Requirements for Completing a Bachelor's Degree in Composition
A. Portfolio Content
The student must submit a portfolio containing five works from four of the following categories:
1. Work for a solo instrument-
a. A work for solo piano (or another keyboard instrument, or harp).
b. A work for a solo instrument other than piano or harp, including percussion, or a vocal work.
c. An electro-acoustic work.
2. Chamber work for two or three performers (singers or instrumentalists)-
a. Any instrumental duo or trio.
b. An art song (Lied).
3. Chamber work for an ensemble of three or four players-
a. For strings.
b. For woodwinds.
c. For brass.
d. For mixed choir.
4. Work for an expanded ensemble (at least five players) that allows for diverse orchestration-
Additional Guidelines:
a. A multi-movement work of larger scope and duration will be equivalent to two works.
b. At least one work must include a piano.
c. At least one work must include a vocal part.
d. At least one work must include strings.
e. At least one work must include percussion.
f. Several or all of the above options may be combined into a single work.
g. The total duration of the works in the portfolio should be approximately thirty minutes.
B. Filling Out the Evaluation Form
1. The student will fill out an individual teacher evaluation form, which includes a verbal assessment and a protective grade (magen) from the individual teacher, approving the submission of the portfolio.
2. On an additional form attached to this document, the verbal assessments of the student's teachers in music theory and score reading will be recorded.
C. Principles for Reviewing the Portfolio
The composition faculty panel will judge and examine the student's degree of readiness to meet the graduation requirements, with reference to the student's motivation and diligence, skill, and talent, and regarding the way their works address the following parameters:
1. Developmental treatment of themes and motifs, and organization of pitch material (PITCH / RHYTHM ORGANIZATION), variation in textures and registers, and a proper balance of energy distribution.
2. Relation to text, idiomatic writing for the instruments, and professional orchestration.
3. Degree of originality and abstract conceptual capacity.
4. Clarity of expression and expressiveness, artistic relationships of tension and release, sense of form.
5. No stance will be taken regarding the writing style.
D. The Portfolio
1. The student will compile their works into a portfolio according to the requirements for completing the Bachelor's or Master's degree, under the guidance of the individual teacher.
