...one of the most visible,
thriving programs in the country
Our vibrant new music program, combined with an internationally renowned faculty and excellent facilities makes the BGSU composition program one of the most visible and thriving in the country. Our four talented and diverse full-time composition faculty members work well together to foster a supportive, creative environment in which young composers can thrive. Our history of excellence and notoriety spans more than three decades.
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BM in Composition
The College of Musical Arts offers an undergraduate in music composition. Admission is by audition. Majors receive a weekly private lesson and attend a bi-weekly seminar. Works are regularly performed in Student Composers’ Forums. Numerous guest artists visit the campus and present lectures and give private lessons.
MM in Composition
The Collegeof Musical Arts offers a master’s degree in music composition. Admission is by audition. Majors receive a weekly private lesson and attend a bi-weekly seminar. Works are regularly performed in Student Composers’ Forums. Numerous guest artists visit the campus and present lectures and give private lessons.
Certificate Program
The Music Certificate Program is a one-year course of instruction designed for advanced, non-degree students wishing to pursue intense and concentrated musical study in conducting, instrumental performance, vocal performance and composition at the pre-master’s or post-master’s level. Prerequisite for enrollment is a bachelor’s degree or an acceptable diploma in music or its equivalent.
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Doctor of Musical Arts in Contemporary Music
Doctor of Musical Arts in Contemporary Music
The College of Musical Arts of Bowling Green State University offers the Doctor of Musical Arts in Contemporary Music with specializations in composition or performance (conducting, instrumental or vocal). We define contemporary music as art music created after 1945, although chronological flexibility may be permitted according to individual interests.
The DMA develops versatile composers and performers through concentrated focus on contemporary music. The degree is grounded in applied study in composition or performance, but goes beyond traditional boundaries by integrating these practices in multidisciplinary seminars and discovering new contexts through studies in culture, digital media and music cognition. It provides the creative and academic environment necessary to give students opportunities for critical analysis, creative examination, cultivation of enhanced musical thinking, pedagogical training and experience, flexible curricular programming and traditional as well as nontraditional performing experiences. The individual who chooses Bowling Green State University for advanced study in music will work in an environment guided by faculty mentors who encourage creative inquiry.
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Bowling Green State University’s College of Musical Arts is home to an expanding, diverse music technology program. Students involved in music technology explore analog and digital audio techniques, computer music programming, experimental audio/animation, real-time interactive performance systems and recording techniques. Students interested in commercial recording can pursue a minor in Recording Technology. Each year the CMA produces technology-related concerts, hosting guests and presenting music created by faculty and students. Many concerts incorporate real-time interactive performance systems, video art and multi-media.
Electroacoustic Studies
The Electroacoustic Studios provide a high-end accessible workspace for beginning music technology students. Each of the four digital audio workstation spaces is configured identically, allowing students to work comfortably at any system. The workstations are connected to a server that manages user accounts.
- Audio System
- HHB Circle 3A
- Audio Hardware/ Controllers
- MOTU 828 MKII (4)
- MOTU Microexpress (2) and Microlite (2) USB MIDI interfaces
- Mackie Control Universal (4)
- Mackie 1402 (3) and 1202 (1) Mixers
- Computer Hardware
(4 workstations) - Apple Macintosh iMac 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM, 500GB HD, 24-inch display
- Computer Hardware (studio server)
- Apple Macintosh Mac Mini 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM, 160GB HD, plus 650GB external storage
- Audio Software (available on each machine)
- Logic Pro
- Max/MSP/Jitter
- DSP-Quattro
- Reason
- Final Cut Studio (Final Cut, DVD Studio Pro, Motion)
- Ableton Live
- Amadeus
- Miscellaneous shareware/freeware (CSound, Cecilia, Frequency, SoundHack, etc.)
- Audio Plugins (available on each machine)
- Waves Native Gold Bundle
- GRM Tools Classic and ST
- Audio Ease Nautilus Bundle
- Elemental Audio Systems Inspector
- Pluggo
- FXPansion Audio Unit Wrapper
- Recording/Digital I/O
- Sony MDS-JB 940 Minidisc units (4)
- Zoom H4 portable hard disk recorders (2)
- MIDI Equipment
- Yamaha CS-1X multitimbral synthesizer/controller (4)
- Kurzweil K-2000
- EMU E-5000
- Yamaha G50 guitar to MIDI converter
Flexible Multi-Channel Audio/Multimedia Production Space
Built with funding provided by the Ohio Board of Regents, the new flexible 10.2 multi-channel research studio is housed in BGSU’s New Media and Emerging Technology Center. This facility supports high-end research in multi-channel audio, multi-media applications and interactive performance systems. Students and faculty researchers using this facility can reconfigure the sound system using any of the 13 current configurations, including stereo, quadraphonic, 5.1, 7.1, 7.1 Logic, 9.2, 10.2, Ambisonics and other surround and diffusion setups.
- Audio System
- Ten Genelec 8050A Active Studio Monitors
- Two Genelec 7070A Active Multichannel Subwoofers
- Two Beheringer Ultralink Pros
- Audio Hardware/ Controllers
- MOTU HD192 Core System Multichannel Audio Interface
- MOTU Microexpress USB MIDI interface
- Mackie Control Universal Primary Unit
- Mackie Control Universal Expansion Unit
- Mackie Control C4
- M-Audio Evolution Series MK-461C
- Computer Hardware
- Apple Macintosh Pro 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon (8 core)
- 4 GB RAM
- 1 TB internal hard drive
- ATI Radeon HD 2600XT (Two dual-link DVI)
- Dual 21” flat panel displays
- Audio Software
- Steinberg Nuendo
- Logic Pro
- Max/MSP/Jitter
- DSP-Quattro
- Final Cut Studio (Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Motion)
- Ableton Live
- Miscellaneous shareware/freeware (CSound, Cecilia, Frequency, SoundHack, etc.)
- Audio Plugins
- Waves Diamond Bundle
- Steinberg Surround Edition 2.0
- GRM Tools Classic and ST
- Audio Ease Nautilus Bundle
- Elemental Audio Systems Inspector
- Pluggo
- Cyclops
- FXPansion Audio Unit Wrapper
Recording Control Room
The recording control room features a state-of-the-art Digidesign system combined with Genelec 5.1 monitoring for professional experience in commercial recording. Students enrolled in recording technology courses use this facility to learn digital recording techniques, mastering and production, and film-related audio techniques including foley, automatic dialog replacement and film sound mastering.
- Audio System
- Genelec 1032A 5.1 surround with 7071A subwoofer
- Audio Hardware/ Controllers
- ProTools|HD3 (with two 192 I/O audio interfaces - 24 analog inputs)
- Digidesign Control 24
- Computer Hardware
- Apple Macintosh G5 dual 2.5Ghz
- 2 GB RAM
- 120 GB internal hard drive
- 370 GB external storage
- DVD-RAM
- Dual 20” flat panel displays
- Audio Software
- ProTools HD
- Logic Pro
- DVD Studio Pro
- Toast Titanium/Jam
- Final Cut HD
- Audio Plugins
- Waves TDM Platinum
- Waves IR360 Convolution Reverb
- TC|Tools TDM
- Antares Autotune
- Digidesign BNR
- Line 6 Ampfarm
- GRM Tools TDM
- Sonic NoNoise
- Recorders
- Alesis ADAT-XT (3)
- Alesis BRC Controller
- Sony PCM-R500 DAT
- Otari MX5050 MKIII
- Signal Processors
- AKG BX-20 reverberation chamber
- Lexicon PCM-80
- Digitech TSR-24
- Yamaha SPX-90
- Microphones
- Approximately 80 microphones by manufacturers, including: Neumann, Schoeps, Sennheiser, AKG, Earthworks, SE Electronics, Shure and Crown.
Music Technology Courses
Music Technology I (fall semester) Introduction to the principles of sound and digital audio (sound editing, processing, mixing). Includes hands-on investigation of course techniques and principles in a studio setting. Course materials are practiced during individual studio lab times.
Music Technology II (spring semester) Introduction to the principles of sound synthesis (Musical Instrument Digital Interface, sequencing, synthesizers, controllers). Includes hands-on investigation of course techniques and principles in a studio setting. Course materials are practiced during individual studio lab times.
Music Technology III (fall semester) Advanced concepts related to principles of sound, digital audio (sound editing, processing, mixing) and synthesis. Includes hands-on investigation of course techniques and principles in a studio setting. Emphasis on music programming languages. Course materials are practiced during individual studio lab times and tutorial session.
Music Technology IV (spring semester) Advanced concepts related to principles of sound, digital audio and synthesis relative to real time audio environments. Includes hands-on investigation of course techniques and principles in a studio setting. Emphasis on music programming languages. Course materials are practiced during individual studio lab times and tutorial sessions.
Survey of Music Technology (spring semester) Overview of music technology; use of computers in music (yesterday, today and tomorrow). Philosophical implications of technology and musical expression. Literature of music technology in pop, jazz and the avant-garde.
Experimental Digital Audio and Animation (summer semester) Introduction to experimental digital audio and time-based visual art. Focus on artistic expression through the successful integration of the principles of art and music. Students explore experimental animation techniques and the principles of electroacoustic music as they work to create multi-media art.
Recording Technology Courses
Recording Technology has been a course elective at Bowling Green State University since 1980. In 1990, the College of Musical Arts instituted a minor in Recording Technology. The requirements for the minor are Recording Techniques, Advanced Recording Techniques, Music Technology I, II and III and Musical Acoustics. Students also take interdisciplinary electives directly related to the recording industry, including courses in circuit design, business, marketing, computers and others. During their course of study, Recording Technology minors have opportunities to participate in internships at national-professional recording studios, giving them real-world experience in the recording industry. Advanced students also frequently work in the College’s Recording Services area, gaining practical skills by recording and post-producing CMA concert events.
Recording Techniques is an entry-level recording course covering the basics of sound propagation, acoustics, miking techniques, signal processing, digital editing, console automation, MIDI and basic recording terminology. In addition to small hands-on projects, the class participates in a group multi-track session with live musicians. Each student then creates a stereo mix of the session as a final semester project.
Advanced Recording Techniques is an upper-level course where students have more opportunities to directly use the recording studio. Students are divided into small groups and assigned hands-on recording and production projects, including “on location” two-track recording, digital editing, a radio commercial, a multi-track session and a Dolby 5.1 soundtrack (voice-overs, sound effects and music) to a movie clip. The course emphasizes “real-world” experiences, preparing students for possible careers in recording and commercial music.