Composition lessons are available to a small group of serious students who are prepared to make a weekly time commitment to their creative work.  The composition curriculum at Interlochen is excellent preparation for those who wish to major in composition in college.  The individualized program encourages students to cultivate their own unique and creative expression, while becoming familiar with important trends in 20th century music.

Composers have the opportunity to present their works 4-5 times during the school year in Composers' Forums.  Much emphasis in the composition program is also given to knowledge of proper notation, professional preparation of scores and parts for rehearsals and performances, and the assembling of a diverse portfolio for college auditions. 

All composer's enroll in the theory class appropriate to their level Theory and Musicianship, Advanced Theory and Musicianship or Super Theory.  (see Muscic Theory and Musicianship for details).

DESCRIPTION OF COURSE

COMPOSITION SEMINAR
Grades 9-12
Composition students only
Meets weekly, Thursday afternoon
Full Year Course, Composition Requirement

Objectives
Exposure to and study of a wide variety of 20th century composition styles and techniques.

Study of orchestration

Instruction in composition preparation (notation, transposing instruments, how to copy parts, etc.)

"Master Class" sessions in which students present works in progress for peer commentary.

Readings of student works in progress.

Lectures from visiting guest composers.

MUSIC FOUNDATIONS
Grades 9-12
Seating Priority given to upper level (grade 11/12) music students, Music Composition students
Year Long Course
.50 credits per semester meets daily

This class offers instruction in beginning keyboard, sight singing and aural skills as well as some of the basic information prior to enrolling in Music Theory and Musicianship, based on their performance on the diagnostic test given at the beginning of the year.  The program offers instruction by a faculty member as well as tutoring sessions by advanced students.  Students who need this course as a pre-requisite for Theory and Musicianship should have completed it prior to the senior year.

MUSIC THEORY AND MUSICIANSHIP
Grades 9-12
Seating Priority given to upper level (grade 11/12) music students, Music Composition students
Year Long Course
.50 credits per semester meets daily

This is a comprehensive course in which fundamentals, harmony, analysis, counterpoint, ear training, sight-singing, keyboard skills, and some composition are studied concurrently.

There are several sections of this course in which the students are grouped homogeneously by ear-training level.
 
First Semester
Fundamentals, harmony, analysis and counterpoint:
Notation, key signatures, scales, triads, 7th chords, non-chord tones, functional diatonic harmony, harmonic analysis, voice-leading principles and the 4-part chorale style, phrase structure, cadences.

Ear Training:
Understanding the diatonic scale, scale recognition, sight-singing diatonic melodies, diatonic melodic dictation, basic diatonic harmonic dictation, intervals, triad and 7th chord recognition.

Keyboard Skills:
Playing scales, building triads and 7th chords, playing written homework assignments.

Composition:
Writing tonal melodies, harmonic progressions in the 4-part chorale style.

Second Semester
Harmony, analysis, counterpoint and form:
Modes, secondary dominants, modulation; binary, sonata, and ternary forms.

Ear training:
Dictation and sight-singing of chromatic and modulating melodies, more difficult harmonic dictation, aural recognition of cadences, modes, and phrase structure.

Keyboard Skills:
Playing harmonic progressions, transposition, score reading (different clefs, etc.).

Composition:
More chorale-style (using concepts covered in written theory); other, as appropriate (a canon, the subject of a fugue, the exposition of a piece in sonata form, etc.).

ADVANCED THEORY AND MUSICIANSHIP
Grades 9-12
Prerequisite: Music Theory and Musicianship or exemption
Seating Priority given to upper level (grade 11/12) music students, Music Composition students
Year Long Course
.50 credits per semester meets daily

A comprehensive course in which harmony, analysis, counterpoint, ear training, sight-singing, keyboard skills, and some composition are studied concurrently from an historical perspective.

YEARLY CURRICULUM
Music History:
Classwork and assignments to become familiar with representative works from all periods of music history.

Harmony, analysis, counterpoint, and form:
Altered chords (Neapolitan sixth and augmented sixths), binary, sonata, and ternary forms; passacaglia, canon, fugue, analysis of larger scale works; historical counterpoint; isorhythm, 16th century style, species counterpoint.

Composition:
Harmonic progressions in the 4-part chorale style; other (writing the exposition of a fugue, etc.).

Ear Training:
Dictation and sight-singing of chromatic and modulating melodies, more difficult harmonic dictation; aural recognition of compound intervals, chord inversions, 7th chord qualities.

Keyboard Skills:
Playing harmonic progressions, transposition, score reading (different clefs, etc.).