Music Education
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Music Major in Pennsylvania
The renowned bachelor's degree program in music at Messiah University, one of the top private Christian universities in the U.S., prepares you to make meaningful contributions to the artistic and worship life of your community and church through a specialized career in music.
Study Music at a Christian University
Do you dream of performing or composing music; using your musical talents as a soloist or with an ensemble; or helping others appreciate music and incorporating it into worship experiences? Then consider all the available opportunities as you pursue a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in music from Messiah University.
As a music major at Messiah, you will gain broad musical knowledge, practical skills, and development of musicianship and technique through private instruction on a primary instrument. This degree is well-suited for those wishing to double-major in music and another field.
In this program, you will choose a concentration to meet your career goals—selecting from the commercial music or composition tracks. Or, you can complete the degree without a concentration. You’ll research composers and musical works, learning to compose music in a variety of styles and forms from commercial to classical. You’ll develop skills in conducting and rehearsal direction and will be well-prepared if you choose to pursue a graduate degree in Messiah’s Master of Music in Conducting program.
Students in the Music program at Messiah University can choose from the following concentrations:
Commercial Music
Composition
As a music major or minor at Messiah University, you’ll be able to:
- Utilize Messiah's premier facilities for music students, including the Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts
- Complete an internship at an arts organization such as a record label or concert venue, or take a semester to study commercial music and music recording in Nashville, Tennessee at the Contemporary Music Center.
- Choose a concentration to meet your career goals, selecting from commercial music, or composition, or complete the degree without a concentration.
- Demonstrate the technical and expressive skill needed to perform at an advanced level with your chosen musical instrument.
- Prepare for and perform in a capstone senior recital.
- Develop intermediate level skills in conducting and rehearsal direction.
- Analyze music both visually and aurally and compose musical examples which illustrate a variety of styles and forms of music.
- Research and explain the historical and cultural setting of individual composers and specific musical works.
- Win graduate assistantships to offset the costs of Master’s degrees in programs at large universities.
As you study and perform with your chosen musical instrument or in your favorite vocal genre, you will develop into an accomplished musician, prepared not only to enter a successful career in music, but also to contribute meaningfully to the worship life of the church and at other venues in your community.
As a graduate of the music program, you will be equipped to secure positions such as:
- Performers
- Composers
- Conductors
- Church musicians
- Recording artists
For more information on career planning for the music program, visit the Messiah University Career and Professional Development Center.
Messiah’s nationally recognized internship program places students in a variety of music internships. A few examples include:
- Churches throughout central Pennsylvania in a variety of denominations
- Philadelphia Singers
- BARAK, Inc.
- Record labels
- Concert venues
- Contemporary Music Center in Nashville, TV (semester-long experience)
Programs related to Music
In the Music program, you will take a selection of courses that successfully prepare you for a career in a related field. Hands-on experiences and classroom learning within the framework of Christian faith will give you the skills and knowledge to achieve your goals. Our programs offer a wide variety of courses that will not only help you excel in your future career, but challenge you to develop a deeper understanding of your field of study.
Course options for Music:
Music (B.A.)
Music (B.A.) with Commercial Music Concentration
Music (B.A.) with Composition Concentration
Music Minor
Music careers and outcomes
Where our grads work
Graduates of the Music program work in positions of leadership in their places of employment, using the tools and knowledge a Messiah University education prepared them with. Each year, eager employers and some of the nation's best graduate schools welcome Messiah graduates into their organizations.
Where they work
- St. Lawrence Chapel
- Bergen Performing Arts Center/Performing Arts School
- Colonial Park United Church of Christ
- School of the ArtsSummer Theatre at Meredith Village
- Cumberland Singers
- BIC World Missions
- Big Thought Arts of Dallas
- United States Marine Corps
- Chambers Hill United Methodist Church
- Saratoga Springs City School District
- State Street Academy of Music
- Teach for America
- New Creation BIC Church
- Family Christian Stores
- NBN Publishing Company
- Mozarteum Music Conservatory
- Bible Baptist School
- Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
- Private Studio
What they do
- Actor
- Choir Director
- Grad Student - Music Performance
- Music Instructor
- Piano Teacher
- Music Performance (Jazz Piano)
- Grad Student - Medicine
- Worship Leader/Music Ministry Coordinator
- Worship Leader
- Third Grade Teacher
- Grad Student - Piano Performance
- Director of Music Ministries/Organist
- Grad Student - Voice Performance
- Assistant Music Director
- Choral Accompanist
- Organist/Choir Director
- Teaching Artist
Graduate school
- Shenandoah Conservatory
- Pennsylvania State University
- Temple University
- Boston University
- Messiah University
- SUNY Stony Brook
- Easton School of Music
- University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill
- University of Tennessee
- University of South Carolina
96% of the Class of 2022 respondents were employed or in graduate school within 6-9 months of graduation.
Our Alumni
Regional and national employers seek out Messiah graduates for their academic preparation, work ethic and personal character. The transformation you experience at Messiah readies you to transform the lives of others through your chosen career path.
Performance opportunities
You will have many opportunities to perform on and off campus with a wide variety of choral groups from opera to jazz to gospel; and with instrumental ensembles from brass to pit orchestra to recorder. Ensembles are regularly asked to perform at state and national conventions. Through these opportunities, you will demonstrate the technical and expressive skill needed to perform at an advanced level with your chosen musical instrument.
Messiah's unique approach to hands-on learning
Learning in the classroom is important but actually applying that knowledge in a hands-on way can make all the difference. At Messiah University, the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) allows Messiah to take this hands-on learning to a new level by giving students the opportunity to apply what they have learned to various real world contexts--such as an internship/practica, service learning, off-campus program, holding a student leadership position, or participating in undergraduate research.