Yale University, which was ranked as the third-best college in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in 2010, has a highly-rated school of music. Students must first demonstrate their musical skills, take entry exams and perform in a live audition before admittance into the school of music. Yale's School of Music offers graduate degrees that include a Master of Music, a Master of Musical Arts and a Doctor of Musical Arts. The musical arts students concentrate on either composition or performance. Yale, which is located in Connecticut and is a member of the Ivy League, also offers a bachelor's of arts program for undergraduate students. This program is open to students who major in music or another subject.
Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, has a department of music that emphasizes creativity. This includes writing critical reviews, composing, teaching and performing as a soloist, or with a chamber or large ensemble. Bachelor's of arts degrees are available in music, performance, composition, music history and music education. A minor in music is also available along with scholarships based on students doing well in an audition. The music department has 11 full-time instructors and approximately 15 students in each class as of 2011. Facilities include the Weis Center for the Performing Arts and the Sigfried Weis Music Building. Bucknell also has a wide range of musical groups. It holds approximately 100 concerts, recitals, masterclasses and lectures each year.
Located in the city of Spokane in Washington, Gonzaga University offers bachelor's of arts degrees in music and music education. Students earning a degree in music study train in performance, and study composition as well as general music. Upon completion of the bachelor's program, students are certified to teach music on the elementary and high school levels. Musical groups at the college include a jazz ensemble, a symphony orchestra and the Gonzaga University choir. More than 20 performances are held each summer, including some at the Bing Crosby Theater, which was named after one of the school's most famous alumni.
The Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University offers undergraduate degrees in music performance, composition, musical arts and teacher education. Specific departments within the school of music include composition, woodwinds, voice, strings, folk and jazz, keyboards, chamber music and ensembles. Music students have the opportunity to study abroad or apply for internship programs. It holds various musical performances throughout the year at Vanderbilt's three concert venues. The school's Anne Potter Wilson Music Library has an extensive array of book and electronic resources to help students with their musical studies. Faculty ensembles include string, brass and woodwind quintets.