Learn how to compose, mix, design and arrange music and sound assets for commercial and artistic media.

At a Glance

  • Flexibility
    Full Time
  • Delivery Options
    On Campus
  • Degree
    BM

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What courses will you take?

Students perform in the Contemporary Electronic Ensemble

The B.M. in Composition for New Media curriculum is interdisciplinary. You will take courses in musicianship, performance, liberal arts and music and sound composition. 

Throughout your coursework, you will learn how to compose, mix, design, and arrange music and sound assets for commercial and artistic media, including movies, web, animation, games, artistic installations, advertising, Virtual Reality systems and more.

You will also continuously build a portfolio, presenting your work for review at the end of your sophomore and junior years. All students complete a Capstone project culminating in a public recital, installation or portfolio presentation in the final semester.

Visit the Academic Catalog for:

Visit the Academic Catalog for all degree pathways, including those from prior enrollment years.

  • Like all music major programs at UMass Lowell, this program requires an entrance audition on an instrument or voice. In addition, you must submit a portfolio of scores/recordings/creative work, which consists of three media excerpts around 90 seconds each of original compositions, with supplemental materials, which may include documentation, scores, etc. as needed.

    Submit your Composition for New Media portfolio through our Audition Submission Portal. (Please note that you can log in to the portal using a Gmail, Facebook or Microsoft account.)

    • Acquire instrumental or vocal mastery through regular performance
    • Attain literacy in global musical culture
    • Understand core compositional and analytical techniques covering a broad variety of musical styles 
    • Develop collaborative skills through participation in ensembles

    • The ability to create professional quality music and sonic assets for a wide range of media;
    • Strong working knowledge of the various technologies used in music and sound production and adaptability to new technologies and working environments;
    • Develop a curiosity and flexibility to discover and adapt to emerging markets for media assets.

Why study composition for new media at UMass Lowell?

Tristan Fruzzetti plays guitar along with a video game

Advanced Facilities

Located minutes from downtown Lowell and convenient to Boston, Durgin Hall contains:

  • 1,200-seat concert hall
  • 225-seat recital hall
  • 30 rehearsal suites
  • 6 sound recording technology studios (including world-class tracking and mixing spaces)
  • Music technology laboratory (containing state-of-the-art Apple workstations with MIDI keyboards)
  • Classroom spaces (with fully integrated smart-classroom technology)
Two students from the UMass Lowell Gospel Choir performing.

Performance Ensembles

Join one of our many performance ensembles, including.

  • World Music Ensemble
  • Concert Band
  • Marching Band
  • University Choir
  • Chamber Singers
  • Jazz Ensemble
  • and more
Students working in recording studio

Expert Faculty

Work with our faculty, who are skilled music educators and talented professional musicians. Small class sizes ensure that students work directly with faculty throughout their studies.

Group of students seated at a round table discussing video game design

Interested in Video Game Design?

Learn how you can combine programs to prepare for the fast-growing video game industry.

What can you do with a degree in composition for new media?

Our graduates acquire the skills to work in professional fields that require high-quality original music, soundscapes and sound design. 

Image of hands composing music on an iPad, music department

Our versatile graduates can work in diverse industries, including:

  • Video games
  • Commercials
  • Movie soundtracks
  • Animation
  • Virtual reality
  • Websites