Studies & Degrees in Theory and Composition
Theory and composition is the branch of music studies that joins two activities: understanding how music is built, and writing new music. Music theory covers harmony, counterpoint, form and analysis, together with the ear training that lets a musician recognise and write down what is heard. Composition applies that knowledge to original works for voices, instruments, ensembles and electronic media.
The two are taught side by side because each feeds the other. At Ithaca College, the Department of Composition and Music Studies describes its aim as cultivating musicians who listen analytically, think critically, write dynamically and create insightfully. It teaches the core courses in aural skills, music theory, and music in its social and historical context that every music student at the college takes.
What students learn
The Bachelor of Music in Composition at Ithaca College is a useful example of the content. Students take composition lessons in every year of the degree, alongside music theory, aural skills, keyboard musicianship, conducting, orchestration, sixteenth- or eighteenth-century counterpoint, electroacoustic music, composition for multimedia and sound design. They also play or sing in ensembles.
The work is assessed mainly through a portfolio. Each composition student at Ithaca must complete a choral work, a solo voice collection with accompaniment, a solo piano work, a work for one or more strings, a work involving an electronic medium, a chamber work and a work for a large ensemble, and the degree ends with a composition recital.
Qualifications and levels
- United States. The usual first degree is a Bachelor of Music (B.M.). At Ithaca College the Composition major requires 120 credits, of which 90 are in the major and 30 are liberal arts credits. Applicants to music programmes in the United States are typically required to submit recordings, audition in person, or both, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Argentina. The Facultad de Artes of the Universidad Nacional de La Plata offers a Licenciatura en Música with an orientation in Composición and a Profesorado en Música with the same orientation; the Profesorado is the teaching qualification.
- Spain. Composition is one of the seven specialities of the official higher music studies taught at conservatories (Composición, Dirección, Interpretación, Musicología, Pedagogía, Producción y gestión and Sonología). The curriculum has four academic years of 60 credits each, 240 credits in total, and admission requires passing a specific entrance test for the speciality.
- Master's degree and doctorate. Graduate study is common for those who want to teach at university level. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that for some positions employers may prefer candidates with a master's degree in a field such as music theory, music composition or conducting.
Where to study it
The SpainExchange directory lists four schools for this subject: three in the United States and one in Argentina. Ithaca College (Ithaca, New York) and Calvin College (Grand Rapids, Michigan) teach in English. The Universidad Nacional de La Plata teaches in Spanish. Because the field is small, compare the composition faculty, the ensembles available to perform student works and the studio facilities for electronic music before choosing.
Careers
Composers write and arrange original music in a variety of styles; some arrange existing music, write for film, television or games, or work on commission for orchestras and other groups. Many graduates combine composing with teaching, performing or conducting.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics counts about 51,100 jobs for music directors and composers in the United States in 2025. A quarter of them are self-employed, and 58 per cent work for religious, civic, professional and similar organisations. Employment is projected to grow 1 per cent from 2025 to 2035, slower than the average for all occupations, so competition for paid positions is strong.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to play an instrument to study composition?
Yes, in practice. Music programmes typically ask for recordings, an audition or both, and degrees such as the one at Ithaca College include keyboard musicianship and ensemble credits.
How long does a composition degree take?
The Bachelor of Music at Ithaca College requires 120 credits. In Spain, the official higher music studies in the speciality of Composición have four academic years and 240 credits.
What is the difference between music theory and composition?
Music theory analyses how existing music works; composition creates new music. Degree programmes teach them together, and composition students take theory, aural skills and counterpoint throughout.
Can I study composition in Spanish?
Yes. In the directory, the Universidad Nacional de La Plata in Argentina offers a Licenciatura en Música with an orientation in Composición, and in Spain composition is an official speciality of higher music studies.