Liberal Arts
Music Degree
Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Program
The music major is divided into two categories: instrumental & vocal performance and instrumental & vocal education. The music major — performance track is designed to assist students who desire to pursue a career in classical performance or attend graduate school. The music major — education track prepares students to teach in grades K-12.
Take Me To
Why should I earn a bachelor's degree in music?
In Demand
There’s a growing market for music education teachers as the current workforce is nearing retirement.
Prepare
Build the foundation for the stage or other areas of the profession like conducting, composing, and producing.
Pursue
Continue on to graduate studies for music education, performance, or music therapy.
What I Can Do With a Music Degree
- Music teacher (with teaching licensure)
- Professional musician/performer
- Conductor
- Composer
- On Campus
On Campus
Storm Lake
Why study music at BVU?
State-of-the-Art Facilities
Students in BVU’s music program have access to large rehearsal rooms for instrumental and vocal ensembles. The program also boasts computerized virtual reality practice rooms that simulate actual performance spaces, from a cathedral to a large recital hall.
Travel the World
BVU’s vocal and instrumental ensembles have taken performance tours to England, France, Austria, Germany, Italy, New York City, and Hawaii. Our choir was also selected to perform at Carnegie Hall.
Marching and Pep Band
BVU’s lakeside football field and jam-packed fieldhouse offer game-day experiences like no other in the American Rivers Conference. As a member of the band, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for in college!
BVU Concert Choir named America Prize Finalist
LEARN MORE
Join a Welcoming Community.
Share Remarkable Experiences.
CORGAN PETERSEN
Corgan, a double major in vocal and instrumental music education, will always remember the BVU choir trip to New York City with Dr. Merrin Guice. On this trip, Corgan and the rest of the choir had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall. Through travel experiences like this, Corgan has been able to develop into a successful musician. BVU’s music department has also connected Corgan with several area educators, which has led him to teach occasional lessons. He can’t wait to have a classroom of his own one day.
Music Program Tracks and Courses
Pursue your passion for music in a major program focused on your goals.
Music Education with Teaching Licensure: Instrumental K-12 | Vocal K-8 | Vocal K-12
Music Performance: Instrumental | Vocal
- Music Education Major with Teaching Licensure, Instrumental K-12 (41 Credit Hours)
Piano proficiency and recital must be passed prior to the student teaching experience
- MUSC 100-400 Private Lessons on Major Instruments (7 credit hours)
- MUSC 111 Music Theory I
- MUSC 112 Music Theory II
- MUSC 127 Concert Band
- MUSC 192 Classic Piano I for Music Majors
- MUSC 193 Class Piano II for Music Majors
- MUSC 194 Piano Proficiency
- MUSC 203 Instrumental Techniques - Woodwinds
- MUSC 204 Instrumental Techniques - Brass
- MUSC 207 Instrumental Techniques - Percussion
- MUSC 211 Music Theory III
- MUSC 212 Music Theory IV
- MUSC 307 Music History and Literature I
- MUSC 308 Music History and Literature II
- MUSC 321 Conducting I
- MUSC 322 Conducting II
- MUSC 490 Recital
Plus requirements for secondary education and education core and
- EDUC 403 Methods of Teaching General Music
- SEDU 442 Methods of Teaching Secondary Vocal Music
- SEDU 443 Methods of Teaching Secondary Instrumental Music
- SEDU 405 Field Experience/ Methods
- Music Education Major with Teaching Licensure, Vocal 5-12 (43 Credit Hours)
- MUSC 100-4000 Private Vocal Lessons (7 credit hours)
- MUSC 111 Music Theory I
- MUSC 112 Music Theory II
- MUSC 121 Diction Foreign Languages
- MUSC 122 Concert Choir (7 semesters)
- MUSC 192 Classic Piano I for Music Majors
- MUSC 193 Class Piano II for Music Majors
- MUSC 194 Piano Proficiency
- MUSC 203 Instrumental Techniques - Woodwinds
- MUSC 204 Instrumental Techniques - Brass
- MUSC 207 Instrumental Techniques - Percussion
- MUSC 211 Music Theory III
- MUSC 212 Music Theory IV
- MUSC 307 Music History and Literature I
- MUSC 308 Music History and Literature II
- MUSC 321 Conducting I
- MUSC 322 Conducting II
- MUSC 490 Recital
Piano proficiency and recital must be passed prior to the student teaching experience
Plus requirements for secondary education and education core and
- EDUC 403 Methods of Teaching General Music
- SEDU 405 Field Experience/ Methods
- SEDU 442 Methods of Teaching Secondary Vocal Music
- SEDU 443 Methods of Teaching Secondary Instrumental Music
- Music Education Major with Teaching Licensure, Vocal K-8 (43 credit hours)
- MUSC 100-4000 Private Vocal Lessons (7 credit hours)
- MUSC 111 Music Theory I
- MUSC 112 Music Theory II
- MUSC 121 Diction Foreign Languages
- MUSC 122 Concert Choir (7 semesters)
- MUSC 192 Classic Piano I for Music Majors
- MUSC 193 Class Piano II for Music Majors
- MUSC 194 Piano Proficiency
- MUSC 203 Instrumental Techniques - Woodwinds
- MUSC 204 Instrumental Techniques - Brass
- MUSC 207 Instrumental Techniques - Percussion
- MUSC 211 Music Theory III
- MUSC 212 Music Theory IV
- MUSC 307 Music History and Literature I
- MUSC 308 Music History and Literature II
- MUSC 321 Conducting I
- MUSC 322 Conducting II
- MUSC 490 Recital
Piano proficiency and recital must be passed prior to the student teaching experience
Plus requirements for elementary education and education core and
- EDUC 403 Methods of Teaching General Music
- EDUC 405 Field Experience/ Methods
- SEDU 442 Methods of Teaching Secondary Vocal Music
- SEDU 443 Methods of Teaching Secondary Instrumental Music
- Music Performance Major, Instrumental (40 Credit Hours)
- MUSC 100-400 Private Lessons on Major Instrument (12 credit hours)
- MUSC 111 Music Theory I
- MUSC 112 Music Theory II
- MUSC 127 Concert Band
- MUSC 192 Classic Piano I for Music Majors
- MUSC 193 Class Piano II for Music Majors
- MUSC 194 Piano Proficiency
- MUSC 211 Music Theory III
- MUSC 212 Music Theory IV
- MUSC 307 Music History and Literature I
- MUSC 308 Music History and Literature II
- MUSC 321 Conducting I
- MUSC 322 Conducting II
- MUSC 490 Recital
- Music Performance Major, Vocal (42 Credit Hours)
- MUSC 100-400 Private Lessons on Major Instrument (12 credit hours)
- MUSC 111 Music Theory I
- MUSC 112 Music Theory II
- MUSC 121 Diction Foreign Languages
- MUSC 122 Concert Choir (7 semesters)
- MUSC 192 Classic Piano I for Music Majors
- MUSC 193 Class Piano II for Music Majors
- MUSC 194 Piano Proficiency
- MUSC 211 Music Theory III
- MUSC 212 Music Theory IV
- MUSC 307 Music History and Literature I
- MUSC 308 Music History and Literature II
- MUSC 321 Conducting I
- MUSC 322 Conducting II
- MUSC 490 Recital
- Minor in Music Performance (20 Credit Hours)
- MUSC 100-200 Level Private Lessons on Major Instrument or Voice (4 credit hours)
- MUSC 111 Music Theory I
- MUSC 112 Music Theory II
- MUSC 122 Concert Choir or MUSC 127 Concert Band (4 semesters)
- MUSC 307 Music History and Literature I
- MUSC 308 Music History and Literature II
- MUSC 321 Conducting I
- MUSC 490 Recital
Courses taken for credit or no credit will appear on student's permanent record along with an assigned grade. All required course work in the music major and minor must be taken for a letter grade.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
We’ll help you figure out your options for financial assistance and possible scholarships.
Learn MoreMusic Faculty
Our instructors are committed to helping you build the future of Iowa and beyond.
See Our FacultyTransfer Your Credits
Do you have previously earned credits or an associate degree? BVU accepts most—if not all—of your credits so you don’t have to retake courses.
View Course EquivalenciesEarn a Master’s Degree Faster with Our Accelerated Program
With BVU's Plus One program, you can earn your special education, teaching English as a second language, or organizational leadership master's within one year of graduating with your bachelor’s degree.
Related Programs
On Campus
Music Production and Technology
With the explosion of electronic devices and Internet access, music and video is used by just about everyone.
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Find out more about earning a bachelor's in Music with BVU.
