Composition
Faculty of Music, Department of Performance & Composition, Composition
Create unique works based on free thinking
Above all else, we respect "individual free ideas" and aim to freely express music. To that end, students will hone their own ideas and musical judgment by acquiring the skills and knowledge necessary for self-expression and common musical knowledge up until their second year. From their third year, students will enhance their expertise by taking one of the following courses: the "Contemporary Music Creation Course," which focuses on creating cutting-edge works; the "Composition Theory Course," which aims to equip students with music theory and become instructors; or the "Applied Music Course," which offers practical training in composing and arranging for film scores and musicals. Students will learn systematically through public lectures by various guests and the experience of performing many of their own works, and will be trained to become composers, arrangers, and theoretical experts.
Learning Features
- Respect free thought
- Emphasis on learning through demonstration
- Learn the basics of composition, such as style and instrument writing
Specialization
Class and Activity Introduction
Basic Composition Lectures (Instrumental method/DTM)
In the first semester of the first year, students will learn about various musical instruments, and in the second semester, they will practice using computers to create sheet music and sound sources, leading to orchestration and DAW exercises from the second year onwards.
Practical Music Seminar
This is a required subject Applied Music Course. It aims to cultivate composers who can immediately contribute to the field through practical content such as creating demo tapes, analyzing film music, and providing music for anime (in collaboration with Tama Art University).
Composition Theory Seminar
This compulsory course Composition Theory Course will refine your harmonic and counterpoint techniques, while honing your compositional techniques based on historical styles from Baroque to modern times.
Instrumental Expression (Creative Piano)
Students will learn the fundamentals of piano playing and apply them to their creative activities by playing a variety of music, including pianism from the 20th century onwards, including techniques such as inner playing and preparation.
Composition Work Exhibition
Under the guidance of faculty, our students will perform pieces up to chamber orchestra scale selected from works submitted by second- and third-year students.
in Focus - Kikitsutawarumono, Kikitsutaerumono: From 20th century music to the future
Each concert features contemporary masterpieces and new works by composition faculty, creating a buzz in the contemporary music world. Students enrolled in Composition 's "Contemporary Music Performance Practice" class and performance students tackle difficult pieces and experimental music. The 19th concert, in 2024, will be the final performance by Professor Yasuaki Itakura, a visiting professor at our college and the conductor of this series. The concert featured pieces well-received in previous concerts, as well as new compositions by Professor Itakura, and drew enthusiastic applause.
Student's Voice
Being able to have a piece I wrote performed
It leads to a variety of learning.
KONDO Aoi
Department of Performance & Composition, Composition, 4th year
Graduated from Yakushima Ozora High School
Composition + Composition Theory Course
The class that left the biggest impression on me was "Strict Counterpoint." Using actual works as examples, we learned about strict counterpoint, a type of counterpoint that places restrictions on rhythm, pitch, and other aspects. Looking at familiar pieces from a counterpoint perspective allowed me to appreciate their subtler appeal. The "Performance Review," the culmination of a year of study, also offered a valuable opportunity to have my own work performed. Learning about other students' works not only provided inspiration for my own composition, but also taught me the skills necessary for planning and running a concert, such as interacting with performers and coordinating rehearsal schedules. In addition to this, there were many opportunities for students to have their compositions performed, and the fact that works from a variety of genres were performed is something I believe is unique to Kunio's Composition.
Faculty Message
Gain high practical skills through solid fundamentals and rich experience.
KIKUCHI Yukio
Composition
Specialty: Composition
Composition has produced talented individuals in a wide range of fields, from art music to film music and education. A solid foundation and a wealth of experience support their diverse activities in society. Students will acquire high levels of practical ability through mastering Western music-based composition in the two-year foundation course, followed by numerous opportunities to perform their own compositions over the four years. We hope that students will hone themselves through composition and carve out their own paths.
Educational Goals
In this program, students will systematically acquire the skills, knowledge, culture, and experience necessary for creating musical works, thereby exploring the possibilities of original expression and cultivating talent who can contribute to the development of society and culture as composers, arrangers, and other creators who combine free thinking with aesthetic sense, or as experts in composition theory and solfege, depending on their individual aspirations.
Admissions Policy
We are looking for people who have basic knowledge of composition, including harmony, and a desire to express themselves through music.
Curriculum Policy
In the introductory course, students will develop their fundamental creative skills through studies of harmony, counterpoint, instrumental music, computer use, etc., while in the specialized course, they will study highly specialized content in line with each student's interests and direction, across a variety of genres (contemporary music, composition theory, practical music) and categories (orchestra, chorus, wind band, etc.). In both courses, there are many opportunities for performances, including the annual "Performance Review," allowing students to gain practical experience in "putting a work into sound." There are also many concerts planned by the department and lectures featuring external lecturers, allowing students to gain a broad perspective on creativity and expression.
Diploma Policy
Acquire the basic skills to work as a composer, arranger, or instructor of composition theory and solfège.
Acquire the ability to act courageously and confidently in society as creative artists and educators, according to their own aspirations and aptitudes.
Composition Facebook Page