The University of Minnesota's School of Music, located on 4th Street in Minneapolis, offers the student training in Western art music. Only one class exposes the musician to training in world music. The school houses a library that holds over 70,000 books and scores. The S.T.R.U.M studios are avenue for students to exercise their skill with electronic composition. S.T.R.U.M, an anagram for Sound, Technology and Research at the University of Minnesota is a fully equipped recording studio that conducts research into advanced music technologies.
Augsburg College awards graduating students a liberal arts degree with a major in music. A bachelor of arts is available in music or music with a concentration in business. A bachelor of music degree allows a concentration in education or performance. Students may also choose to minor in music while pursuing a major in another subject. A student can further his musical passion by auditioning for the Augsburg Jazz Ensemble. In lieu of the jazz ensemble, Augsburg offers six other extracurricular musical groups, including four choral groups.
Focused degrees of study in specific instruments set St. Thomas apart from other Minneapolis music institutions. The guitar studies program provides a well-rounded course of study in all types of guitar music from classical to rock. The piano pedagogy certificate and master of arts in music education prepare the student for teaching music to individuals and classrooms. The facilities at St. Thomas are home to a handful of organs, used by students and faculty in the keyboard studies program.
The philosophy of North Central University's academic music program stems from the school's religious principles. For example, the department touts a program of study in the Worship Arts led by a music pastor. Before a student begins a focused course of study he receives a foundation of musical studies in theory and pedagogy.