Comps Trajectory and Timetable

The music major comps process involves three main parts:

1. Framing a proposal for your project, normally during the spring term of junior year
2. Completing your project in either fall or winter term of senior year
3. A public presentation of your comps during spring term of senior year

Comps Calendar

Spring Term Junior Year

Week 3

• Attend Music Comps Presentations (senior project presentations)
• Select a tentative adviser and schedule first appointment

Weeks 4 & 5

• Meet with adviser
• Select type of comps project; consult with new adviser if topic focus was changed in previous meeting
• Second reader will be recommended by the adviser, student should meet with that faculty member to discuss the project and get their signature
• Complete comps proposal form, including choosing fall or winter term comps

Note: under most circumstances, students who have chosen composition for their project should take comps in the fall term.

Week 6

• Tuesday after midterm break: Comps Proposal forms due
• Faculty review and provide an assessment
• Approved
• Revise or Fail – student must submit a revised or new proposal no later than Monday of Week 8

Week 8

• Monday: Revised proposal form due (if required)
• Faculty review and provide an assessment
• Approved
• Fail – on Week 9 student will be assigned a different project and possibly a new adviser (depending on assigned project and adviser availability)
• Students and advisers should prepare and submit a list of supporting materials needed for the project

Summer between Junior and Senior years

• Students are encouraged to begin preliminary work on their approved comps over the summer months 

Fall or Winter Term, Senior Year

• Start, Finish, and End Comps project; deadlines during the term are set by the adviser
• Finished composition or paper due by end of term
• Juried performance for adviser and second reader by the end of the term, usually to be held during regular juries
• The student will receive written feedback from both the adviser and the second reader by the end of the grading period; feedback is consolidated by the adviser, and communicated in one document to the student. This feedback should serve to guide future performances, or further refine a composition in preparation for performance, or allow the student to improve a paper that might be used for graduate school applications. Feedback should be incorporated into the spring term Comps presentation.

Spring Term, Senior Year

• Week 3: Public Presentation of Comps Project

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