Composition and Sonic Arts at the University of Alberta
The music department includes a vibrant composition area, with degree programs at all levels in composition and sonic arts. Our faculty specialize in contemporary music of all kinds, including contemporary acoustic composition, electroacoustic music, sound art, and collaborative work with artists in other media. Students work with our world-class composition faculty, student ensembles, and professional musicians from the city of Edmonton to produce their own compositions, featured in concerts open to the public every semester.
Faculty
- Mark Hannesson, Associate Professor (DMA UBC)
- Scott Smallwood, Associate Professor (PhD Princeton)
- Andriy Talpash, Instructor (DMA McGill)
- Heather Hindman, Sessional Instructor (MMus McGill)
- Nicolás Arnáez, Sessional Instructor (DMus U of A)
Academic Programs
Contemporary Music Ensembles
Composition Area Courses
(Note: please see full calendar for a listing and description all music department courses, including the music theory and history core.)
Please see information for students about courses being offered in the current academic year.
Undergraduate Courses
- MUSIC 170: Introduction to Composition & Sonic Arts
- MUSIC 270: Composition & Sonic Arts 1
- MUSIC 470/470/570/571: Composition (individual tutorials)
- MUSIC x92: Contempo Ensemble
- MUSIC x93: Experimental Improvisation Ensemble (XImE)
- MUSIC 263: Instrumentation and Arranging
- MUSIC 463: Orchestration
- MUSIC 458: Music Theory VII: Theories of Art Music After 1950
- MUSIC 480: Survey of Contemporary Music and Sonic Arts
- MUSIC 481: Advanced Topics in Contemporary Music and Sonic Arts
- MUSIC 245: Introduction to Technology
- MUSIC 445: Electroacoustic Music
- MUSIC 545: Interactive Sounds and Systems (With Max/MSP)
Graduate Courses
- MUSIC 660/661/760/761: Advanced Composition (individual tutorials)
- MUSIC x92: Contempo Ensemble
- MUSIC x93: Experimental Improvisation Ensemble (XImE)
- MUSIC 580: Advanced Survey of Contemporary Music and Sonic Arts
- MUSIC 581: Advanced Topics in Contemporary Music and Sonic Arts
- MUSIC 558: Advanced Theories of Music After 1950
- MUSIC 645: Topics in Applied Music Technologies