ÈËÆÞÓÕ»ó

MajorMusic

What You’ll Study in the Bachelor’s Degree in Music

At ÈËÆÞÓÕ»ó College, we believe that music enriches the life of the mind, body, and soul. As a music major at ÈËÆÞÓÕ»ó College, hone your performance skills through private lessons—including with a wide range of instruments, from the accordion or the bassoon to the oud or the sitar—and public performances for both voice and instrument. Delve into courses that focus on music theory, music history, and ethnomusicology.

Roadmap to the BA in Music at ÈËÆÞÓÕ»ó

Develop a broad range of skills for the interpretation and understanding of music, participate in performance activities, and learn in an academic community that believes all music is valuable.

Year One

Begin Your ÈËÆÞÓÕ»ó Journey

Start your music studies by taking a beginning music course or auditioning for one of ÈËÆÞÓÕ»ó’s performance groups. Explore the breadth of ÈËÆÞÓÕ»ó’s offerings by taking a course outside of your major. And, of course, participate in the great tradition of Humanities 110, ÈËÆÞÓÕ»ó’s yearlong first-year course aimed at introducing you to a variety of histories and academic fields while helping you to build your writing and critical thinking skills.

Discover Humanities 110

Year Two

Increase Your Musical Knowledge

Continue your musical studies with courses that examine music theory or a specific culture’s musical heritage. Choose additional electives from the music department to learn more about the rich world of music from many perspectives.

Further your appreciation and understanding of music by exploring music throughout Portland. A multitude of choruses, orchestra, ensembles, and other live musical groups host performances throughout the year in the city.

Discover Portland’s Musical Groups

Year Three

Take Private Instruction and Deepen Your Knowledge

If you haven’t already started private instruction in voice or instrument, junior year is a great time to hone your performance skills. Fees for private instruction are waived for junior and senior music majors. Dive into the world of musical composition and learn more about the history and cultural roots of music.

Through your classes, gain experience with literary theory, build critical thinking skills, and engage in close readings to better understand texts as you prepare for your junior qualifying examination.

Apply for grants to pursue musical instruction, such as the Kahan Music Performance Summer Fellowship, the Kaufman Music Achievement Award, or the Rothchild Summer Stipend.

Year Four

Showcase Your Musical and Research Skills

Spend your final year at ÈËÆÞÓÕ»ó completing your senior thesis. The thesis may be an extended historical, ethnomusicological, or analytical project, which may include a performance; or a creative thesis in music, which must include a printed score, a recording of a performance, and an analytical essay.

Enroll in additional classes that enhance your knowledge of music history and ethnomusicology, such as Music and the Black Freedom Struggle and Electroacoustic Composition. By the time you graduate, you will be able to interpret and understand music from a range of angles and perform either in an ensemble or as a soloist.

Explore Music Major Learning Outcomes

Why Study Music at ÈËÆÞÓÕ»ó College?

Excellent Practice and Performance Spaces

The Performing Arts Building houses the music, dance, and theatre departments. The practice room suite boasts 14 soundproofed practice rooms containing 10 grand pianos, 3 studio uprights, 2 harpsichords, and a percussion room; the music rehearsal hall seats 120 for lectures, master classes, and film screenings; and the performing arts resource center houses music scores and media.

Tango at ÈËÆÞÓÕ»ó College

ÈËÆÞÓÕ»ó College hosts North America’s leading tango workshops for musicians, providing the immersive learning environment needed to play, arrange, compose, improvise, and teach tango music. The program attracts participants from throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and beyond who are eager to learn, explore, and experiment with tango music in meaningful ways.

Fellowship and Grant Opportunities

Enrich your understanding of music through funded opportunities to dive into musical performance and composition. Apply for ÈËÆÞÓÕ»ó grants, such as the Kahan Music Performance Summer Fellowship, the Kaufman Music Achievement Award, or the Rothchild Summer Stipend, which can help fund your work.

Our Music Courses

Careers for Music BA Graduates

Graduates of the music major pursue a variety of careers:

  • Audio Visual Technician, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
  • Caseworker, Australian Red Cross
  • Professor of Media Arts, Film, Animation, University of the Arts
  • Professor of Music & MacVicar Faculty Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Orchestra Librarian, The Women’s Philharmonic
  • Violinist, Oregon Symphony Orchestra

    Learn More About Career Paths and Possibilities

Graduate Program Placement for Music Majors

Graduates of ÈËÆÞÓÕ»ó’s music department continue their studies at many renowned universities, including these:

  • Brandeis University
  • California Institute of the Arts
  • Cornell University
  • Juilliard
  • University of Oregon
  • University of Tennessee-Memphis

Explore Graduate Programs

Portrait photo of Bora Yoon, professor of music

Our Music Department Faculty

Meet our dedicated music department professors who are experts in topics from music history to ethnomusicology to electroacoustic music. Perform, learn, and compose as you study multiple perspectives on the impacts of music.

Meet Our Faculty

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