A music degree requires approximately 120-135 credit hours, with core courses in music theory, aural skills (ear training), music history, and applied lessons on your primary instrument or voice. Most programs require an audition for admission, participation in ensemble performances, piano proficiency (even for non-pianists), a senior recital or capstone, and coursework in conducting and music technology. The BM (Bachelor of Music) is performance-intensive; the BA in Music is broader with more liberal arts flexibility.
The anxiety behind this search is about whether you are talented enough. Music programs require an audition, and that gatekeeping mechanism makes the major feel more exclusive than most. The reality: auditions assess preparation and potential, not perfection. If you have studied your instrument seriously, can demonstrate technical competence and musicality, and show evidence of disciplined practice habits, you have a chance at many programs. The top conservatories are extremely competitive, but hundreds of strong university music programs accept students at a wider range of levels.
The National Center for Education Statistics shows that music remains a consistently awarded performing arts degree1. The career paths are less conventional than most majors, but music graduates work as performers, educators, audio engineers, music therapists, arts administrators, and in a growing number of music technology roles.
For career and salary analysis, see the music degree overview. This page covers the specific requirements.
Piano proficiency is required in virtually every accredited music program, even if your primary instrument is trumpet, voice, or guitar. Non-pianists typically need to pass a piano proficiency exam covering basic scales, chord progressions, sight-reading, and simple accompaniment. Start working on piano skills before college if you do not already play — it is one of the most common sources of stress for non-pianist music majors.
Core Coursework: What Every Music Major Takes
Music theory sequence (four semesters):
- Music Theory I-IV — intervals, scales, chords, harmonic progressions, counterpoint, form analysis, and 20th/21st century techniques. Builds progressively from tonal harmony through chromatic harmony to post-tonal analysis.
Aural skills (four semesters):
- Ear Training/Sight-Singing I-IV — interval recognition, melodic and harmonic dictation, sight-singing, and rhythmic reading. Runs parallel to theory.
Music history (two to three semesters):
- Music History I — medieval through Baroque. Plainchant, polyphony, and the development of tonal music.
- Music History II — Classical through Romantic. Sonata form, symphonic development, and 19th century nationalism.
- Music History III — 20th century through contemporary. Modernism, minimalism, jazz, popular music, and world music traditions.
Applied lessons — weekly private instruction on your primary instrument or voice, typically every semester. You work with a faculty member on repertoire, technique, and performance preparation.
Ensemble participation — required every semester. Band, orchestra, choir, jazz ensemble, chamber groups, or other performing ensembles depending on your instrument.
Additional requirements:
- Piano Proficiency — non-pianists must demonstrate basic keyboard skills
- Conducting — at least one semester, often two (choral and instrumental)
- Music Technology — MIDI, notation software (Finale/Sibelius), recording basics, and digital audio workstations
- Senior Recital or Capstone — a public performance or research project demonstrating your cumulative skills
BM vs BA vs BME: Which Track?
BM (Bachelor of Music) — the professional performance or composition degree. Extremely music-intensive (75-80% music coursework). Limited general education. Designed for students pursuing careers as performers, composers, or heading to graduate programs in performance. Requires the most rigorous audition.
BA in Music — music with liberal arts breadth. Approximately 40-50% music coursework. Room for double majors, minors, or pre-professional preparation (pre-law, pre-business). Less intensive performance expectations.
BME (Bachelor of Music Education) — preparation for K-12 music teaching. Combines music coursework with education courses and student teaching. Leads to teaching certification. The most structured track with the highest total credit requirements (often 130-140 hours).
BS in Music Technology/Industry — offered at some schools. Focuses on recording, production, music business, and audio engineering.
Common Concentrations
Performance — the traditional path for aspiring professional musicians. Intensive applied study and multiple recitals. Music education — teaching certification for K-12 music. Choral, instrumental, or general music tracks. Composition — creating original music. Requires theory proficiency and often includes technology. Music technology/audio production — recording, mixing, and digital music production. Music therapy — using music in clinical therapeutic settings. Requires specific certification (MT-BC). Jazz studies — improvisation, jazz theory, and jazz ensemble performance. Music business/industry — management, marketing, and business operations in the music industry.
Music programs have hidden time costs that do not appear in credit hour counts. Daily practice (1-3 hours minimum), ensemble rehearsals (3-6 hours per week), performances, recital attendance requirements, and accompanist coordination are all expected beyond your scheduled classes. The total time commitment for a BM student often exceeds 40 hours per week when practice is included. Plan your schedule accordingly.
Prerequisites and Admission Requirements
Audition — the defining admission requirement. Requirements vary by school and instrument but typically include prepared pieces (often from specific style periods), scales, sight-reading, and sometimes ear training tests. Contact programs early for specific audition requirements and dates.
Music theory placement — many programs give a theory placement test at orientation. Students with AP Music Theory or prior theory training may place into Theory II or higher.
Portfolio/recordings — some programs accept pre-screen recordings before inviting in-person auditions. Recording quality and repertoire selection matter.
Skills You'll Build (and What Employers Actually Value)
Discipline and time management — daily practice regimens and balancing performance preparation with academic work develop exceptional self-management skills. Performance under pressure — playing or singing in front of audiences builds composure and presence. Collaboration — ensemble work teaches you to contribute to a group effort, listen to others, and adjust in real time. Creative problem-solving — interpreting music, solving technical challenges, and finding your artistic voice. Technical audio skills — music technology courses build proficiency with recording, editing, and production software.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that musician and singer positions will grow about 5% between 2023 and 20332. But this figure dramatically understates the full employment picture for music graduates. Music education, music therapy, audio engineering, arts administration, and music technology roles employ far more music graduates than performance alone. The most employable music graduates are those who combine performance skills with at least one additional competency.
What Nobody Tells You About Music Requirements
Music theory is the course that surprises students most. Incoming music majors expect to spend their time performing. Instead, they spend a significant portion of their first two years in theory and ear training classes that feel more like math than music. Theory proficiency is nonnegotiable — it is the language of the discipline.
Practice time is the real homework. Your applied lessons require daily practice, and the quality of that practice determines your progress. Unlike other majors where you can cram before an exam, musical skill develops only through consistent daily effort. Students who do not practice daily fall behind quickly and visibly.
The performing career path is extremely competitive. Full-time orchestral positions, opera companies, and professional chamber groups employ a tiny fraction of music graduates. Most working musicians piece together income from teaching, performing, recording, and other music-related work. Understanding this reality early helps you build a diversified skill set.
Music education is the most reliable employment path. K-12 music teachers have strong job security and benefits. The BME track is demanding (often 130+ credits), but it leads to the most predictable employment outcome for music graduates.
Your classmates are your future collaborators and network. The musicians you study with become the people who recommend you for gigs, hire you for sessions, and collaborate with you throughout your career. Invest in those relationships.
FAQ
Do I need to audition for a music program?
Yes, for BM and BME programs. BA programs sometimes require a less formal audition or portfolio review. Audition requirements vary by school and instrument — check each program's specific requirements well in advance. Many schools hold auditions between January and March for fall admission.
Can I major in music if I started my instrument late?
It depends on your current level and the competitiveness of the program. Students who started their instrument in middle school or later can absolutely succeed in music programs, particularly at universities (as opposed to conservatories). Your audition performance matters more than when you started. That said, some instruments (piano, violin) have larger applicant pools with more students who started very young.
How much does a music degree cost beyond tuition?
Instrument purchase or rental, reeds/strings/accessories, private lessons (if not covered by tuition), accompanist fees, recital expenses, and professional attire for performances. Costs vary enormously by instrument — a flutist's expenses are much lower than a double bassist's. Budget $500-2,000 per year for music-specific expenses.
What can I do with a music degree besides perform?
Music education (K-12 teaching), music therapy, audio engineering and production, arts administration, music publishing, worship music, private teaching, music technology, and music business. See the music careers page for salary data.
Is a music degree worth the investment?
It depends on your career goals and financial situation. Music education and music therapy have predictable career outcomes. Performance careers are less financially predictable but deeply fulfilling for those who succeed. The degree is most "worth it" when you use the program to build multiple skill sets rather than betting everything on a single performance career. See is a music degree worth it for detailed analysis.
Should I go to a conservatory or a university music program?
Conservatories provide the most intensive musical training with minimal non-music coursework. University programs balance music with broader education and social experiences. Conservatories are better for students fully committed to performance careers. Universities are better for students who want flexibility, a broader college experience, or who are considering music education, therapy, or other music-adjacent paths.
Footnotes
-
National Center for Education Statistics. (2024). Digest of Education Statistics: Table 322.10 — Bachelor's degrees conferred by postsecondary institutions, by field of study. NCES. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d23/tables/dt23_322.10.asp ↩
-
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025). Occupational Outlook Handbook: Musicians and Singers. BLS. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/entertainment-and-sports/musicians-and-singers.htm ↩
-
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025). Occupational Outlook Handbook: Music Directors and Composers. BLS. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/entertainment-and-sports/music-directors-and-composers.htm ↩