B.F.A.,
Music Performance
College of Fine Arts
What You'll Do
All of the practicing pays off when a musician takes the stage and presents a polished performance. As a Music Performance major at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, you will expand your mastery of your primary instrument or voice under the expert guidance of the faculty.
The IUP Music Department’s greatest resource is its faculty, composed of more than thirty full- and part-time artist-teachers, including a number of seasoned composers. Private, weekly, one-hour lessons are given throughout a student’s college education, covering eight semesters for a total of 32 credits. You’ll also take a series of eight classes in music theory and a variety of other courses.
Students in the Music Performance program, like those in the four other music bachelor’s degree programs at IUP, are required to take part in ensembles. You can choose from sixteen groups, including both vocal and instrumental ensembles. Through IUP’s recital attendance policy, you’ll grow in your knowledge of music and enjoy valuable opportunities to perform before an audience.
Admission to the Music Department requires satisfactory completion of an audition in addition to the university general requirements.
What You'll Become
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Performance prepares you to pursue a career as a professional performing musician. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, musicians, singers, and related workers held about 264,000 jobs in 2006. About 35 percent were considered part time, while about 48 percent were self-employed musicians. The labor statistics report noted that cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Nashville, which are larger centers for the entertainment and recording industries, offer more jobs for musicians.
According to the United States Department of Labor, 35 percent of musicians who earn a wage or salary were most recently hired by religious organizations and 11 percent by performing arts companies. These companies include a range of groups from orchestras and opera companies to musical theater companies and ballet troupes. Singers and instrumentalists are also hired to perform in restaurants, at weddings, and in night clubs.
