college majors

Music Major

What is Music?

Individuals who choose music as a major are in for a field full of diverse styles, methods, cultures, and themes in varying types of music. Virtually any type of musical instrument and ways of playing it can be learned in this major, and the experience is often carried on throughout the major. Vocal music may also be studied for group or individual performances. For the music major, the history, theory, and composition of music that is intended to provide an extensive background in the art form for students who may go on to professional careers as composers, performers, or scholars, or who may enter fields in which a solid grounding in music is essential, such as arts management or publishing.

What are Some Specializations Within this Broad Major?

MyMajors.com cannot pinpoint your interests beyond recommending this general major. Various specializations related to this major may be offered by colleges and universities. These specializations may be of greater or lesser interest to you. A few of the specializations related to this field include, but are not limited to:

Piano and Organ Performance
Performance
History and Literature
Teacher Education
Voice and Choral or Opera Performance
Theory and Composition
Business Management and Merchandising
Therapy
Conducting

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What Kinds of Students Major in Music?

This major is a favorite of people who, obviously, have a love of music, performance, and composition. Music majors are often inquisitive, analytical, observant, able to think abstractly, able to draw, and enjoy coordinated activities and sports. Often artistic, this kind of person enjoys various kinds of art like theatre, types of artwork, and creative expression.

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What Courses Do Music Majors Take?

The required and elective courses you would take for majors vary considerably among institutions. Courses are listed here that are illustrative of the breadth of topics you are likely to experience were you to major in this field. Clearly, there are many directions one can take in music: vocal, instrumental, classical, modern, composition, performance, and the like. The courses you take will be heavily influenced by the direction you elect to go in.

Elements of Music
Music History Abroad
Music in World Cultures
Introduction to Music
Indonesian Music and Cultures
Aural Skills
English Diction
Counterpoint
Instrumentation
German Diction
Romanticism in Music
Special Topics
Organ Repertoire

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What Types of Positions do Music Majors Take After College?

These professions and professional organizations illustrate the types of positions you might qualify for if you complete this major. Some majors are more directly related to employment than others, however. You should consider the likelihood of employment after graduation carefully, if you do not plan to go on for graduate work in a field. Even with the completion of graduate work in some fields, however, employment is difficult, so you should determine what the prospects are for this or any major. Employment possibilities are often enhanced by the selecting employment-related courses and by the enrollment in second major or in a minor.

Music Instruction
Orchestra
Videographer Editor
Performance
Creative Director
Music Therapist
Vocal Music Teacher
Instrumental Music
Music Royalty and Publishing

Are you interested in detailed information about the forecasted demand for a particular profession? Are you interested in the estimated salaries such positions are likely to pay? This government Web site allows you to search on a particular job, whether listed here or not, to give you this information.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Related Links

If you are interested in learning more about what professionals in this field do and what kinds of activities they engage in, you might want to begin with the following web sites. Also check the departmental web sites of colleges and universities, which offer this major.

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University Departments to Consider

The following institutions are the featured institutions on MyMajors because they support MyMajors and you in your search for the best major available. They offer excellent curriculums in well-rounded programs for you to consider.


Averett UniversityAverett University (VA) - Music Program

•Church Music
•Conducting
•Teaching
•Song Writing
•Performing


Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (MN)
Music
  University of Colorado Denver (CO)
Music Business Emphasis
Performance Emphasis
Music Industry Emphasis
Recording Arts Emphasis
St. Norbert College (WI)
Music

  Evangel University (MO)
Music
Music Business

Other fine institutions offering this major offer excellent programs to consider.

University of Virginia (VA)
McIntire Department of Music
  Washington University
Department of Music

For information on options available to campuses wishing to see their majors listed on MyMajors, contact: admin@mymajors.com for details.

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Two-Year College Curriculums to Consider

Vancouver Community College,
School of Music

Suggest to your two-year college advisor that their institution's majors be included to show you their course requirements and unique resources. Two-year college representatives should contact admin@mymajors.com for details.

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Want More Information? Look at major descriptions prepared by university academic advisement staffs.

     

Music Major
cyber graduate
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