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Bachelor of MusicPROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Bachelor of Music program emphasizes the development of skills, concepts, and sensitivities essential to the professional life of a musician. The applied music program has 3 separate tracks: instrumental, piano, or vocal. The programs are professional music degrees that are intended for students wishing to pursue careers as performers (as soloists and/or ensemble musicians) and teachers (especially at the college level), although other career options are possible.

DEGREE OPTIONS
Bachelor of Music

PROGRAM SIZE
Approximately 48 students are enrolled in the major.

FACULTY
The Music Department includes 17 full-time faculty, many with doctoral degrees. All full-time faculty are engaged in teaching classes from the introductory to advanced levels.

ACADEMIC PREPARATION
Intensive experiences in music study and performance are required in order to be eligible for consideration. Students are selected for admission by the music faculty through an audition/interview process.

REQUIRED CREDIT HOURS AND COURSES FOR A MAJOR

 

REQUIRED CREDIT HOURS AND COURSES OUTSIDE MAJOR
The Drake Curriculum, required of all undergraduates, is designed to help students meet personal and professional goals as they acquire fundamental knowledge and abilities in ten Areas of Inquiry, including communication, critical thinking, artistic experience, historical consciousness, information and technology literacy, international and multicultural experiences, scientific and quantitative literacy, values and ethics and engaged citizenship. Students work closely with their academic advisers to craft a program of study in general education that prepares students for civic and professional leadership.

The Drake Curriculum also requires first-year seminars, which foster development of critical thinking and written and oral communication skills through a topical focus; and a Senior Capstone, in which students demonstrate the capacity to bring information, skills and ideas to bear on one project.

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES/INTERNSHIPS
Many pedagogical experiences are available teaching private students in the public schools, Drake University Community School of Music, or beginning students in methods classes.

CAREER OPTIONS
For most students, an undergraduate degree is only the first step; graduate study will be required in almost every case. Drake has a proven success rate in placing students in performance degrees at nationally recognized institutions.

SCHOLARSHIPS
Information about scholarships in the Music Department may be obtained in the Music Department office.

ORGANIZATIONS
Bachelor of Music students participate intensively in the opportunities provided by the Music Department.

NOTED ALUMNI

• Larry Schipull, FA'79, associate professor, Mt. Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA
  
• Kendall Crilly, FA'83, music librarian, Yale University, New Haven, CT
  
• Michael Baitzer, FA'95, assistant opera coach, Julliard School of Music, New York, NY
  
• Greg Sojka, FA'97, singer, Seattle Opera, Seattle, WA