Home : Programs of Study : BA Music Performance : Instrumental Studies

Instrumental Studies

Students who major in instrumental performance have a wide variety of career
options open to them upon graduation, including solo or ensemble performance careers, free-lance performing, graduate school, and music education through SMU's innovative fifth year licensure degree program, the Master's of Arts in Instruction.*

It is expected that incoming students will already have significant
performance experience. Musicianship skills will be further developed
during weekly private lessons taught by our artist-teacher instructors. The
music department offers a wide variety of performance opportunities, both
large and small ensembles. These include the Wind Ensemble and Concert
Band, Jazz Ensemble and a number of Jazz Combos, the Batucada ethnic
Percussion Ensemble, and a variety of Chamber Ensembles.

Performance majors also perform on the regularly scheduled departmental
recitals, and will present Junior and Senior recitals in the beautiful
Figliulo Recital Hall.

All music performance majors will take a variety of courses to deepen their
understanding of music theory, history and literature. The music
performance degree, within the context of the liberal arts undergraduate
university, provides students with the broadest possible educational
foundation for life-long musical success.

* The five-year music education plan allows students to combine a B.A. in
Music or Music Performance with undergraduate music education methods
coursework. The fifth year Master's of Instruction program includes
education courses and student teaching. This innovative program leads to
Minnesota teaching licensure, either K-12 Classroom and Instrumental, or
K-12 Classroom and Vocal certification.