Bachelor of Music in
Music Performance & Composition

The piano performance concentration is designed to prepare students for a professional career as a performer in orchestras, chamber music, as a soloist or collaborator, or building an independent multi-faceted career that includes studio teaching and accompanying. You will focus on developing your technique, expression, and artistry at the keyboard. Course work includes piano literature and pedagogy while gaining experience in solo, collaborative, and chamber performance. Private lessons, ensemble work, and masterclasses help you refine your sound and stage presence. Unique electives such as “The Heart of Performance” provide students with a deeper understanding of the impact of music and how to develop professional stage presence. The program includes many public performing opportunities throughout your residency that prepare you for lucrative performance and teaching careers.

The Instrumental performance concentration is designed for instrumentalists who are planning careers as performing musicians and studio teachers. You will work with world-class faculty and deepen your understanding of music theory, history, ensemble performance, and instrumental literature while working closely with artist faculty in applied lessons. Students can perform in campus and regional ensembles to build real-world experience, or choose an internship opportunity to build skills in the music business. This concentration prepares you for careers as performers and teachers, or a multi-faceted career that can include professional appointments in orchestras, commercial or recording studio positions,TV and film recording artists or other performance engagements throughout the music industry.

The Vocal Performance concentration provides students with a full range of resources to develop their talent and prepare for a music career. Students receive exclusive individualized vocal training from our prestigious faculty and world-renowned visiting artists. Aspiring performers sharpen their aural skills, study music theory, and receive specialized courses in literature and diction while preparing for a professional career in the music industry. In addition to world-class training, vocal students have a variety of opportunities to perform. You will participate in studio lessons, ensembles, public concerts on and off campus, opera or music theatre workshops and shows. We encourage students to investigate an expanded array of professional opportunities in the field of music and introduce students to successful individuals who are working as performers, teachers, coaches, and as professional agents through periodic master classes held on our campus.

The composition concentration offers composers opportunities to develop a wide range of musical skills along with unique experiences in collaborations to engage students in the creative process. As a composition major, you will study all aspects of contemporary composition, including concert music, digital synthesis, scoring for film and video and working with interactive media. Students and faculty meet weekly in the Composer’s Seminar to discuss current issues and to experience the careers of active composers working throughout the world. Coursework includes composition, orchestration, arranging, counterpoint, and music technology, giving you the tools to experiment and refine your own style. Faculty mentorship and ensemble reading sessions help bring your work to life in public recitals. This concentration prepares you for careers in composing, scoring, arranging, transcribing and creating music across the music industry.