Music Colleges & Universities

Become a Music Major, and Study What You Love
It's the rare and supremely lucky individual who can lay honest claim to a profession that offers not only personal fulfillment, but actually contributes directly to the entertainment and happiness of others. Perhaps the allure of this dual satisfaction explains at least in part music's appeal--and intense competitiveness--as a profession. But for those who are truly passionate about making and better understanding music, the choice to study this art hardly feels like a choice at all. You do it because you soul verily commands you do. And by getting an education in this field, you gain the skill set necessary to mold your craft into a career.

Music Degrees for Passionate Students
Formal musical education combines both breadth of knowledge and opportunity for specialization. This can ultimately prove integral to your professional success, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics insists that people trained in a variety of styles and instrumentation carry the best chances for gainful employment. Some courses a music major might see in her curriculum include western and world music, composition, music theory, music criticism, musicology, ethnomusicology, tonal analysis, chamber music, and conducting.

Music as a Profession
Music degrees prepare their owners to tread a wide variety of career paths. Many may elect to work part-time on nights and weekends, supplementing their incomes with other jobs. Some choose to remain in academia, passing on their knowledge at the elementary, secondary, or post-secondary levels. Still other occupations constituting the work of professional musicians are music directors, conductors, composers, arrangers, and music royalties/publishing. Whatever your goal, music schools exist to give you an experiential advantage so that you might share your talents with the community, be it local or global.