Composition
The Bachelor's programme in Music, Composition, is aimed at those who want to become composers with a focus on Western contemporary art music. The goal is to find your own personal aesthetic in your work as well as developing a good artistic and professional ability.
During the first two years of study, you work with compositions for various chamber ensembles, while the third year involves composition work for larger ensembles such as chamber and wind orchestra as part of the external composition project collaborations. You will receive a solid craft foundation in the parameters of music as well as traditional music theory in subject areas such as harmony, four-part writing, form, analysis, notation and other perspectives on music theory. During your studies, you will meet professional institutions and ensembles, which places great demands on work discipline and responsibility.
At the conclusion of the programme, you will be prepared to work with advanced knowledge and ability in an ever-changing cultural scene. This programme gives you the skills required to study the Master's programme with a high degree of independence. Teaching is given in composition, electro-acoustic music, instrumentation, ear training/analysis, counterpoint, piano, history of music, ensemble with conducting and music profession in the form of individual lessons, group lessons and seminars. Projects and degree project are included.
Rolf Martinsson, professor of Music Theory with Arrangement and Composition
Staffan Storm, professor of Music Theory and Composition
Daniel Hjorth, university lecturer in Music Theory
Björn-Tryggve Johansson, university lecturer in Music Theory
Magnus Lindén, university lecturer in Piano/Ear training
Samuli Örnströmer, teacher in Conducting
General requirements for university studies in Sweden as well as successful entrance tests to the Bachelor’s Programme in Music, Composition. The applicant must also be able to speak, write and read Swedish.
One of the most indispensable and unique activities of the Composition Department is the sought after annual external projects in collaboration with leading symphony orchestras, chamber orchestras, choirs and chamber music ensembles which give the students many occasions to hear their music in rehearsals and concerts. Thanks to this the students have the opportunity already during their studies to build an extensive cultural network and create a platform for an effective development of the composer’s practical relation to and experience of the artistic collaboration with orchestras such as the Malmö, Norrköping, Gävle and Helsingborg symphony orchestras, Swedish Wind Ensemble, Jönköping Sinfonietta and the string orchestra Musica Vitae.
Some projects are realised as a collaboration with the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and the Academy of Music and Drama, University of Gothenburg. The students take part in projects during their entire education
Connect Festival is a contemporary music festival organised by the students.
The Composition Seminar is a forum for aesthetic discussions, analysis, reflection and meetings with visiting professors, composers and musicians within the field of contemporary art music.
The Composition Studio is the platform for the students' own creation of electro-acoustic music, live electronics and experimental studio work.
The foundation Annik and Lars Leander awards an annual scholarship to the Composition Department at Malmö Academy of Music. Composition students from the following programmes are qualified to apply:
Master programmes
• Composition Diploma
• Composition
• Composition – Scoring for Film and Media
Bachelor programme
• Composition
Read more about the scholarships at Malmö Academy of Music
Every year the Royal Swedish Academy of Music (RSAM) awards national and local scholarships.
Every year the students are offered the possibility to apply for international exchange studies through the well-developed internationalisation programme at Malmö Academy of Music that gives the opportunity to experience new exciting study environments, new teachers and a new cultural life with the possibility to create new connections.
Inter Arts Centre is our platform for electro-acoustic music and a meeting place for collaborations with other art forms such as theatre and the visual arts.
At the conclusion of the programme, students complete a degree project including one performance part and one creative research part with written reflections. The degree project for a composition student is often based on a composition project but could also be based on an exam concert if a student prefers to plan also for that apart from the composition project. On completion of the programme, a Degree of Bachelor in Music, Composition, is awarded.
Contact
admissions [at] mhm [dot] lu [dot] se (admissions[at]mhm[dot]lu[dot]se)