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Music Performance

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Turn Your Passion For Music Performance Into A Career.

Are you ready to hone your musical talents? Earn your bachelor's degree in music performance! Refine your technique, nurture your unique artistry, and ignite your creative fire. With rigorous training in a supportive environment, you’ll be mentored and challenged by world-class faculty. You’ll graduate prepared to begin your creative career or go on to advanced study at the graduate level.


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4 Year Promise

At Roberts, we are committed to giving you a head start in earning income and achieving your personal goals by helping you graduate in four years. In fact, we guarantee it.

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Program Highlights

FOLLOW YOUR PASSION
Participate in hands-on learning through observation and practicum experiences.

SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS
Enjoy a wealth of opportunities to perform as a soloist and in ensembles.

BE CHALLENGED AND INSPIRED
Hone your talents under the guidance of conservatory-level private instructors.

STORIES LEADING THE WAY

Qiming Headshot

Qiming Sheng ‘22 (Music) graduated and now attends the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in oboe performance.

Regarding his time at Roberts, he shared, “The Roberts Music Department is a place where you can devote yourself entirely to music. I will never forget how much love I received from everyone in the music department and all over the campus.”

What Will I Learn

Being a musician is more than just knowing what notes to play or how to play them. Successful performers embody musical and personal integrity, artistic humility, and professionalism. That’s what you’ll learn at Roberts.

You’ll study:

  • Voice or the instrument of your choice
  • Piano skills
  • Performance skills and professional etiquette
  • High-level musicianship and interpretation
  • Music theory and history
  • Composition and conducting
  • Collaborative piano (for piano majors)

Career Outlook

Roberts Graduates Have Performed With

  • Metropolitan Opera
  • Met Opera National Council Audition
  • Rochester and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestras
  • Berlin Opera Academy
  • Zürich Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Classical Singer Vocal Competition
  • National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition
  • Amalfi Coast Festival
  • Opera Theatre of St. Louis
  • San Francisco Opera Merola Program
  • Finger Lakes Opera Company
  • Amore Opera
  • NY Charleston Symphony Orchestra
  • Symphoria Syracuse Orchestra
  • Caramoor Festival

Careers

  • Soloist
  • Orchestral musician
  • Chamber ensemble musician
  • Opera singer
  • Recording artist
  • Private studio teacher
  • Church musician
  • Collegiate-level teacher
  • Worship leader
  • Accompanist/collaborative artist
  • Arts administrator/manager
  • Historical performer of early instruments
  • Adjudicator
  • Composer/arranger
  • Film Scoring
  • Jazz musician
  • Conductor
  • Orchestra personnel manager
  • Ethnomusicologist
  • Musicologist
  • Music theorist
  • Clinician/presenter
  • Community or institution arts director

Graduate Schools

  • Eastman School of Music
  • Cincinnati College-Conservatory
  • University of North Texas
  • Bard College Conservatory
  • New England Conversatory
  • Peabody Conservatory
  • Northwestern University
  • Cleveland Institute of Music
  • Ithaca College
  • DePaul University
  • University of Connecticut
  • University of Michigan
  • Florida State University
  • Zürich University of the Arts

Frequently Asked Questions

A music performance degree from Roberts will prepare you for whichever music career path you choose to pursue – whether you’d like to be a soloist, orchestral musician, opera singer, private or collegiate music teacher, church musician, or something else.

Courses include individual lessons, aural skills, conducting, field experience, jazz theory, music in the church, classes specific to the field in which you are interested, and more.

A music performance degree can prepare you for a wide range of careers, including becoming a:

  • Soloist
  • Opera singer
  • Musical theatre singer
  • Orchestral musician
  • Recording artist
  • Private teacher
  • Worship leader
  • Composer
  • Music theorist
  • Music department chair
  • Jazz musician

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for musicians and singers in May 2021 was $30.49.

However, it’s important to note that music performers’ earnings range greatly, depending largely on level of fame, experience, position, location, and more.

Yes! If you come to campus for an individual visit, you can meet individually with a professor to get an overview of the major and your individual questions answered. Our Discovery Day events typically include a Faculty & Services Expo, where you can meet your future professors.

We are committed to helping students meet the financial obligation to earn a degree and advance a career. Our Office of Student Financial Services works to assist all students in their effort to maximize financial aid. We award financial assistance to 100% of our undergraduate students.

Related Majors

Music - As a Music major, the B.A. in Music degree offers broad musical preparation which can lead to any number of career interests, including private music teaching and graduate school.
Music Education - Successful completion of the Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education can help you on your way to becoming a music teacher, and teach music in a K-12 setting.
Music Therapy - Become a Music Therapist with a Music Therapy degree that prepares students for board-certification by thoughtfully combining coursework in Music Foundations, Psychology, Human Development, and Music Therapy.
Music, Jazz, and Theatre Minors - Roberts Wesleyan University has options for those interested in minoring in music, such as a general music minor, as well as a minor dedicated to jazz studies.
Music, Jazz, and Theatre Minors - Roberts Wesleyan University has options for those interested in minoring in music, such as a general music minor, as well as a minor dedicated to jazz studies.
Department of Music and Performing Arts - 585.594.6101 - dinsmore_andrew@roberts.edu