We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGEEK

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Home

How do I get a Bachelor of Music Degree?

By Jillian Peterson
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

A bachelor of music degree prepares students for professional careers in performance, teaching, management and much more. To get a bachelor of music degree, one must typically complete high school or its equivalent and apply to a college or university. Many colleges offer more than one type of academic degree in music, such as a musical performance degree or a music education degree. A bachelor of music degree can be obtained from a university that has a fine arts department with classes in music theory, history, education or performance. A bachelor in fine arts degree in music can also be earned from a fine arts college or a music college. Some online colleges even offer music degrees.

To get a bachelor of music degree, most colleges require that students take classes in music theory, composition, history and performance. Specialized classes may also contribute to a music degree, such as classes in sound design or music education. Most colleges require students to complete a course of study in performance of a musical instrument or voice, and some universities may require that students join a college-sponsored band, orchestra or choir. At the end of a course of study in music, many universities require a final musical composition, music theory paper or musical performance before a bachelor of music degree can be awarded.

Many colleges split their bachelor of music degrees into two categories: performance and music education. A bachelor’s degree in music performance often prepares students for professional careers in music as singers or instrumentalists. A bachelor of music education prepares students to teach music in public and private schools as well as to direct orchestras or choirs in schools.

When searching for a college that offers a bachelor of music degree, keep in mind that different colleges have different names and abbreviations for the degree. A bachelor of music degree can be written as B.M., B.Mus., Mus.B. or Mus. Bac. Some colleges classify a music degree as a fine arts degree and may call it a bachelor's of fine arts in music, which would be abbreviated as a BFA. Usually, fine arts colleges that specialize in music will call a bachelor of music degree a bachelor of fine arts degree.

With a bachelor’s degree in music, one can perform with an orchestra or band, teach music, be a sound designer for theaters or perform many other jobs in the entertainment industry. With a college degree in music education, graduates can teach music and direct choirs or orchestras in schools. For those who wish to teach at the college level, master’s degrees in music are also available from many universities and music colleges.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

By Wisedly33 — On Jan 21, 2014

Many colleges also require a music degree to have a second major. Often this is math, which sounds a little odd, but many musically inclined people are surprisingly good at math. Almost every college requires education students to have a double major. So if a person wants to major in music education, he or she also has to pick up an additional major.

A music degree doesn't necessarily require more credit hours than another degree, but it does involve taking many more individual classes. Instrument classes are frequently just one hour's worth of credit, rather than a full class credit of three or five hours (depending on whether the school is on the semester or quarter system).

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.