Students seeking to earn a BM must take general education courses in math, science, history, English and foreign language. These classes give students a well-rounded education and teach them about the world around them.
Major course studies are those that focus on the student's main area of study in music. For example, a piano player's major course of study is in piano. The major courses allow students to perfect their techniques as musicians and, in most cases, improve their live performances, which are required of most BM students.
Performance courses are required of all aspiring musicians, including vocal performers. These courses may include solo or group performances. Students learn about different techniques, rhythm and performance. They will likely join a choir or orchestra and attend workshops, according to the Julliard School.
Classroom studies include music theory, music history and literature courses. Most students who study to earn a BM must take a sight-singing or ear-training course so they can learn to sight-read music and know how written music may sound before it is played.
Specialized music courses depend on the instrument a student plays. All music majors, however, are required to take piano classes, according to The Julliard School, where students must at a minimum learn to play the major and minor scales and their chords. Vocal performance majors typically must learn to read and pronounce words in other languages. Jazz performance majors typically take lessons that deal with improvisation, jazz theory and jazz in the music business.
Along with general study courses, those wishing to graduate with a BM must take humanities courses. These can be additional language courses, art elective courses, dance, anthropology, economics, philosophy and political science. Humanities courses teach students to use their talents in real world situations, should they decide to travel, live abroad, start a business or teach music.