Program Description
Vermont State University’s Bachelor of Music program has a strong reputation for helping students find and explore their passions, and training musicians for outstanding careers. Students benefit from small class sizes and individual attention, a talented and caring faculty with a wealth of experience, supportive atmosphere, and a collaborative program offering numerous ensemble, performance, and hands-on experiences and opportunities to explore individual career goals and disciplines.
“Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life, bringing peace, abolishing strife.”-Kahlil Gibran
All Bachelor of Music majors develop skills on/in an instrument/voice, piano, conducting, theory, music history and world music, and individual and ensemble performance. Many students participate in musical theater productions and theater classes or pursue a minor or second major in a different discipline of interest. Students in the Performance concentration refine performance skills and present a junior and senior recital.
The Music Education concentration prepares future teachers to share their love of music with students through a rigorous program of study. Students develop teaching skills through instrumental, vocal, and general music pedagogy courses and learn relevant technologies for the modern music classroom. Music Education students begin classroom observations in their first year, building skills each year culminating with a semester of student teaching. The Music Education degree program prepares students for pK-12 general, instrumental, and vocal music licensure in Vermont.
“Some people think music education is a privilege, but I think it’s essential to being human” - Jewel
All Bachelor of Music students are encouraged to participate in active student chapters of The National Association for Music Education (NAfME), The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and the Vermont Music Educators Association (VMEA) which provide many professional development, networking, and conference experiences. Students also have many opportunities to network with the professional performing arts world. Faculty are well-connected working artists involved in conducting, opera, and music education.
The Music program regularly hosts outside artists and clinicians and collaborates with professional musicians and other ensembles including Barn Opera, Calliope Brass, Rutland Area Chorus, the Vermont Collegiate Choral Consortium, and Green Mountain Mahler Festival. Students also have the opportunity to travel regionally and internationally. Recent trips include choir/cultural tours to Cuba, Costa Rica, and Puerto Rico. A Carnegie Hall performance trip is being planned for Spring 2027!
Graduates go on to music teaching, graduate school, performance, studio teaching, technical music production, community ensemble directing, church music positions, and non-music fields.
Program Outcomes
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Demonstrate proficiency in musical performance on a primary instrument or voice.
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Demonstrate appropriate proficiency in tonal music theory, piano, and conducting.
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Demonstrate an understanding of music history and literature from various cultural contexts
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Explore and identify professional and enrichment opportunities in music-related fields, including teaching, technology, performance, and arts administration.
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Demonstrate the ability to effectively teach music in a variety of contexts including classroom education, ensemble direction, and applied instruction. (music education concentration)
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Prepare and perform a Junior and Senior Recital including repertoire selection, performance notes, promotion and presentation. (performance concentration)
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