Set the Tone for a Career in Music
As a music major, you’ll develop your abilities on your primary instrument, voice, or compositional skills under the guidance of our expert faculty. The bachelor’s degree in music contains the same core classes found in the other music bachelor’s degrees at IUP, but has enough elective credits to allow students to easily pursue a certificate, minor, or second major. Our Music BA degree also features an optional Music Industry Specialization. Students who pursue this specialization can choose from a variety of production and business classes to tailor the degree to an interest in arts management, music production, music business, or other areas within the music industry.
Reasons You Should Pursue This Degree
- For the opportunity to perform in regionally-recognized ensembles
- To study with top-notch faculty
- To work with world-class guest artists
What You’ll Learn
- Solo, chamber, choral, or symphonic repertoire
- Foundational concepts of music theory and history
- Cultural practices from around the world and different eras
Imagine Your Future
Graduates with this degree pursue jobs such as:
- Arts management
- Music production
- Music contracting
- Music journalism
- Music therapy
- Church music
- Positions outside of music that value creativity and cross-disciplinary skills
- Graduate study in Music Theory or Musicology
Classes and Requirements
Our curriculum gives you the foundation of music knowledge with the freedom to explore other subjects or career areas.
You'll take:
- Four semesters of music theory and aural skills to gain the technical understanding of how music works and the ability to hear and reproduce the elements of music
- Six semesters of private instruction on your instrument or voice
- Three semesters of music history, including classical, world music, and popular music
You will also have the opportunity to:
- Experience large and small ensembles each semester
- Audition for musical theater and opera performances
- Add a minor or double major in another discipline
- Add a specialization in Music Industry that covers topics in business, recording technology, and entrepreneurship.
The course catalog is the official reference for all our degree and course offerings. Check it out for a full listing of the classes available and requirements for this degree.
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Music Minor
A student wishing to minor in music must elect a minimum of 18 credits in music courses as approved by the department chairperson. Students must apply and audition to be admitted into the minor.
Admitted students will receive one semester of applied lessons, and may receive further semesters depending on instructor availability. Students must be enrolled in an ensemble (as advised) during any semester in which they receive applied lessons.
Full Academic Catalog Listing
The course catalog is the official reference for all our degree and course offerings. Check it out for a full listing of the classes available and requirements for this degree.
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Community Music School
Students can gain hands-on experience teaching in the IUP Community Music School.
Auditions
This program requires a satisfactory audition on a primary instrument or voice, interview, or portfolio review for students producing or composing digitally. Auditions are scheduled for several dates in the fall and spring semesters. Prior to the audition, students must apply to IUP and be accepted academically. See here for audition details.
Facilities
Based in Cogswell Hall, the IUP Music, Theatre, and Dance Department enjoys excellent rehearsal spaces, practice rooms, faculty studios, classrooms, a computer lab with audio software, and a vast music library. IUP is an all-Steinway school with 93 pianos and a full-time piano technician, and it houses the Pogorzelski-Yankee Memorial organ. Other facilities include Fisher Auditorium and Gorell Recital Hall.
Ensembles
Our music ensembles offer opportunities in many areas of music and at every skill level:
- Bands: Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band
- Choirs: University Chorale, University Chorus, Chamber Singers
- University Symphony Orchestra
- Jazz and Popular Music Ensembles
- Music Theater and Opera Workshops
- Instrument family ensembles: Percussion, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Tubaphonium, Piano, Organ
Active Student Groups
Student groups can enrich your professional education at IUP and include:
- PA College Music Educators
- Delta Omicron, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Sigma Alpha Iota Professional Music Fraternities
- Student National Association of Teachers of Singing Group
YouTube Performances
Watch student performances and replays of various live-streamed concerts.