Composition FAQ

Each year we have a prominent composer in residence for six weeks, during which time s/he will give lecture/presentations, Masterclasses, have performances of his/her music, and -- most importantly! -- give individual composition lessons to our comp majors. This isn't just a "drive-by" situation where you would have a one-time 20-minute "lesson," but rather each student has multiple lessons and the chance to develop a meaningful relationship with the composer.

Our composers-in-residence are listed below:

• Matthias Pintscher (2023)
• Anthony Davis (2022)
• Tania León (2021)
• Geore Lewis (2020)
• Melinda Wagner (2019) 
• Christopher Theofanidis (2018)
• Augusta Read Thomas (2017)
• Martin Bresnick (2016)
• Stephen Hartke (2015)

We do our best to accommodate the desires of students of who they want to study with, and normally are able to do so. We do encourage composers to rotate and study with more than one person, to get differing perspectives and experiences.

Yes! Nearly all students write a fair amount of electronic music and take advantage of our facilities. We have state-of-the-art electronic/computer music studios. Students can have access to both once they are "licensed". There is a third recording studio for the Music Engineering majors, which composition students have access to for recording their compositions. Jazz composition is also available -- MTC students are welcome to take jazz arranging and composition classes by making arrangements with Gary Lindsey (Director of the jazz comp program).

Composition majors (grad and undergrad) can take any class in the Media Scoring and Production area, including film music. There is a great deal of cross-fertilization, and the “concert music" composers have many opportunities to work in the studios, score films/videos, and do multimedia projects.

We are highly selective and keep our enrollment at a point where students have optimum individual contact with the faculty and their primary professor. We limit the enrollment to about 10-12 undergraduates and 12-14 graduate students between the M.M. and D.M.A. levels.

Between 650-700 students.

This is a big strength of the Frost Composition program. The number of performance opportunities at the Frost School for student composers is staggering. The bottom line is that just about anything and everything you can write can get a performance. We encourage you to go to the “Opportunities for Student Composers” link on the Composition page to see a list of many of them.

One of the great assets of the Frost School of Music is the steady stream of guest composers who visit campus and work with our student composers. In addition to this new Distinguished Composer-in-Residence program, each year we bring eminent composers of international stature and other Guest Composers to lecture and work with student performers and composers. In recent years the list of composers who have visited campus is a veritable "who's who" list of important American composers, including:

• Bernard Rands (Pulitzer Prize winner)
• John Corigliano (Pulitzer Prize winner)
• Philip Glass, Steve Reich (Pulitzer Prize winner)
• Jennifer Higdon (Pulitzer Prize winner)
• Christopher Rouse (Pulitzer Prize winner)
• Ellen Taaffe-Zwilich (Pulitzer Prize winner)
• Libby Larsen
• Michael Daugherty
• Michael Torke
• John Mackey
• Joel Puckett
• Alejandro Vinao
• Steven Bryant
• Mark O'Connor
• Frederic Rzewski
• Ken Ueno
• Mason Bates
• Mary Ellen Childs
• John Duffy
• Yui-Hui Chang
• Howard Frazin
• Brian Hulse
• Jose Serebrier

Miami is a fabulous city. As with many of the major cities, Miami has its share of dance and opera companies, and The New World Symphony conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas is just one example of the exceptional professional groups that reside in the Miami area. But beyond that, there is a vibrant art and experimental scene that has developed recently. Miami’s yearly Art Basel festival is the most important art show in the United States bringing in experimental artists from all over the world. Miami also boasts a plethora of theatre companies and its film festival is internationally recognized. And that is just in the Miami area!

In the realm of contemporary music, Miami hosts the "12 Nights" concert series (focusing on electronic and multimedia works) and the Acoustica 21 concert series (both founded by faculty member Juraj Kojs), the Kendall Sound Arts monthly new music series, the Subtropics Festival, the Deering Estate "Living Artist" series, the ISCM/New Music Miami series, and Foundation for Emerging Technologies and Art (FETA).

There is a good amount of financial support for students. 

At the undergraduate level, many students are offered scholarships and financial aid. These financial aid packages range from partial tuition to full tuition.  Financial aid and scholarships are based on a variety of factors, including academics (GPA and SAT scores), the instrumental audition, composition portfolio, and financial need.  

There are several different levels of support for graduate students:

Teaching Assistantships are available which allow students to teach and work within the unique Experiential Curriculum at the Frost School of Music.  These assistantships include tuition and stipend. Qualifying for an Assistantship is part of a very competitive process.  The number of assistantships available each year varies and is directly dependent on the number of students who are graduated.

Partial Tuition waivers are also available.  For D.M.A. students these are 50% of tuition and for M.M. students the tuition waiver is 40%.

More details about TA'ships and financial aid can be obtained from Karen Kerr (Director of Admissions), Dr. Mason (Chair), and Dean Shannon de l'Etoile (Dean of Graduate Studies).

Undergraduate: Undergraduate applicants must audition on their primary instruments in addition to submitting a composition portfolio.  The requirements for each instrument differ so make sure you go to the admissions page to see what requirements fall under your instrument.  Regional auditions take place at various locations around the country, look for it under the Admissions page. Though an on-site audition is not required, we recommend it if possible, as it will give you and your parents a chance to visit the University of Miami campus and see the Frost School of Music facilities. It also will give you a chance to attend the Composition Forum and sit in on other classes, if desired, and meet current composition students.  Most importantly it will provide a chance for you to meet with the composition faculty.

Graduate: No instrumental audition is required for M.M. and D.M.A. applicants.  An on-site interview is not required for admission. You will be contacted by the chair of the department if you are a finalist for an assistantship to participate in an on-site interview, which is required for consideration for a Teaching Assistantship. 

A part of the interview is a short test to evaluate your qualifications and skills in theory and ear training/musicianship.  Most TA's teach in the EMC (Experiential Music Curriculum), and it is absolutely imperative that they have solid skills in theory/harmony, as well as a high level of proficiency in aural skills, sight-singing, and keyboard skills.  We do not require TA's to be "pianists"; but they need to be able to play basic chord progressions (without notation), cadences, and be able to play basic examples for students in class.

A short test is given to assess these skills.  You will be asked to play a fairly straightforward chord progression (for example, i-VI-iv-V/V-V-VI), using proper voice-leading and standard voicings.  You may be asked to elaborate a diatonic progression with chromatic harmony (Neopolitan or Aug-6 chord), and/or modulate to another key. A similar type of progression will be played for you, and you will be asked to identify the harmonies.  You may be asked to play a few measures from a Bach Chorale or something similar, and asked to do some straightforward harmonization or analysis.

Students interested in the technology assistantship will interview separately and will be asked to describe their experience with current technology software.