Studio Composition
MusB • MM
Studio Composition
Fine tune your craft in musical composition and recorded media.
We’ve Been Around Awhile
Our program is one of the oldest, largest, and best collegiate programs in studio composition around.
Creative Community
Join a unique community of fellow artists and collaborators led by a faculty of professionals sharing their expertise.
Department co-chair:
Rebecca Haviland
Rebecca Haviland
Department co-chair:
Adam Pietrykowski
Adam Pietrykowski
Ready to apply?
Undergraduate | Graduate
Musical Instincts
The undergraduate and graduate writers in Studio Composition are all dedicated to the purpose of increasing musical beauty as they hear it.
The Program
Studio composition at Purchase features a stellar faculty and graduate program, a finely-tuned curriculum, close associations with both a renowned classical conservatory and a vibrant Jazz studies program, and a superior professional career location.
It also functions closely with studio production, and collaborative accomplishment between these two programs is typical in classes, concerts, and recording sessions.
But the best aspect is what the students themselves have made of it—a friendly, artistic community whose excellent tradition produces hundreds of new musical compositions every year.
Students can also choose to minor in Classical Composition.
What Sets Us Apart?
Besides the amazingly collaborative and supportive community of musicians, it’s the…
- hands-on studio experience
- thorough training in conventional and unconventional music
- small-group study with professional writers
- a working community of artistic peers
- a tradition of success among our alumni
Original Work
To graduate, all studio composers write and produce two significant original projects (undergraduate) or two master’s recitals (graduate). These can be either recorded, reviewed in score form, or performed live.
Many feature multimedia collaboration with the other arts conservatories at Purchase College. Other recitals can occur at New York City clubs and concert venues, and in professional recording studios.
Listen In
Take a listen to this Spotify playlist of compositions featuring alumni and current students of the Music and Technology Department, curated by Rebecca Haviland, co-head of the Undergraduate Studio Composition Department.
Studio Comp on Spotify
Proof of Purchase
Dan Deacon ’04 is a Baltimore-based recording artist and performer renowned for his five studio albums of innovative electronic music, his live performances in both contemporary and classical settings, and his extensive body of work in film scores.
His most recent studio album is Mystic Familiar (2020, Domino), and his most recent original soundtrack album is Hustle (2022, Netflix).
Latest Stories
Nominations for the 2025 GRAMMY Awards Announced
Purchase boasts four nominees in five categories.
Sinkane Owes Songwriting Shift to Purchase Experience
Discussing Sinkane’s 8th album We Belong, Ahmed Gallab MM ’22 says Purchase helped him become a more confident songwriter.
Film by Jordan Tetewsky ’16 is New York Times Critic’s Pick
The film demonstrates the collaborative DIY culture found at Purchase—it stars musician Hannah Lee Thompson ’17 and several alums were on the crew.
Proof of Purchase
“Her ardent admirers include Peter Gabriel, Neil Gaiman, Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who chose her knockout 2006 song “On the Radio” on Desert Island Discs and called her ‘a genius’.”
Studio Composition or Studio Production?
When you’re ready to apply, understand the differences—and similarities—between Studio Composition and Studio Production.
Either way, you’re joining a supportive community of musicians training to be professionals by professionals.