Department of Music

This concentration prepares students for careers in symphony orchestras, opera houses, musical theatres, jazz clubs, recording studios, theme parks, cruise ships, touring companies, military ensembles, chamber ensembles, and as soloists. Many performers also spend much of their time teaching private lessons in local schools, private studios, music stores, or at the college level. Many performance majors pursue graduate degrees or careers in conducting, composing, arranging, music theory, pedagogy, or arts management. This degree will prepare you for any number of these or other music careers.

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This concentration prepares students for careers in symphony orchestras, opera houses, musical theatres, jazz clubs, recording studios, theme parks, cruise ships, touring companies, military ensembles, chamber ensembles, and soloist. Many performers also spend much of their time teaching private lessons in local schools, private studios, music stores, or at the college level. Performance majors pursue graduate degrees or careers in conducting, composing, arranging, music theory, pedagogy, or arts management. This degree will prepare you for any number of these music careers.

Learn more about Instrumental Performance

This concentration prepares students for careers in symphony orchestras, opera houses, musical theatres, jazz clubs, recording studios, theme parks, cruise ships, touring companies, military ensembles, chamber ensembles, and as soloists. Many performers also spend much of their time teaching private lessons in local schools, private studios, music stores, or at the college level. Performance majors can pursue graduate degrees or careers in conducting, composing, arranging, music theory, pedagogy, or arts management. This degree will prepare you for any number of these music careers.

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This concentration prepares students for careers in symphony orchestras, opera houses, musical theatres, jazz clubs, recording studios, theme parks, cruise ships, touring companies, military ensembles, chamber ensembles, and as soloists. Many performers also spend much of their time teaching private lessons in local schools, private studios, music stores, or at the college level. Many performance majors pursue graduate degrees or careers in conducting, composing, arranging, music theory, pedagogy, or arts management. This degree will prepare you for any number of these music careers.

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The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) are liberal studies degrees that prepare students for a wide array of careers and allow students to select from a broad spectrum of courses that suit their goals and interests. This concentration requires a minor in another area that students select with the help of their academic advisor. The minor provides additional skills and content that may not be offered in a music course but are essential for some music-related careers.

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Music teachers are both professional educators and professional musicians. As such, your course work will prepare you to excel as both an educator and a vocalist. Music education courses begin in the sophomore year and conclude with a semester of student teaching. You will also take a group of teacher-preparation courses from the College of Education that prepare you to become a state-certified teacher.

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Music teachers are both professional educators and professional musicians. As such, your course work will prepare you to excel as both an educator and an instrumentalist. Music education courses begin in the sophomore year and conclude with a semester of student teaching. You will also take a group of teacher-preparation courses from the College of Education that prepare you to become a state-certified teacher.

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Music therapists use music as a therapeutic tool to address motor, communication, cognitive, social, and/or emotional needs. Music therapists work with clients across the lifespan in school, hospitals, mental health agencies, nursing and rehabilitation centers, or private practice. This is a rapidly growing field and APSU is one of only three schools in Tennessee to offer a concentration in music therapy!

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This concentration is designed to meet the needs of musicians seeking to focus on performance. Some choose this concentration simply to improve their skills as teachers and performers while others use the program to prepare for doctoral study in performance.

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This concentration is designed to meet the needs of musicians seeking to focus on performance. Some choose this concentration simply to improve their skills as teachers and performers while others use the program to prepare for doctoral study in performance.

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The Collaborative Piano concentration develops the skill of collaborative work with vocalists and instrumentalists in large and small ensembles and with soloists. Some choose this concentration to develope skills in working with other musicians.

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This concentration is designed to meet the needs of musicians seeking to focus on choral conducting. Some choose this specialization simply to improve their skills as teachers and conductors while others use the program to prepare for doctoral study in choral conducting. Students will be required to do a conducting audition on campus with a student ensemble.

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This concentration is designed to meet the needs of musicians seeking to focus on instrumental conducting. Some choose this specialization simply to improve their skills as teachers and conductors while others use the program to prepare for doctoral study in instrumental conducting. Students will be required to do a conducting audition on campus with a student ensemble.

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The Department of Music seeks to fulfill its mission by providing training and experience for students preparing for careers in music performance, providing training toward the development of critical thinking in music, providing music training and teaching experience for students seeking licensure in education to help meet the need for competent music teachers in the state and region, and providing education resources and musical experiences as part of a comprehensive Liberal Arts education.

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