Overview

The Music Composition program of Vanderbilt University capitalizes on Blair's integral role in the artistic, creative, and intellectual life of one of the finest institutions of higher learning in the nation. The opportunity and responsibility afforded our students to take a wide variety of Vanderbilt's excellent course offerings point to a founding principle of the program: in order to master the craft of composing, a student needs to investigate the vast network of relationships between music, art, history, literature, philosophy, and a host of other disciplines. To that end, we also offer the Musical Arts Degree in Composition, which has a secondary area outside of music built within its structure.

Blair alumni have continued on to successful careers and/or graduate studies both inside and outside of music, including graduate studies in concert art music at major schools of music in the United States and Europe; film scoring, arranging, and orchestrating; and applied work in other aspects of the music industry, such as arts administration and business. Composition majors may also choose to enhance their studies by taking a minor or second major in another field, at times in pursuit of admission into top Medical Schools and Law Schools.

Key Facts

The Blair building incorporates innovative developments in acoustical design and engineering. It contains teaching studios, classrooms, practice rooms, library, administrative offices, a large electronic piano lab, instrumental and choral rehearsal halls, the 272-seat Steve and Judy Turner Recital Hall, and the 609-seat Ingram Hall which includes full staging capability with orchestra pit, orchestra shell, full lighting/sound systems, and opera scene shop.

The Anne Potter Wilson Music Library is a division of the Jean and Alexander Heard Library system. It is a central gathering place with plentiful spaces for study and contemplation, where researchers and the music library staff collaboratively work to access resources and information in the field of music. The current collections contain more than 110,000 books, scores, sound and video recordings, and subscriptions to journals and online music databases.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

The Syntax of Music

Harmonic Idioms of the Common Practice Period

Elements of Analysis

Musical Expansions: the 20th Century to the Present

Composition Workshop

Music, the Arts, and Ideas

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-08-20 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-01-01 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

130

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TOEFL^® IBT

100

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Credits

120 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Nashville, United States

Disciplines

Music Composition View 312 other Bachelors in Music Composition in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

130

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

All required parts of the Coalition Application or Common Application

$50 nonrefundable application fee, or fee waiver for qualified students

Official high school transcript

Counselor letter of recommendation

Two academic teacher letters of recommendation

Optional for students applying for fall entry: SAT or ACT scores

International applicants will be prompted to complete an international section of the Common Application

Official results of the TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL Essentials, IELTS, PTE Academic, or Duolingo English Test if applicable

A completed College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile, if applicable

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

67934 USD / year

≈ 67934 USD / year
Out-of-State

67934 USD / year

≈ 67934 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

67934 USD / year

≈ 67934 USD / year

Living costs

Nashville

United States

1183 - 2197 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Music Composition.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Key Facts

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Nashville

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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