There are many schools of music and dance for children in grades kindergarten through 12. These are primarily afterschool programs. Parents and children are able to choose from a variety of classes such as tap, ballet, piano, violin or guitar. Beginner courses are available for young children that offer an overview of either music or dance as a general art form. Most K-12 music schools offer private lessons for more advanced or focused study. They also put on recitals to display what they have learned and give parents an opportunity to watch a competed program.
Universities of music and dance are institutions where students commit two to four years of study toward a specific form of performance art. Universities such as San Francisco State and San Diego State have sub-schools of music and dance. Other higher education centers are designed as schools of music and dance such as Juilliard School of Dance, Drama and Music located in New York. Colleges like Juilliard and Berklee School of Music in Boston are prestigious and only have room for 2,000 to 4,000 applicants. These opportunities are often reserved for students with refined talent and skill.
According to the Juilliard website, most students of dance universities pursue a Bachelor's in Fine Arts. This is a four-year program. Your chosen area of study or major is what distinguishes your dance degree from others. Students of music will obtain a Bachelor's in Music. Graduate level programs are offered at many fine art universities. Master's of Music is a degree for graduate students of performance arts, composition, conducting, music therapy, film scoring or many other musical paths.
Students of dance pursuing a Bachelor's of Fine Arts at any school of music and dance will be free to study their chosen style of dance, as long as it is offered by the school. Additional programs of dance include choreography and professional dance that encompasses many styles. Music majors are plentiful. Students can focus on a particular instrument for their educational career. Otherwise, music majors include composition, history, songwriting, orchestra conducting, recording and music technology training.