Bachelor of Music in
Music Performance

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Make Performance Your Profession

Pursue your performance dreams with a Music Performance BM at EWU. This nationally accredited program is for students who aspire to perform at a high level and launch a successful music career.

You’ll sharpen your skills through intensive one-on-one instruction, ensemble performances, and real-world stage experiences. Your musical journey will culminate in a senior recital that showcases your growth as an artist and performer.

Throughout the program, you’ll build your knowledge in music theory, aural training, and music history while performing a range of repertoire across various styles, cultures, and historical periods. You’ll refine your technique, tone, and expression and learn how to connect with audiences as a confident, compelling performer.

With personalized mentorship from faculty who are active professionals in the field, you’ll graduate ready to perform, teach, or work in the broader music industry.

Note: Admission to the program requires a successful audition.

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Why Study Music at the Region's Polytechnic?

Get a hands-on education, real-world experience, and personalized support from faculty so you can launch your career with confidence.

Vibrant Music Community

Vibrant Music Community

Join clubs like Mariachi Las Águilas, ACDA Choir, and the EWU Marching Band.

Industry-Experienced Faculty

Industry-Experienced Faculty

Learn from musicians who actively perform at top regional venues.

Affordable Education

Affordable Education

Benefit from competitive tuition and financial aid options to help you graduate debt-free.

Entrepreneurial Mindset

Entrepreneurial Mindset

Graduate prepared to take control of your career and thrive financially.

Passion-Driven Careers

Passion-Driven Careers

Follow your calling and compose your future in the music industry.

Program Highlights

  • Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Work with artists, actors, writers, and poets to broaden your creative horizons.
  • Accredited Excellence: Earn a degree from a NASM-accredited program known for its exceptional music education.
  • Cutting-Edge Tech: Keep pace with the changing industry using advanced music technology and state-of-the-art tools.
“I chose the EWU music program because of the world-class musicians who teach there. I knew I could trust them to become both a better musician and a more well-rounded person.” — Christian Skok '22

Areas of Concentration

The piano performance concentration is designed to prepare students for professional careers as performers in orchestras and chamber ensembles, as soloists or collaborators, or for building independent, multifaceted careers that include studio teaching and accompanying.

You’ll focus on developing your technique, expression, and artistry at the keyboard. Coursework includes piano literature and pedagogy, while providing 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 you 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 get real-world experience, or choose an internship opportunity to build skills in the music business.

This concentration prepares you for performing and teaching careers, or a multifaceted career that can include professional appointments in orchestras, commercial or recording studio positions, TV and film recording, 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 performance opportunities. You will participate in studio lessons, ensembles, public concerts on and off campus, opera or music theatre workshops, and shows.

We encourage students to explore a wider range of professional opportunities in the field. To support this, we periodically host master classes on our campus featuring successful individuals who work as performers, teachers, coaches, and professional agents.

EWU’s BM in Music Performance offers three areas of concentration: Piano Performance, Instrumental Performance, and Vocal Performance, allowing students to tailor their studies to their artistic goals.

Each pathway provides rigorous training with dedicated faculty, extensive performance or creative opportunities, and coursework that builds both technical skill and professional readiness.

Applied Learning Opportunities

Students perform at EWU Jazz Night

In our NASM-accredited program, applied training is a core component of the music major. Students focus on their primary instrument or voice through private lessons, ensembles, rehearsals, master classes, and public performances.

Applied Study & Technical Development

  • Weekly applied lessons, one-on-one with an Artist teacher, focused on technical mastery, stylistic accuracy, and interpretive skill
  • Weekly performance classes
  • Jury examinations assessing progressive technical and musical development

Ensemble Participation

  • Required participation in large and small ensembles, applying individual skills in collaborative settings
  • Demonstration of listening, blend, balance, rhythmic precision, and stylistic awareness

Public Performance

  • Over 100 public concerts per season – including Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Concert Jazz Orchestra, Choir, Chamber Music, Jazz Combos, etc.
  • Degree-required solo and chamber recitals demonstrating:
    • Technical competence
    • Repertoire breadth
    • Artistic interpretation and delivery
  • Performance in masterclasses and studio classes with applied critique

Musicianship Integration

  • Application of theory, analysis, and history to performance decisions
  • Sight-reading, improvisation (where applicable), and stylistic realization

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Music Performance Major, Bachelor of Music (BM)

Music Department Grade Requirement: The minimum acceptable grade for any music course required for graduation (including transferred music courses) is ≥C.

Required Non-Credit Music Components
CONVOCATION AND RECITAL ATTENDANCE (must be repeated each term)
Junior Recital
Piano Proficiency
Required Music Core Courses
MUSC 101
& MUSC 102
& MUSC 103		MUSIC THEORY I
and MUSIC THEORY II
and MUSIC THEORY III		9
MUSC 104
& MUSC 105
& MUSC 106		AURAL SKILLS
and AURAL SKILLS II
and AURAL SKILLS III		3
MUSC 121
& MUSC 122		PIANO CLASS II FOR MAJORS
and PIANO CLASS III FOR MAJORS		2
MUSC 201
& MUSC 202
& MUSC 203		MUSIC THEORY IV
and MUSIC THEORY V
and MUSIC THEORY VI		9
MUSC 204
& MUSC 205		AURAL SKILLS IV
and AURAL SKILLS V		2
MUSC 244MUSIC TECHNOLOGY FOR TEACHERS2
or MUSC 293 STUDIO AS INSTRUMENT - COMPOSING WITH ELECTRONIC MEDIA
MUSC 250
& MUSC 251
& MUSC 252		MUSIC HISTORY AND LITERATURE I
and MUSIC HISTORY AND LITERATURE II
and MUSIC HISTORY AND LITERATURE III		12
MUSC 310BASIC CONDUCTING2
MUSC 388PERSPECTIVES ON GLOBAL MUSIC (satisfies university Global Studies requirement)4
Applied Music Requirements–must be repeated12
INSTRUCTION ON VOICE OR INSTRUMENT
APPLIED INSTRUCTION ON INSTRUMENT OR VOICE
INSTRUCTION ON INSTRUMENT OR VOICE
APPLIED INSTRUCTION ON INSTRUMENT OR VOICE
Major Music Ensemble Requirement Options–must be repeated24
MARCHING BAND
WIND ENSEMBLE
ORCHESTRA
SYMPHONIC CHOIR
CONCERT CHOIR
Performance Concentration - 21-31 credit concentration21-31
APPLIED INSTRUCTION ON INSTRUMENT OR VOICE
APPLIED INSTRUCTION ON INSTRUMENT OR VOICE
SENIOR RECITAL
Minor Music Ensemble Requirements–choose a minimum of two courses for a total of four credits (will be repeated)
CONCERT JAZZ ORCHESTRA
REPERTORY JAZZ ENSEMBLE
COLLEGIANS
VOCAL ARTS ENSEMBLE
CHAMBER MUSIC ENSEMBLES
GUITAR ENSEMBLE
PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE
PIANO ENSEMBLE
POP COMBO
Performance Concentration Advising Track - choose one option below
Instrumental Advising Track
PEDAGOGY FOR MUSICIANS
Piano Advising Track
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL KEYBOARD
PIANO PEDAGOGY I
PIANO PEDAGOGY II
ACCOMPANYING
KEYBOARD LITERATURE I
KEYBOARD LITERATURE II
PIANO PRACTICUM TEACHING
Vocal Advising track
DICTION FOR SINGERS I
DICTION FOR SINGERS II
FOREIGN LANGUAGE READING AND COMPREHENSION
VOCAL LITERATURE I
VOCAL LITERATURE II
VOCAL PEDAGOGY
Required Capstone
MUSC 490MUSIC SENIOR CAPSTONE4
Total Credits106-116

Students who earn a BM in Music Performance from EWU should be able to:​​

  • perform a diverse repertoire of music, reflecting various styles, cultures, and historical periods;
  • perform with a tone quality, intonation, rhythmic accuracy, dynamic control, articulation, and expressiveness that are appropriate for the instrument and musical style;
  • develop an expanded global awareness and cultural understanding through musical study;
  • apply pedagogical techniques for teaching music to diverse populations, including children and adults;
  • develop and implement curriculum and assessment strategies for music education programs;
  • engage in discussions about the role of music in society and its impact on cultural identity and social change;
  • prepare for career opportunities in music, including performance, studio teaching, composition, or music industry roles, by understanding the landscape of the music profession.

Music Performance Careers

A music performance BM leads to various career opportunities.

Musician

Content Creator

Music Educator

Talent Agent or Manager

Singer

Take the Next Step

The EWU Music Department awards an average of $150,000 in scholarships each year to help students pursue their dream of working in the music industry.

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Location:
Music Building
20 W Seventh St
Cheney, WA 99004

Contact:
E: jgraves@ewu.edu
P: 509.359.2241

Collaborate and excel with exceptional musicians and artist-teachers in an inclusive academic environment. Our programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and guided by faculty from the region’s dynamic arts community.

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