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A music degree is a perfect option for those interested in music as more than just a recreational pastime. A strong musical education provides students the opportunity to improve or polish performance skills, gain access to high-tech music technology, obtain a solid theoretical and historical music background, and participate in public concerts and recitals. Admission to a music program usually requires an interview and audition or at the very least, the submission of a video/audio recording of an applicant’s performance.

Conservatory vs. College or University

A conservatory, by definition, is an institution designed to preserve and perfect the knowledge of an area of science or art. A music conservatory offers programs of study focused primarily on the practice and performance related to a particular concentration of music. A college or university will offer diverse and comprehensive programs in the various concentrations in the field, incorporating a more multidisciplinary approach which will include general education courses.

Undergraduate: Students pursuing an undergraduate program in music may receive a Bachelor of Music (BM), or Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Science (BS) in Music. Both the BA and BS degrees provides well-rounded academic programs, including general education course requirements in social science and humanities for the BA degree and hard or natural sciences for the BS degree. The Bachelor of Music degree requirements are determined by the institution’s Music Department and may or may not include a multidisciplinary academic approach. A sample of courses available at the undergraduate level include Music Theory, History of Jazz, Music in World Cultures, Advanced Aural Skills, Concert Choir, Keyboard Skills, and Performance Studies (Piano, Trombone, Voice, etc.).

Graduate: Students pursuing a graduate program in music may earn a Master of Arts (MA) or a Master of Music (MM), a Doctor of Philosophy (DPH) in Music, or a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA). Degree titles vary by institution and academic program. Graduate students usually will choose among a variety of degree concentrations in the field of music such as Arrangement, Church Music, Composition, Conducting, Ethnomusicology, Jazz Studies, Music Education, Music History, Music Technology, Musicology, Piano Accompaniment, Piano Pedagogy and Performance, Performance (Percussion, Voice, Trumpet, etc.), Sound Engineering, or Theory. A sample of courses available at the graduate level include Music in the Baroque Era, Music of India, Research Methods in Music, Advanced Electronic Composition, Performance/Ensemble Studies, Post-Tonal Theory, and Physics of Sound and Music.

Occupations in Music:

With a degree in music, consider your professional opportunities as an Arranger, Booking Agent, Composer, Conductor, Disc Jockey, Ethnomusicologist, Music Manager, Music Teacher, Music Therapist, Musicologist, Professional Entertainer/Performer, or Sound and Audio Technician.

Choosing a Music Program:

If you are considering continuing your education in this field, you should become familiar with academic trends and current developments. Utilize current literature and consider the existing research of professors in matching your academic and career goals with the right institutions for you. EducationUSA Centers provide advising services and a diverse collection of materials to assist students searching for schools and financial aid program. To find the nearest EducationUSA Advising Center, visit www.educationusa.info/centers.php.

In addition to researching regionally accredited colleges and universities which offer study in music, prospective students, particularly for graduate-level study, can also identify academic programs with professional accreditation. The professional accrediting organization for the field of music is the National Association of Schools of Music (http://nasm.arts-accredit.org).

Associations and organizations affiliated with the study of music: