Degree Type:
Bachelor’s Degree
Mode of Study:
On Campus

Graduates from the Music Performance program at Methodist University will be able to excel in creating high-level, creative musical performances.

Common Career Paths

Some of the top jobs for those with a Music Performance bachelor degree include musician, music instructor, music director, musical instrument repairer, and so much more.

Common Salary Ranges for Graduates

As mentioned above, there’s a long list of career opportunities for those with a Music Performance degree. But, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average annual salary for the following positions (which may require additional education) in North Carolina in 2021:

  • Music teacher: $71,760
  • Music director and composer: $52,550
  • Musical instrument repairer and tuner: $39,020

Average Tuition Cost

The average cost for an incoming residential freshman to attend MU is less than $18,000 – similar to the cost of attending one of the big-box public schools, but with the enhanced value of a highly-regarded private school with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

While tuition varies, depending on a student’s financial aid package, it’s important to know that the average financial award for an incoming residential freshman at MU is more than $34,000.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

More than 97% of MU students receive some form of financial aid, with the University offering more than $24 million annually to students for scholarships. If a student is active military, family of active military, or a veteran, they may also qualify for MU’s military education benefits.

Interested in Methodist University’s Music Performance program?

If you have questions, reach out to Dr. Susan Durham-Lozaw using the contact info at the bottom of the page. If you’re ready to apply today, click the button below!

Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the top jobs for those with a Music Performance bachelor degree include musician, music instructor, music director, musical instrument repairer, and so much more.

Graduates from the Music Performance program at Methodist University will be able to excel in creating high-level, creative musical performances.

Major Requirements

The Music Performance major  (Voice) consists of 62-71 s.h. distributed as follows:

Required Core Courses

  • MUS 1600 Music Fundamentals (Required if student does not pass the diagnostic exam) (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 1610 Music Theory I (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 1620 Music Theory II (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 1070 Aural Skills I (1 s.h.)
  • MUS 1080 Aural Skills II (1 s.h.)
  • MUS 2070 Aural Skills III (1 s.h.)
  • MUS 2080 Aural Skills IV (1 s.h.)
  • MUS 2610 Music Theory III (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 2620 Music Theory IV (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 2600 Survey of Music Literature (1 s.h.)
  • MUS 3110 Music History: Ancient Through Baroque (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 3130 Music History: Classic Through Romantic (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 3610 Conducting (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 4190 20th-21st Century and Non-Western Musical Styles (2 s.h.)

Choose two of the following:

  • MUS 4640 Orchestration (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 4650 Introduction to Composition and Arranging (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 4660 Form and Analysis (3 s.h.)

Required Applied Courses

  • MUS 0710 Concert Attendance (no credit)
    (must be taken concurrently and passed with applied lessons for 8 semesters; pass/fail)
  • MUS 1140-4810 (16 s.h.)
    (see list of applied music courses)
  • MUS 1750-4750 (0-4 s.h.)
    (Students take the piano proficiency sequence until piano proficiency exam is passed; piano majors are exempt from this requirement.)

Required Ensemble Courses

  • MUS 3280/3290 Noblemen OR MUS 3860/3870 Grace Notes (8 s.h.)

Required Methods Courses

  • MUS 1650 English/Italian Diction (2 s.h.)
  • MUS 2650 French/German Diction (2 s.h.)
  • MUS 3610 Conducting (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 3611 Vocal Pedagogy (3 s.h.)

Instrumental Major Requirements

The Music Performance major (Instrumental) consists of 62-71 s.h. distributed as follows:

Required Core Courses

  • MUS 1600 Music Fundamentals (Required if student does not pass the diagnostic exam) (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 1610 Music Theory I (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 1620 Music Theory II (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 1070 Aural Skills I (1 s.h.)
  • MUS 1080 Aural Skills II (1 s.h.)
  • MUS 2070 Aural Skills III (1 s.h.)
  • MUS 2080 Aural Skills IV (1 s.h.)
  • MUS 2610 Music Theory III (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 2620 Music Theory IV (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 2600 Survey of Music Literature (1 s.h.)
  • MUS 3110 Music History: Ancient Through Baroque (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 3130 Music History: Classic Through Romantic (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 3610 Conducting (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 4190 20th-21st Century and Non-Western Musical Styles (2 s.h.)

Choose two of the following:

  • MUS 4640 Orchestration (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 4650 Introduction to Composition and Arranging (3 s.h.)
  • MUS 4660 Form and Analysis (3 s.h.)

Required Applied Courses

  • MUS 0710 Concert Attendance (no credit)
    (must be taken concurrently and passed with applied lessons for 8 semesters; pass/fail)
  • MUS 1140-4810 (16 s.h.)
    (see list of applied music courses)
  • MUS 1750-4750 (0-4 s.h.)
    (Students take the piano proficiency sequence until piano proficiency exam is passed; piano majors are exempt from this requirement.)

Required Ensemble Courses

  • MUS 3480/3490 Concert Band (8 s.h.)
  • Marching Band (2 years required)

Required Tech Courses

  • MUS 3010 String Techniques (1 s.h.)
  • MUS 3030 Woodwind Techniques (1 s.h.)
  • MUS 3040 Brass Techniques (1 s.h.)
  • MUS 3070 Percussion Techniques (1 s.h.)

Required Methods Courses

  • MUS 3370* Applications of Piano Literature (2 s.h.)
  • MUS 3610 Conducting (3 s.h.)

*Piano Majors Only


Additional Requirements

  1. To be accepted as a candidate for a B.M. in Music in Music Performance, the student must audition successfully no later than the end of the fourth semester.
  2. Recommended: performance majors seek two semesters of a foreign language (French, German, or Italian).
  3. All students receiving a Bachelor of Music in Performance are required to complete 16 semester hours on one instrument or voice. Therefore, continuous enrollment in the major instrument is required until a minimum of 16 continuous semester hours of applied lessons (C or higher) is completed.
  4. For students whose major instrument is not piano, satisfactory completion of the Piano Proficiency exam is required.
  5. A minimum of eight (8) credits of large ensemble (Concert Band, MUS 3480/3490), Noblemen (MUS 3280/3290), or Grace Notes (MUS 3860/3870), approved string, orchestra ensemble, or Guitar Ensemble (MUS 3260-3270). Guitar majors must enroll in one of these ensembles, whether Guitar Ensemble is offered or not, in any given semester.
  6. A full recital and a half recital in the major instrument or voice are required for graduation.
  7. Instrumental majors (wind, brass, and percussion) are required to participate in Marching Band for no fewer than two years. Qualified piano majors may be asked to accompany one of the choirs to fulfill requirement. String majors must be involved in an equivalent instrumental activity, e.g., International Youth Symphony.
  8. Enrollment in upper 3000-4000 level courses is predicated on successful completion of 1000-2000 level classes, or with instructor permission.

Contact

Susan Durham-Lozaw, D.M.A.

Head, Fine & Performing Arts Division; Professor of Music; Coordinator, Voice
Susan Durham-Lozaw