The Music School of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Rhode Island accommodates 14,500 children and youth as well as adults. It offers classes, private instrumental and vocal lessons, ensemble opportunities, and community partnership programs. Music styles include rhythm and blues, jazz, pop, wind ensembles, and feature youth orchestras, big band, and combos. This music school has over 70 teachers and coaches and offers needs-based financial assistance. In 2008, it opened the Carter Center for Music Education & Performance, also located in East Providence, which houses over 30 private studios, an early childhood wing, a rock and blues wing, a jazz wing, and two large recital-rehearsal halls.
Brown University, situated in Providence, RI, has three music degrees. One is a Bachelor of Arts with Music as a major and two additional PhD programs. One PhD is in Ethnomusicology and the other PhD is in Computer Music and Multi-Media. The music department offers a variety of music-related courses covering technology, composition, musical aesthetics, theory and performance. Programs involve everything from multi-media sound experimentation to cultural studies. The music department has use of the Grant Recital Hall, the Fulton Rehearsal Hall, and the Morrison-Gerard Studios. The Steinert Hall houses the choral room, several practice rooms, and music studios where seminars and lectures are presented, opera workshops take place, and computer installations are taught.
Rhode Island College in Providence offers a music program and a music education program that merges theory and practice. The music program offers a Bachelor of Music with a concentration in Performance, a Bachelor of Music with a concentration in Music Education, and a Bachelor of Arts geared to the student's interests in musical history, theory, or composition. It also offers a minor in Jazz Studies. Master's degrees in Music at Rhode Island College are in Music Education for certified teachers, and a Master of Arts in Teaching for those who wish to pursue teaching certification. Rhode Island College provides $40,000 in music scholarships annually to talented students.
Salve Regina University in Newport, RI offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. Students must undergo an interview process before being accepted for the music program. Required courses include analysis, theory, an advanced theory course, a major recital and music history. Students must perform in a department ensemble every term and all music majors must pass comprehensive examinations in theory and music history and theory as well as in piano proficiency to meet graduation requirements.