Music Minor in Composition
Non-Music Majors:
For students majoring in a discipline other than music, a minor in music composition shall consist of 18 lower-division units and eight upper-division units. Students accepted into the music minor must declare one emphasis of performance study.
Music Majors:
The minor in composition is designed for music majors who have declared an Applied Music (Performance) emphasis or the Pre-Teaching Credential emphasis. The minor consists of nine to ten lower-division units and eight upper division units.
What Fine Arts Division Grads Are Doing
Employed Full-Time or Part-Time
Admitted to Graduate School
Full-Time Volunteer or Other Activity
Seeking Employment or Grad School
Why Pepperdine
Pepperdine Seaver College is consistently recognized among the top-ranked universities in California and the United States. We are a Christian university where students grow in knowledge and character. As a liberal arts institution, we focus on providing rich opportunities for intellectual and spiritual exploration for students with a diverse community.
Located in Malibu, CA
13:1 Student-to-Faculty Ratio
80% of Students Participate in an International Program
120,000 + Alumni Network
Student Opportunities
Our students study with distinguished faculty, leading soloists, and top studio professionals,
including members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber
Orchestra, the Los Angeles Opera, and the region's other top professional musical
ensembles. Our University Choirs, University Orchestra, Flora Thornton Opera Program,
Collegium Musicum, Jazz Ensemble, Collaborative Arts, and Chamber Music groups are
open to all students by audition, and provide stimulating ensemble experiences. Annual
opera and musical theater productions, recitals, concerts, and master classes provide
additional performance opportunities. We believe that students are the heart of our
program. They are active participants in their own aesthetic growth and creative enrichment.
Music Composition
Fostering unique creative musical talent, the music composition program provides student
composers with opportunities to learn techniques and current trends associated with
the creation of new music.
Choral Activities
Under the direction of Dr. Ryan Board, our choral program offers a choice of three
outstanding ensembles in which to participate: Concert Choir and Chamber Choir.
Performing Ensembles: Instrumental
Our Instrumental Ensembles offer a choice of several outstanding ensembles in which
to participate: the University Orchestra, Pepperdine Wind Ensemble, Pepperdine Jazz
Ensemble, and Chamber Music. Other instrumental ensembles offered are the Guitar
Ensemble under the direction of Christopher Parkening and The Pickford Ensemble under
the direction of N. Lincoln Hanks.
Classical Guitar with Christopher Parkening
Our students can study classical guitar with America's reigning guitar virtuoso Christopher
Parkening. We offer a BA in Music with an emphasis in classical guitar. The music
program, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), also includes
a rigorous core curriculum comprised of theory, history, private lessons, ensemble
participation, and numerous performance opportunities.
Opera
The Flora L. Thornton Opera Program at Pepperdine offers a multi-faceted approach
to the development of classical singing. Performance opportunities in fully-staged
productions of opera, opera scenes as part of our summer Heidelberg abroad program,
and masterclasses with top professionals in the field are hallmarks of our program.
Heidelberg Summer Music Program
Our music students have the opportunity to study abroad at the University's campus
in Heidelberg, Germany. The Heidelberg Summer Music Program provides opportunities
for intensive training for singers and instrumentalists. Studies include chamber music,
acting techniques for singers, German, and general education courses. Students receive
expert input from distinguished guest faculty.
Our Facilities
Each year the Pepperdine University Center for the Arts hosts over 250 public events,
including performances by international touring stars and visual artists, student
productions, and exhibitions.
Youth Summer Music Programs
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Contact Us
Fine Arts Division
Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263
Office: CAC 200
Fine Arts Recruitment Office
310.506.4111
fineartsrecruit@pepperdine.edu
FA Recruitment Office: MB 301
Bradley Griffin
Divisional Dean & Professor I of Theatre
Ryan Board
Program Coordinator
Danah H. Sanders
Office Manager
Hannah Arkie
Administrative Assistant Finances
Inga Dahlstedt
Administrative Assistant Support
Bronson Somerville
Academic Support Resources Specialist (ASRS)
Christopher Jerabek
Administrative Assistant Recruiting