In the School of Music, you will enjoy working closely with distinguished musicians, composers, and scholars dedicated to teaching. Click on the links for the specific requirements for an audition, a music major, a music minor, and Master of Arts in Teaching.
Degrees
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Bachelor of Arts in Music
The Bachelor of Arts with a major in Music is the traditional liberal arts degree. It emphasizes a broad coverage of the field and provides flexibility in selecting elective courses. Within the Bachelor of Arts program one can construct a program which provides a background for the pursuit of advanced study in music theory, musicology, ethnomusicology, composition, and music librarianship. Students in this degree program may also elect to double major or minor in another academic subject.
Audition required | Degree requirements -
Bachelor of Music in Education
The Bachelor of Music in Music Education, combined with the Master of Arts in Teaching, prepares students for teaching careers in public schools, K-12. Founded on the belief that the music education profession must include the strongest musicians and most dedicated thinkers and practitioners possible, students receive a thorough education in music theory, musicology, ethnomusicology, solo and ensemble performance, pedagogical methods, conducting, and teaching skills on all standard instruments. Classroom teaching experience begins in the sophomore year under the guidance of master teachers and professors. There is significant emphasis on practical experience in the public school classroom. Finally, thorough exploration of the liberal arts and the practice of becoming a teacher foster the development of critical and reflective thought. Emphases include Instrumental/General and Choral/General.Upon completion of the undergraduate program, students may pursue the one-year Master of Arts in Teaching degree, making them eligible for teacher certification.
Graduates of the Puget Sound music education program are sought after by schools throughout the Northwest. With individualized assistance from the School of Music each summer, every candidate seeking teacher placement finds a job in the schools.
Music education graduates fill numerous faculty positions at public and private schools throughout the region, and regularly go on to careers as performers and private studio instructors, or to graduate studies in music at universities across the country. Recent honors accorded music education alumni include the Washington Award for Excellence in Education, known as the Christa McAuliffe Award, and a teacher exchange program position in Shanghai, China and Jakarta, Indonesia.
Audition required | Degree requirements -
Bachelor of Music with Elective Studies in Business
This degree provides a foundation for careers in arts and artist management, concert promotion, the recording industry, music retail, publishing, and the non-profit sector. This degree enables one to enter the music industry directly or pursue graduate study in such areas as arts management and administration. In addition to core music courses, students take a course in computer business application and courses in the School of Business in finance and accounting, marketing, and management. The capstone experience is an internship, usually with one of the many cultural outlets in the Seattle/Tacoma region.
Audition required | Degree requirements -
Bachelor of Music in Performance
The Bachelor of Music in Performance focuses on the development of the highest performance skills in a student. A thorough grounding in music theory, musicology, and ethnomusicology is combined with instruction in conducting and solo, chamber, and ensemble performance. A half recital in the junior year and a full recital in the senior year also are required. Students normally follow this degree with graduate studies in music, either in performance, music theory and composition, or musicology. We offer performance track concentrations in piano, voice, organ, and all orchestral instruments.
Audition required | Degree requirements -
Bachelor of Music in Composition
The Bachelor of Music in Composition provides students with essential skills in composition, orchestration, counterpoint, and musical analysis. In three years of composition lessons, students learn about modern techniques, historical forms, and extended instrumental techniques, with a capstone composition recital in the senior year. Additional courses are taken in acoustics, computer science, and computer music.
Portfolio required | Degree requirements -
Master of Arts in Teaching
The Master of Arts in Teaching, offered by the School of Education, is the final step for students in Music Education. Students who successfully complete the Puget Sound undergraduate Music Education Program and the one-year Master of Arts in Teaching Degree are eligible for K-12 Washington State Teacher Certification in either instrumental and general music, or choral/vocal and general music. This certificate qualifies a musician to pursue a professional career of music teaching in K-12 public and private schools. MAT music education students at Puget Sound will have the opportunity to spend many more credit hours in K-12 public school teaching experiences under the guidance of master teachers and professors prior to graduation than most other programs allow, and the university maintains an excellent record of teacher placement for music education graduates.
Degree requirements -
Minor in Music
The School of Music is committed to both traditions of preparing students for professional careers in music and to the study of music as a subject in the liberal arts. Along with the Bachelor of Arts degree, our open ensemble auditions, and the awarding of four-year music scholarships to students in and outside of the major, the two music minors serve as another example of our commitment to the liberal arts. The music minors provide structured curricula to students who have a strong interest in music but elect to major in another area. The Minor in Music with Applied Studies, which requires some prior musical experience, entails two courses in music theory, two in musicology/ethnomusicology, one elective, and a minimum of four semesters of studio lessons and ensemble participation. The Minor in Musical Inquiry, which requires no prior experience in music, requires five units of coursework in music (including at least one at the 300-level or above), one semester of musical activity, and completion of a reflective ePortfolio.
Music Minor requirements
Non-Major Studies
We believe music has value for all students, that both musical performance and critical reflection of music lead to a greater understanding as well as appreciation of being human. We offer several elective courses and studio lessons for non-majors (studio lessons require an audition). Our auditioned and non-auditioned ensembles are open to all students, regardless of major.
Non-Credit Studies
The university's Community Music Department provides private music lessons and classes on a non-credit basis. Enrollment is open to all students at all levels, beginning through advanced. Lesson fees are paid separately from undergraduate/graduate tuition.
