Students at Towson University have a number of opportunities to earn music degrees. Bachelor's candidates may major in composition, voice, music theory, music education or jazz and commercial music; students who wish to become teachers may enroll in Towson's Master of Music degree with a specialization in composition. The school provides resources such as an aural training computer lab, past concert CDs, recitals throughout the year, practice rooms and specialty music course tutoring. While on campus, students may participate in clubs such as the Association of Towson Composers, the American Choral Directors Association, the National Association for Music Education and Kappa Kappa Psi, the national band member honor society.
Admission to the music programs vary by degree and specialization. Students interested in majoring in an instrument or voice must complete an audition (either in person or videotaped). Bachelor's students require a high school diploma; master's candidates must have a bachelor's degree in music or education. Towson is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
Towson University
Department of Music
8000 York Road
Towson, MD 21252
410-704-2839
towson.edu
The University of Chicago offers both a bachelor's and master's degree in music through its Department of Music. Courses include introduction to composition, contemporary opera, introduction to computer music, ethnomusicology, jazz, South Asian music, introduction to the social and cultural study of music and introduction to music analysis and criticism. Students have the opportunity to graduate with an honors designation by writing a research paper or creating a composition, which is overseen by a faculty member. Resources are available through the school's Music Collection, home to 32,000 audio/video recordings and 110,000 books, the Chicago Jazz Archive and the Newberry Library, plus on-site practice rooms and a music production studio. Students also have the opportunity to audition for the university's Performance Program, which offers 14 ensembles, including orchestra, choirs, world music and chamber music, putting on 100 performances per season.
Admission to the undergraduate music program requires a high school diploma showing course work in a foreign language, four years of English, three to four years of math and three to four years of science. SAT or ACT scores are also required; the average admission scores of the class of 2012 were between 1310 and 1540 or 28 and 33 respectively. The school also considers letters of reference, a personal essay and extra curricular activities for admission decisions.
The University of Chicago
Department of Music
1010 East 59th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
773-702-8484
uchicago.edu
Select from two undergraduate major options at Stanford University: a major in music or a major in music, science and technology. Concentrations in the degree are available in history, conducting, theory, performance and composition. Students enrolling in the technology major take course work focusing on the electronic side of the music industry, such as computer music technology, psychoacoustic foundations of music, signal processing and digital audio. Hands-on research experience is available through Stanford's Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics on campus. Students may also complete a double major in music and another field. Private lessons, recitals, ensembles (choral, wind, flute, a cappella, orchestra) and the Music Students Association are available to augment the undergraduate degree process. Stanford also offers a music library with 34,000 recordings and its Archive of Record Sound, with 300,000 recordings making it one of the five largest archives in the country.
Students interested in the music major must take a piano proficiency test. Auditions for the degree programs are not required, but can supplement an application. All students must have a high school diploma. Stanford offers the opportunity for students to take their education further, with four masters degrees: music history; composition; music, science and technology and computer-based music theory and acoustics, plus three doctoral programs: composition, musicology and computer-based music theory and acoustics.
Stanford University
Department of Music
541 Lasuen Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-3076
650-723-3811
stanford.edu