West Chester University is located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, in the southeastern corner of the state. As of Fall 2010, the School of Music educates 450 undergraduate students in a competitive admission program. Because the West Chester School of Music is the only school in Pennsylvania to be recognized by the State System of Higher Education, applicant competition is fierce. This program is a hub for those wishing to study music education and pursue a job in that career field.
Bucknell University is located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, in the eastern part of the state. The music department provides a professional atmosphere to study performance, theory and history with professors who are nationally and internationally recognized in their fields. Within the program, students can major in performance, composition, music history and music education, as well as a minor in music.
Ensembles within the department include an opera company, symphonic band, orchestra and concert chorale.
Duquesne University is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the western part of the state. The Mary Pappert School of Music is a performance-driven department with professional musicians staffed to foster students' talents and skills.
Within the performance department, students have the opportunity to study brass, guitar/electrical bass, jazz, organ, percussion, piano, strings, voice and woodwinds.
Students can major in performance, music technology, music education and music therapy. In addition to performance, students study theory and composition to enhance their application.
The University of the Arts is located in Pennsylvania's largest city, Philadelphia, in the southeastern corner of the state. The School of Music within the University trains composers, educators and performers.
Contemporary music and jazz shape the curriculum. Students are encouraged to study theory and history, as well as improvise and experiment with their own musical styles.
Because of the size of the city and the school's location on the Avenue of the Arts, students have access to a variety of jazz clubs, concert halls, and music clubs and theaters within a few miles of their department.