Why study musical arts at BGSU in Ohio?
- Take charge of your future. The Bachelor of Musical Arts degree is designed to provide you flexibility to decide the direction best suited to your skills and interests.
- Learn from the very best. Get the finest musical arts training from esteemed full-time faculty in a comprehensive, undergraduate curriculum.
- Hansen Music Fellowship. This award is given to two or three incoming music major freshmen each year. It offers annual funding for professional development opportunities throughout the degree program.
- Modern facilities. The BGSU Moore Musical Arts Center facilities has more than 70 practice rooms, an 822-seat concert hall, a 231 seat recital hall and state-of-the-art recording studios.
- Small class sizes. The faculty-to-student ratio in the College of Musical Arts is 9:1.
- Fine-tune your skills. Network with visiting artist masterclasses, resident artists and endowed Hansen Musical Arts Series guests. Attend for free the Toledo Symphony Orchestra Masterworks and Chamber Series.
- Seize the spotlight. Students have 350+ performance opportunities every year, including 30+ large and small ensembles, ongoing special events and festivals, and competitions in concerto, chamber music, art song and more. Perform in the New Music Ensemble or in ongoing off-campus community recitals. Awards for travel grants are available for summer festivals, conferences and other music-related, off-campus activities.
- NASM accreditation. The College of Musical Arts degree programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
- Make an impact. Join music student organizations or become a music ambassador to help with a college festival or competition. Attend conferences to connect with music colleagues from all over the country.
Music degree admissions
Students must audition to major in musical arts at BGSU. First apply to the University and then schedule an audition. Acceptance – and continued enrollment – in the musical arts degree program is contingent on jury approval each semester.
Career - what can you do with a musical arts degree?
If you’re wondering how to start a career in music, BGSU is the place to begin. The BGSU Bachelor of Musical Arts degree offers graduates their pick of career possibilities. We provide students tools to turn their unique musical talents into a promising future.
Our graduates work in performance, commercial and private studio teaching, arts management, music industry, recording studios and business. Some pursue further study at the graduate level.
Career paths
- Freelance performer
- Private teacher
- Music therapist
- Recording technician/audio engineer
- Music retail or publishing industry
- Arts administration
- Business
Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Curriculum
The Bachelor of Musical Arts degree curriculum balances instruction in broad fields like communication, humanities and sciences with a traditional core musical training in music theory, aural skills, music history and performance.
- Receive lessons on your major instrument.
- Participate in small and large ensembles.
- Complete the core curriculum for music majors and choose from a broad range of music electives.
- Complete a minor area of study within the degree and be prepared for professional careers in music and related fields.
- Complete a capstone experience that involves a final project chosen and is designed to incorporate music and your minor.
Per NASM standards for a Bachelor of Musical Arts, BGSU graduates are able to demonstrate:
- Ability to hear, identify and work conceptually with musical elements such as rhythm, melody, harmony, structure, timbre and texture
- Understanding of compositional processes, aesthetic properties of style and how these shape and are shaped by cultural forces
- Familiarity with broad selections of music literature, genres and cultural sources. Knowledge and skills in one or more areas of music beyond basic musicianship.
- Performance skills, as shown by participation in large and small ensembles, experience in solo performance and completion of related electives
Sample courses
- Small and Large Ensembles
- Pedagogy and Repertoire
- Conducting
- Jazz and World Music
- Private lessons with distinguished faculty
MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music
The MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music serves as the hub for BGSU’s distinctive specialty in contemporary music. It regularly showcases outstanding student works and performances, including at the yearly Bowling Green New Music Festival and the Music at the Forefront Concert series.
- Promotes music students’ projects and research
- Organizes concerts
- Produces a radio broadcast with WGTE-FM in Toledo
- Keeps an archive of 10k+ scores – invaluable musical scholarship resources in contemporary music
The Bachelor of Musical Arts program is part of the BGSU College of Musical Arts.
Updated: 10/01/2024 04:01PM