Music Major

• What is Music?
• What are Some Specializations Within this Broad Major?
• What Kinds of Students Major in Music?
• What Courses Do Music Majors Take?
• List of Music Jobs
• What is the Median Salary Range for Music Careers?
• College and University Departments to Consider

What is Music?

Individuals who choose music as a major are in for a field full of diverse styles, methods, cultures, and themes in varying types of music. Virtually any type of musical instrument and ways of playing it can be learned in this major, and the experience is often carried on throughout the major. Vocal music may also be studied for group or individual performances. For the music major, the history, theory, and composition of music that is intended to provide an extensive background in the art form for students who may go on to professional careers as composers, performers, or scholars, or who may enter fields in which a solid grounding in music is essential, such as arts management or publishing.

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What are Some Specializations Within this Broad Major?

Various specializations related to a major in Music may be offered by colleges and universities. These specializations may be of greater or lesser interest to you. A few of these specializations related to this field include, but are not limited to:

Business Management and Merchandising	Conducting
History and Literature	Performance
Piano and Organ Performance	Teacher Education
Theory and Composition	Therapy
Voice and Choral or Opera Performance

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What Kinds of Students Major in Music?

This major is a favorite of people who, obviously, have a love of music, performance, and composition. Music majors are often inquisitive, analytical, observant, able to think abstractly, able to draw, and enjoy coordinated activities and sports. Often artistic, this kind of person enjoys various kinds of art like theatre, types of artwork, and creative expression.

Is Music the right major for you?
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What Courses Do Music Majors Take?

The required and elective courses you would take for Music majors vary considerably among institutions. Courses are listed here that are illustrative of the breadth of topics you are likely to experience were you to major in this field.

Aural Skills	Counterpoint
Elements of Music	English Diction
German Diction	Indonesian Music and Cultures
Instrumentation	Introduction to Music
Music History Abroad	Music in World Cultures
Organ Repertoire	Romanticism in Music
Special Topics

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List of Potential Jobs in Music

These professions and professional organizations illustrate the types of positions you might qualify for if you complete this major. Some majors are more directly related to employment than others, however. You should consider the likelihood of employment after graduation carefully, if you do not plan to go on for graduate work in a field. Even with the completion of graduate work in some fields, however, employment is difficult, so you should determine what the prospects are for this or any major. Employment possibilities are often enhanced by the selecting employment-related courses and by the enrollment in second major or in a minor.

Creative Director	Instrumental Music
Music Instruction	Music Royalty and Publishing
Music Therapist	Orchestra
Performance	Videographer Editor
Vocal Music Teacher

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What is the Median Salary Range for Music Careers?

U.S. Median Salary(starting):$34,000

U.S. Median Salary(mid-career):$52,000

Note: These numbers are national averages so you could make more or less than these amounts. Actual expected salaries will vary depending on your chosen career path, experience, and even your geographic location. Are you interested in detailed information about the forecasted demand for a particular profession? Are you interested in the estimated salaries such positions are likely to pay? This government Web site allows you to search on a particular job, whether listed here or not, to give you this information.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Colleges and Universities offering majors in Music

MyMajors complete list has 1,373 schools in the USA with a major in Music.
-View the national listing!

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For information on options available to campuses wishing to see their programs listed on MyMajors, contact for details.