Graduate (M.M. in Electronic Music Composition)

Master of Music in Electronic Music Composition (M.M.) degree is a two-year program offered by the School of Music to provide an in-depth study of the techniques and aesthetics of Computer Generated/Assisted Composition.

Applicants for a master’s degree in Electronic Music Composition are required to have one of the following degrees: BM, BA, BFA, or BS degrees; they are expected to have skills and experience in music, computer science, engineering, or a similarly related discipline. Background in music technology, computer music, computer science or engineering, musical performance, composition, and/or music theory is highly recommended. Applicants who do not meet the above criteria may be provisionally accepted as a related field student in electronic music composition at the discretion of the Electronic Music Composition faculty in consultation with the Associate Dean, pending completion of recommended additional courses. Admission to this program will require an undergraduate background in music and/or substantial musical skills as well as experience with and knowledge of contemporary music and the art of composition.

The program requires a thesis composition which must be a large scale electronic music work with or without instruments, to be submitted towards the end of the final semester of study.

View specific Masters of Music in Electronic Music Composition Degree Requirements

View the Graduate Catalog for detailed Program Information

Application Portfolio and Curriculum Vitae. To be admitted as an Electronic Composition Major candidates should submit a portfolio of at least three  electronic and/or acoustic compositions (recordings/scores), a list of all compositions up to date and a curriculum vitae. Evidence of experience using a variety of mediums or instrumental ensembles is encouraged. This portfolio serves as the audition for the degree and as such it is advantageous to submit the best representation of the candidate’s experiences, as a strong audition portfolio could result in an offer of financial support or Teaching Assistantship. Curriculum vitae should detail education, any relevant work or teaching experience and achievements, especially with regards to their composition, electronic music, sound engineering and music theory work.

Students who have questions about what to submit with the portfolio should feel free to ask questions before submitting.

Excellent performance skills may also be valuable in obtaining financial support, through scholarships for performance in the School of Music ensembles. For more information, please visit the School of Music financial aid information page.

Admissions Counselor
School of Music
University of Louisville
Louisville KY 40292.

Submit all materials by January 15 to receive full consideration. ALL of the above MUST be submitted before the School of Music can admit a student or make a scholarship offer. 

Performance Opportunities for Electronic/Computer Music There are many opportunities for performances of new compositions, and students will be encouraged to present their work regularly. There are at least two, and often more, computer music concerts each academic year. There are also two student composer recitals per semester and other UofL sponsored opportunities for performances. Student pieces are selected by competitive submission for inclusion on the annual New Music Festival.  There are often other opportunities for performances in the broader Louisville community.

Graduate Music Theory Entrance Exam During the early days of the first semester of study, graduate students take both a Graduate Music Theory Entrance Exam and a Music History Entrance Exam. The topics of the Graduate Theory Exam include: instrumentation, written harmonic analysis, both written and aural structural analysis, written harmonization of a melody, and the aural skills of melodic and harmonic error detection. The exam is divided into Aural and Written components, each of which is assigned a separate grade. Students whose test scores reflect either "rustiness" or a lack of preparation will be required to register for Graduate Theory Review, a course that is designed with one goal: passing the Graduate Theory Exam. Please note that all M.M. students are required to pass both the Aural and Written components of the exam before graduation.

Thesis Review and Graduate Oral Exam The electronic music thesis composition is reviewed and must be approved by the student's three-person thesis committee, of which at least two must be composition faculty (one of whom is the student's electronic music composition teacher). Members of the student's thesis committee must also be members of the UofL Graduate Faculty.

After approval by the thesis committee of the thesis composition, each student meets for about 30 minutes with the Graduate Committee of the School of Music, a six person committee that includes a representative of each School of Music department. This meeting, called the Graduate Oral Exam, is a free-ranging question and answer session in which the student is given the opportunity to demonstrate a broad base of knowledge about music. There may be some degree of focus on the following: orchestration, music history and literature (particularly as these relate to the thesis composition), and the subject matter of any music course taken while a M.M. student at UofL.

Additional Information

If you have questions or would like to talk about anything related to electronic music composition at UofL, please contact Dr. Krzysztof Wolek

(502) 852-6907 - School of Music office phone; a brief message will be forwarded.