Whats the difference between composition class and theory class in music college?
OK- Music theory is learning the basics. Learning intervals, the rules of part writing, voicing, etc. (usually you start in the Baroque and move forward, changing rules as you go). As you move forward through Theory, you learn different rules for part writing, different chords (like N6, V/vi, for example) and how to use them. You spend a lot of time analyzing music, having to label chords, non-chord tones, sequences, etc. Usually, Theory is REQUIRED, even for composition majors… how much you have to take will depend on the school. Theory starts in the Baroque, You spend A LOT of time with Bach, and move on to the Romantic period. Some theory programs go all the way to Jazz theory, and some have a seperate program for jazz studies. Usually your theory class will correspond to ear-training, class-piano, sight-singing, and rhythm (all combined, it’s called theory lab), so that you learn to APPLY the theory. Lab is also required. Composition is a different program, and it teaches you dif
