Major Maps

Associate of Fine Arts: Music

The Bachelor of Arts in Music is designed for students who want a degree that combines a breadth of general studies with a major in music. Included are courses in basic theory, aural skills, applied performance, music history, and foreign language, as well as music and open electives. This degree is designed for students who want to build a strong foundation of musical knowledge and skill while also having the flexibility to create their own unique curricular path. This program is ideal for students who want to major in music, but are also interested in minoring or double majoring in other programs.

The Bachelor of Music is the initial professional degree in music. Its primary emphasis is on development of the skills, concepts, and sensitivities essential to the professional life of the musician. At the center of the instructional program for this degree is the music core curriculum, comprising 27 credits of instruction in aspects of musicianship that are fundamental to all music degree programs. Included are courses in music theory, aural skills, music history, and conducting.

Students in the instrumental performance concentrations spend eight semesters studying privately on their instrument with our esteemed faculty, and participate in a variety of large and small ensemble experiences throughout their time at VCU. The degree culminates in an hour-long capstone senior recital to showcase students’ musicianship and skill. The vocal performance concentration affords eight semesters of studying classical vocal technique in a weekly private lesson with our esteemed voice faculty, and participate in large and small choral ensembles who perform a wide variety of diverse and challenging choral repertoire. The degree culminates in an hour-long senior recital to showcase students’ musicianship and skill.

Students in the music education/instrumental and the music education/vocal-choral concentrations thrive in an atmosphere of creativity, exceptional musical achievement, and hands-on music education methodology and directed field experiences. Music education students at VCU are challenged to demonstrate both excellence through their own personal musicianship as well as superior skills as a pre-professional music educator: understanding how music is learned in order to understand how to teach. The VCU music education faculty are committed to providing a model of individualized, focused attention to each major resulting in lasting, positive relationships that endure as each student moves into this stimulating and vital profession.

The Bachelor of Arts in Music prepares students for a wide variety of professional and entrepreneurial careers in music or interdisciplinary fields as well as post-graduate study in an area of chosen specialization. VCU Music graduates utilize their skills and musical knowledge in various fields including music publishing, music criticism, arts administration, performance, teaching, songwriting, film scoring, arranging, conducting, music therapy, concert management and promotion, audio consulting, and media production.

Students in the Bachelor of Music with a concentration in performance pursue studies as instrumental soloists, opera singers, jazz musicians, chamber musicians and more. The performance program prepares students for a wide variety of professional and entrepreneurial careers in music as well as postgraduate study in an area of chosen specialization. VCU Music has great opportunities for you whether you want to hone your skills on a specific instrument, learn the best techniques for teaching tomorrow’s musicians, collaborate with other great chamber or jazz musicians, or make music a foundation for other career goals.

The Bachelor of Music with a concentration in music education is a rigorous program that prepares graduates to pursue professions in education and related fields. The VCU Music program incorporates requirements necessary to qualify for the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Collegiate Professional Certificate to teach music in public schools. Reciprocity between Virginia and numerous other states makes it possible for those music education students who become certified to teach in Virginia to obtain certification in those other states.