- Arizona State University
- Florida State University
- University of Colorado – Boulder
- University of North Texas
- University of Northern Colorado
Additionally, student composers have participated in prominent new music festivals and composition workshops including the following:
- Cortona New Music Sessions (Italy)
- Valencia International Performance Academy & Festival (Spain)
- University of Cincinnati Film Scoring Workshop
- University of Missouri Summer Composers Workshop
- College Music Society Regional Conferences
Composition Events
Composition News
‘Hope Arises’ on the wings of the premiere of James David composition, ‘Flying Jewels’
James M. David, an internationally recognized composer who currently serves as professor of music composition at Colorado State University, is dedicated to creating dynamic and thoughtful music for all. His work is regularly inspired by moving words, images and ideas from the past and present. David’s composition, “Flying Jewels,” was inspired by Brian Doyle’s essay […]
Music professor releases album of contemporary clarinet music composed and performed by colleagues
Colorado State University clarinet professor, Wesley Ferreira, has released an album featuring selections of clarinet music by composer James M. David; Dr. David is the composition professor for the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Contemporary Clarinet Music was released on the OClassica European classical music record label. There are a host of Ferreira’s CSU […]