Department of Music

The Department of Music (DMUS) was established in 2010; currently, it offers two specializations: music composition and performance. During the first two years of study, general materials such as playing the primary and secondary instruments, oral practice, Music Theory, Music History, statics, methodology, and Music Physiology will be studied. The three specialties will be studied in the final two years of the study. By the end of their studies, the Music Department awards bachelor’s degrees to its graduates.

Music Composition

During the third and fourth years of composition study, students must prepare 30 minutes of scores for various media, such as solo instruments, piano music, chamber music, and orchestral music, as well as write a commentary about the scores with ten thousand to fifteen thousand scientific words. In terms of practice, the study program focuses on how to compose music and evaluate musical compositions. It is concerned with notations, styles, musical sketches, and the performance process. The curriculum theoretically investigates the following topics:

• The process of making music in different ways and methods.
• Composing music at a standard level.
• Notation as a tool for working on and developing musical compositions, not just for writing them.
• Studying the old techniques of musical compositions (before the 20th century) and the new techniques (from the 20th century until now).
• researching the balance between free music composition and the level of the audience.
• Sought to write specific compositions for Kurdish solo instruments and musical groups, with the benefit of techniques from European contemporary music.

Performance

Performance studies begin in the third year and include a variety of European instruments such as violin, viola, cello, counter bass, flute, oboe, bassoon, guitar, and a variety of Kurdish traditional instruments such as Kamāncha, oad, and santur, etc. At the end of the study, the student must submit a 30-minute concert based on scientific research as well as ten thousand to fifteen thousand words about the pieces in his or her concert. The study curriculum prepares students to play their instruments at a standard level, allowing them to perform concerts and teach their instrument in the future. In terms of theory, the program investigates the following topics:

• What is the musical performance?
• Experience and the process of the performance.
• Performance as a tool for interaction
• Who are the performers?
• The function of performance in society
• Musical performances in the political and social spheres

The Department of Music (DMUS) strives to create a society that values music as part of a universal education as well as an essential expression of the human experience and spirit. Highlight the global impact of Kurdish musicology through a detailed educational program.

Our vision at DMUS Music is to uphold and promote the highest standards of research, innovation, and leadership in Kurdish musicology, historical performance practice, music composition, teaching, technology, education, and advocacy. It also works to raise musical awareness in Kurdistan and Iraq as well as preserve Kurdish musical culture and regional traditions.

Our students will become specialists in the fields of music composition and performance to the point where they can use classical music from developed countries and elevate Kurdish music to an academic level.

Music is taught in the department according to the Bologna system. Both theoretical and practical aspects are used in the department.

The languages of instruction in the department are Kurdish and English.

The department is a four-year study divided into eight semesters, full-time. We are following the Bologna process with each semester comprising 30 ECTS, and the academic year includes 30 weeks of study spread across two semesters.