Students in the music department need a way to practice performing for an audience. As such, several colleges in Hawaii host musical groups and ensembles for students. The groups may be open to students of all majors or to just those in a music department. Many groups require an audition to get in, but some are open to newbies. Brigham Young University, located in Laie, Hawaii, is a small college with just a few thousand students. The college hosts a number of performing groups and ensembles for students to join, such as Broadway cabaret, brass ensembles, a Shaka Steel band and even a Polynesian drum ensemble. Brigham Young offers bachelor's degrees in applied music.
Getting an education in Hawaii can be expensive, and no student wants to take on more debt than he can handle. Several schools on the islands offer scholarship opportunities to those taking music degrees. The University of Hawai'i at Hilo is one of three university campuses operated by the University of Hawai'i system. The university offers several special scholarships for outstanding performers and musicians, including the Hawaii Concert Society Scholarship, Adap and Cook Memorial Scholarships for Singers and Instrumentalists, and Gouglides Memorial Grant for Pianists.
Music programs must prepare students for the working world. No one degree in music will fit all needs. A variety of professions relating to music exist, and a good college will offer degrees with a range of specialties. Another branch of the University of Hawai'i system, Manoa University, offers three different degrees in music. Each degree is intended to prepare students for different careers in music. The Bachelor of Arts degree emphasizes applied music and allows students to focus on their chosen specialty. The Bachelor of Music degree prepares students to be composers, educators and professional musicians. The Bachelor of Education degree is meant for students intending to teach music in various academic environments.
Musicians and other professionals in the field occasionally want to advance their education beyond a bachelor's degree. Only one college in Hawaii offers graduate-level studies in music and that is the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. This college not only offers diversity in program focus, but also gives students the opportunity to advance to higher studies. Manoa offers graduate-level studies in music for master's degree and Ph.D. students. The master's degree programs include composition and performance, ethnomusicology, music education, musicology and theory.