6 Books and Scores

6. Books and Scores

Introductory levels of composition instruction work from Alan Belkin's Musical Composition: Craft and Art. The intermediate and advanced composer would benefit from consulting this book from time to time.

A number of musical reference books, general and specific, are essential for the composer. The following list is a recommended collection to be obtained by the end of undergraduate study.

By the end of Undergraduate Study

• Alan Belkin. Musical Composition: Craft and Art.
• Samuel Adler. The Study of Orchestration, 4th Ed.
• Angela Myles Beeching. Beyond Talent, 3rd Ed.
• Vincent Persichetti. Twentieth Century Harmony.
• Scores as assigned.

By the end of Master's Level Study

• Elaine Gould. Behind Bars: The Definitive Guide to Music Notation.
• Richard Bellis. The Emerging Film Composer.
• Scores as assigned and desired.

By the end of Doctoral Study

• Scores as assigned and desired.
• Reginald Smith Brindle. Musical Composition.
• Arnold Schoenberg. Fundamentals of Musical Composition.
• Paul Hindemith. The Craft of Musical Composition, Books 1–3.

In addition, each instrument has reference books describing extended techniques and other idiosyncrasies. These are listed on the studio website.