The Bachelor of Music in Performance emphasizes the development of skills and concepts essential to the professional life of a musician.
The Bachelor of Music in Performance program has four separate tracks: Winds & Percussion, Strings, Piano, and Voice. The programs are professional music degrees intended for students wishing to pursue careers as solo/ensemble performers or college-level instructors, although other career options are possible.
Intensive experiences in music study and performance are required in order to be eligible for consideration. Students are selected for admission by faculty through an audition/interview process.
The Department of Music offer numerous opportunities for students to perform as soloists, chamber musicians, or members of large ensembles.
In addition, prominent clinicians are frequently brought to Drake University's campus for masterclasses and recitals. The curriculum provides studio lessons with courses in pedagogy, literature, theory, history, and performance practice. A senior recital in the student's major performance field is required.
For most students pursuing the Bachelor of Music in Performance degree, an undergraduate degree is only the first step; graduate study is desirable in most cases. Drake University has a proven success rate in placing students in performance degrees at nationally recognized institutions.
Outlines of current major requirements for all four performance tracks can be found in the Drake University catalog. Prior catalog requirements are available here.