Overview
The Electronic Music major at CMU combines instruction in emerging practices for sound design, computer-based music generation, and electronic/electro-acoustic/intermedia performance, together with a rigorous education in traditional music subjects. Our students’ exploration of emerging modes of sound synthesis, creative coding, and electronic instrument design are grounded with courses in music theory, history, solfege, and conducting. The Electronic Music major combines studies in electronic music composition, performance, production, and sonic art to form an integrative approach to the future of music-making.
Electronic Music majors write and perform music with CMU’s ground-breaking Exploded Ensemble, a group dedicated to multimedia performances of new experimental music. Working in state-of-the-art facilities for immersive sound, visuals, and immersive interaction, the Electronic Music major culminates in an ambitious capstone, which may take the form of an evening-length performance, an interactive experience, or a multimedia recording project.
| Bachelor of Science Programs in Music | Minimum Units Required for Graduation |
|---|
| Bachelor of Fine Arts in Electronic Music | 404 |
Curriculum
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Electronic Music students must take at least 3 semesters of 57-421 Exploded Ensemble, after which they can enroll in other 6-unit ensembles only, if they choose.
FIRST-YEAR FALL (58 units)
FIRST-YEAR SPRING (56 units)
SECOND-YEAR FALL (53 units)
|
Units |
| 57-100 | Convocation | 1 |
| 57-163 | Eurhythmics III | 3 |
| 57-173 | Survey of Western Music History | 9 |
| 57-183 | Solfege III | 3 |
| or 57-487 | Advanced Solfege III |
| 57-188 | Repertoire and Listening for Musicians | 1 |
| 57-193 | Keyboard Studies III | 3 |
| 57-257 | Orchestration I | 6 |
| 57-421 | Exploded Ensemble | 6 |
| 57-523 | Major Studio (Electronic Music) | 9 |
| 57-560 | Electronic Music Seminar | 3 |
| | 9 |
| | 53 |
SECOND-YEAR SPRING (52 units)
THIRD-YEAR FALL (52 units)
|
Units |
| 15-104 | Introduction to Computing for Creative Practice | 10 |
| or 15-110 | Principles of Computing |
| or 15-112 | Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science |
| 57-332 | Introduction to Conducting | 6 |
| 57-421 | Exploded Ensemble
or 57-4XX Exploded Ensemble or other Ensemble | 6 |
| 57-521 | Major Studio (Composition) | 9 |
| 57-560 | Electronic Music Seminar | 3 |
| | 9 |
| | 12 |
| | 55 |
THIRD-YEAR SPRING (47 units)
|
Units |
| 57-344 | Experimental Sound Synthesis | 9 |
| 57-359 | Audiovisual Composition | 9 |
| 57-421 | Exploded Ensemble
or 57-4XX Exploded Ensemble or other Ensemble | 6 |
| 57-521 | Major Studio (Composition) | 9 |
| 57-560 | Electronic Music Seminar | 3 |
| | 12 |
| | 48 |
FOURTH-YEAR FALL (45 units)
|
Units |
| 57-421 | Exploded Ensemble
or 57-4XX Exploded Ensemble or other Ensemble | 6 |
| 57-521 | Major Studio (Composition) | 9 |
| 57-560 | Electronic Music Seminar | 3 |
| | 9 |
| | 9 |
| | 9 |
| | 45 |
FOURTH-YEAR SPRING (43 units)
|
Units |
| 57-421 | Exploded Ensemble
or 57-4XX Exploded Ensemble or other Ensemble | 6 |
| 57-521 | Major Studio (Composition) | 9 |
| 57-560 | Electronic Music Seminar | 3 |
| 57-595 | Senior Electronic Music Project | 1 |
| | 9 |
| | 6 |
| | 9 |
| | 43 |
| BFA in Electronic Music Course Categories | Total Units Required |
|---|
| Major Studio | 72 |
| Ensemble | 48 |
| Electronic Music Support | 42 |
| Music Electives | 27 |
| Electronic Music Seminar | 24 |
| Convocation | 4 |
| Other Music Courses | 120 |
| Mandatory CMU Courses (Core@CMU, First-Year Writing, GCD) | 21 |
| General Studies | 36 |
| 15-104, 15-110, or 15-112 | 10/12 |
