Music
Performance, composition, music theory, and music technology.
Who It's For
You are passionate about music and want to pursue it at a serious, professional level. If you already play an instrument or sing well, can read sheet music, and are committed to daily practice, a music degree develops your artistry, theory knowledge, and performance skills. Students who are disciplined, love performing, and are excited about both the creative and technical sides of music thrive here.
If you enjoy music casually but dislike the rigorous practice schedule (often 2-4 hours daily), music theory classes, and ear training, a music degree will feel more like work than fun. Students who prefer a broad liberal arts education might enjoy music as a minor instead.
How Your High School Classes Connect
How much each subject matters in this degree
Common Coursework
Develop functional keyboard skills — scales, chords, sight-reading, and accompaniment — regardless of primary instrument.
Analyze harmony, chord progressions, counterpoint, and form from basics through advanced chromatic techniques.
Train your ear to identify intervals, chords, rhythms, and melodies by listening.
Take weekly private lessons on your instrument or voice with a professional performer.
Trace Western music from Gregorian chant through Renaissance polyphony to Bach and Handel.
Survey music from Mozart and Beethoven through Romanticism, Impressionism, and 20th-century styles.
Rehearse and perform in orchestras, choirs, jazz bands, or chamber groups each semester.
Dissect musical compositions to understand their structure — sonata, rondo, fugue, and theme and variations.
Prepare and perform a full-length public concert showcasing your best repertoire.
Write music with multiple independent melodies that sound good together, following historical rules.
Learn baton technique, score reading, and rehearsal skills to lead ensembles and choirs.
Arrange music for different instrument combinations by understanding each instrument's range and color.
Common Next Steps
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Is Music right for you?
Take our free 20-minute assessment to find out if music matches your personality, interests, and strengths.
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