Music (B.M.)

The Bachelor of Music in Music Performance program focuses on the development of technique, ensemble dynamics, and knowledge of repertoire. Our students learn from faculty who are known for their musicianship throughout the region, the country, and the world. They have made a professional commitment to the art of music and have spent their lives in the constant pursuit of musical excellence. Will you?

Our graduates' career options are as diverse as their talents and performance areas. They perform, conduct, and direct in a variety of specialty areas. Many have earned recognition for their work with different bands, orchestras, choirs, groups, and dance companies.

All music majors complete coursework in music theory and aural skills, music history (including the study of music from a variety of cultures), class piano, music ensembles, and applied study on a primary instrument or voice. Music performance majors choose either the instrumental or vocal track, which determines areas of emphasis with regards to applied music study, required participation in ensembles, and music literature and pedagogy coursework. Music performance majors take extended-length applied music lessons and spend additional time in music ensembles. They also take coursework in music literature, pedagogy related to their instrument or voice, music technology, and professional entrepreneurship.  

Many students pursuing this degree program aspire to future graduate study and eventual careers as professional performers. As with many of the degrees offered at liberal arts institutions, this degree program can be appealing to students whose future job titles may not align with the degree name. This degree can be valuable to students working towards completion of a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in performance skills, who may be planning future vocations in other music-related fields, or vocations unrelated to music.

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

The Bachelor of Music in Music Performance program focuses on the development of technique, ensemble dynamics, and knowledge of repertoire. Our students learn from faculty who are known for their musicianship throughout the region, the country, and the world. They have made a professional commitment to the art of music and have spent their lives in the constant pursuit of musical excellence. Will you?

Our graduates' career options are as diverse as their talents and performance areas. They perform, conduct, and direct in a variety of specialty areas. Many have earned recognition for their work with different bands, orchestras, choirs, groups, and dance companies.

All music majors complete coursework in music theory and aural skills, music history (including the study of music from a variety of cultures), class piano, music ensembles, and applied study on a primary instrument or voice. Music performance majors choose either the instrumental or vocal track, which determines areas of emphasis with regards to applied music study, required participation in ensembles, and music literature and pedagogy coursework. Music performance majors take extended-length applied music lessons and spend additional time in music ensembles. They also take coursework in music literature, pedagogy related to their instrument or voice, music technology, and professional entrepreneurship.  

Many students pursuing this degree program aspire to future graduate study and eventual careers as professional performers. As with many of the degrees offered at liberal arts institutions, this degree program can be appealing to students whose future job titles may not align with the degree name. This degree can be valuable to students working towards completion of a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in performance skills, who may be planning future vocations in other music-related fields, or vocations unrelated to music.

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

The Bachelor of Music with Emphasis in Music Technology program provides musical training and preparation for the rapidly changing music industry. Students take courses in studio production and assume a lead role in the production of arts and entertainment for various departments and organizations. Gain hands-on experience in recording, media production, live sound, broadcasting, promotions, management, and much more. Music technology majors also complete 24 credits in music technology and industry courses, including topics in recording techniques, electronic music, live sound reinforcement, film music production, and music business. The degree culminates in a 3- to 12- credit internship in a music technology-related field. 

All music majors complete coursework in music theory and aural skills, music history (including the study of music from a variety of cultures), class piano, music ensembles, and applied study on a primary instrument or voice. The Bachelor of Music with Emphasis in Music Technology combines professional studies in music with coursework in general music technology, recording, studio production techniques, live sound reinforcement, and a 3-credit (120 hours) internship in a music technology area in the student’s area of interest. Additional coursework is drawn from the computer science, graphic design, and media programs in order to develop the student’s basic understanding of mass media and relevant computer technologies. The 24-credit music technology component gives students an overview of technology, recording, live-sound reinforcement, and studio technique principles. The internship is normally done during the final semester, or summer, after all other music technology course work has been completed. 

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

The Bachelor of Music with Elective Studies in Business program allows students to combine professional studies and music-related business coursework. Music Business students complete the music curriculum for all Music degrees, including theory, music history, keyboard skills, ensemble participation, and instrumental or vocal private lessons. The program culminates in a 14-week internship in a music industry area of the student's interest or intended employment.

Our graduates enjoy successful careers as manufacturers, artist and talent representatives, media promotors, publicity administrators, marketing booking agents, product managers, business managers, and more. They hold a variety of positions in radio, television, and motion-picture industries.

All music majors complete coursework in music theory and aural skills, music history (including the study of music from a variety of cultures), class piano, music ensembles, and applied study on primary and secondary instruments, including voice. Music business majors also complete 12 credits in music technology & industry courses, including a survey of music business topics, entrepreneurship, and arts management & administration. Music business majors also declare an 18-credit business minor offered through the Ziegler College of Business. A wide array of minors are available, including those in management, marketing, and entrepreneurship & small business. The degree culminates in a 3- to 12- credit internship in a music industry-related field.

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

• Music
• Music Technology

• Primary Instrument/Voice: Students will perform effectively and musically in their primary performance area. This will include proficiency in skills requisite for artistic self-expression, an overview understanding of the relevant repertoire, and demonstrated ability to perform from a cross-section of that repertory.
• Reading: Students will be fluent in reading music notation, not only as pertains to their primary performance area, but also from full scores, the clefs and transpositions those scores utilize, and contemporary notational techniques.
• Harmonic Analysis: Students will utilize analytic techniques to effectively describe the large and small-scale structures of music in such a way as to reveal relevant and important information about the score.
• History: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the development of western music and listen critically to a varied repertoire of music, effectively describing the use of musical elements and expressive devices using advanced technical vocabulary. These descriptions will include identification of historical periods, genres, and interdisciplinary connections within a historical context.  
• Ensembles: Students will perform in ensembles and be effective, musical and constructive members of musical groups. Successful participation in musical ensembles includes leading small and large groups and working with others to create musically coherent performances.
• Composition (Years 1 & 2): Students will compose effective musical works that demonstrate an understanding of basic musical elements, including notation, form, and harmonic coherence.  
• Sight-Reading & Dictation (Years 1 & 2): Students will accurately sight-sing and take aural dictation. Students will improvise on instruments and voice melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
• Writing: Students will communicate effectively in written form.
• Piano: Students will demonstrate their proficiency on the piano/keyboard. This includes the ability to prepare works, sight-read, and improvise harmonizations at the keyboard. 

Music Business Majors

• Music Business Industry Experience: Students will demonstrate a direct working experience with a music-related business through intern supervisor comments and final portfolio artifacts that exhibits the students successful creative and productive work.  
• Business Electives: Students will demonstrate expertise in at least one area of the music industry, including but not limited to music business administration, management, or marketing.
• Music Industry Knowledge: Students will effectively communicate and evaluate critical and current issues involved with the music industry.  

Music Performance Majors

• Performance ability: Students will achieve a level of performance ability that is professionally recognized as acceptable for entrance into post-baccalaureate programs if they wish to continue developing their career as professional performing musicians, or work in related performance fields such as professional performing ensembles and/or studio teaching.  
• Pedagogy: Students will demonstrate an understanding of a variety of pedagogical techniques in their major applied area, including some or all of the following: description and application of knowledge of physical structures of the instrument, acoustical properties of the instrument, tone production, care and maintenance, troubleshooting, history and historical significance of instrument(s), professional disposition, and appropriate repertoire.
• Recital: Students will successfully perform a junior recital, and a culminating full recital, and demonstrate exposure and experience with a representative sample of repertoire appropriate to their instrument or voice.

Music Technology Majors

• Music Technology Functions: Students will discuss and evaluate the scope, integrative nature, and various functions of music technology, including acquaintance with various applications and equipment used in the field of music technology and the connections between music technology and the broader fields of music, technology, and culture.    
• Music Technology Application: Students will discuss, evaluate, and use various terminologies, principles, and procedures in music technology, as well as their combinations, as employed in and associated with the work of music technology. This includes, but is not limited to, their respective vocabularies of practice, ways work is conceptualized, developed, synthesized, and finalized, and phases of production, presentation, and/or distribution.  
• Music Technology Creation: Students will create works/processes of music technology and solve problems related to their creation.    
• Music Technology Professionalism: Students will use and master industry standard technologies at a professional level to achieve goals and objectives associated with specific areas of music technology. 

The Commonwealth University of PA (CU) Department of Music, Theatre & Dance provides an environment that promotes academic, artistic, and personal growth as well as intellectual, professional, ethical, and aesthetic values across campuses in Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield. The department serves the regional, national, and international communities by developing human and material resources. The department is committed to stimulating a continuous pursuit of knowledge, understanding, and skills by students and faculty.