Music can be your career! Join our world-class faculty and award-winning ensembles while exploring a number of music performance major options at CSUN.
Why Study Music?
If you are passionate about making music your career, a Music B.M. that focuses on performance will take your skills to the next level. You will be taught by talented faculty who are eager to pass on their knowledge. Fellow musicians and faculty who are as passionate about music as you will inspire you to reach your potential. The transformative power of music will allow you to reach diverse audiences and students throughout your life.
Why Study Music at CSUN?
Specialize in Your Instrument
Reach new heights in your musical ability by studying in one of the following areas:
- Composition/Commercial and Media Writing
- Jazz Studies
- Keyboard (Performance and Pedagogy)
- Percussion
- Strings (Orchestral Strings and Classical Guitar)
- Vocals Arts
- Winds
Get a Quality Education
CSUN's Department of Music is well-respected program, with world-class faculty and award-winning ensembles. Our B.M. program has seven different music options, allowing you to connect with other students and our 80-plus faculty members. The department is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
Perform in Ensembles
Sharpen your musical skills by performing with CSUN's award-winning ensembles and productions. We offer multiple wind ensembles, jazz bands, combos and vocal jazz, symphony orchestra, multiple choirs and a fabulous selection of world music ensembles. Through practicing your craft, you'll become a more confident musician and take your skills into the professional world.
Scholarship Availability
CSUN's music department offers scholarships on a yearly basis. Many are open to all music majors and some are specific to your instrument. We offer scholarships based on financial need and merit. Learn about our different scholarship opportunities.
What You'll Learn
As a Music B.M. student, you will choose a music option to improve your performance skills in your chosen instrument or field. You will take lessons with faculty and participate in ensembles for experiential learning. You will also take courses on music theory and keyboard skills to grow your musicianship.
In your upper-division classes, you will study a global perspective of music and music entrepreneurship. Depending on your option, you may perform in a senior recital or complete a senior project.
The remainder of your courses will be determined by your chosen option.
Learn to compose and score music for a variety of settings. This option has two concentrations: composition and commercial and media writing.
Composition
This option is designed for students interested in writing chamber, symphonic or experimental electronic music. In your courses, you will study orchestration, advanced composition and advanced musical analysis. You will perform a recital of your works as your capstone experience.
You will also learn about:
- Tonal counterpoint
- Electronic and computer music composition
Commercial and Media Writing
This concentration teaches you how to score music. You will focus on instrumental composition and orchestration. In addition, your advanced musicianship and keyboard classes will focus on jazz music making. Your studies will include internship experiences. You will perform a recital of your works as your capstone experience.
You will also learn about:
- Song writing
- Jazz arranging
- Sound recording
- Music industry foundations
- Composition for film and television
Become a trained and experienced performer by studying Jazz Studies. You will take additional keyboard and musicianship classes that focus on jazz styles and techniques. You will take lessons with our faculty and participate in our jazz ensembles. You will perform a recital as your capstone experience.
In your courses, you will learn:
- Jazz history
- Jazz arranging
- Improvisation
In addition, you will take one class on the African-American experience.
By studying the keyboard option, you will be prepared to perform and teach piano in a variety of settings. There are two concentrations in this option: piano performance and piano pedagogy.
In both concentrations, you will hone your skills in solo performances and ensemble settings. In addition, you may enter our annual concerto competition in which the winners perform with the CSUN Symphony Orchestra. You will perform a recital as your capstone experience.
Piano Performance
In this concentration, you will focus on developing your skills as a piano performer. Your classes will focus on:
- Tonal counterpoint
- History and literature of keyboard instruments
- Teaching elementary and advanced piano
Piano Pedagogy
In this concentration, you will improve your piano expertise while gaining the skills to teach others. Your classes will focus on:
- History and literature of keyboard instruments
- Teaching elementary and advanced piano
- Teaching resources and techniques
The infinite variety found in the world of percussion will allow a student to choose a variety of career paths in the profession. Lessons focus on classical percussion but incorporate jazz and world percussion as well. You will take lessons with professors and participate in music ensembles. You will perform a recital as your capstone experience.
In your courses, you will learn:
- Percussion literature
- Teaching percussion as a private teacher and ensemble director
- Musical interpretation
- Leadership skills
By choosing the strings option, you will be prepared to perform and teach in a variety of settings. There are two concentrations in this option: orchestra strings and classical guitar.
Orchestral Strings
By studying this concentration, you will be prepared for a career as a performer, university teacher or private studio teacher. You will receive many performance opportunities, from solo recitals to small and large ensembles. You will perform a recital as your capstone experience.
In your courses, you will learn:
- Teaching resources and techniques
- Chamber music techniques
- Symphonic and chamber music literature
- History of performance practices
Classical Guitar
In this concentration, you will focus on performing and teaching classical guitar. You will take lessons with professors and participate in a variety of ensembles. You will perform a recital as your capstone experience.
In your courses, you will learn:
- Guitar sight-reading skills
- Pre-guitar and guitar literature
- Teaching resources and techniques
With the vocal arts option, you will develop your singing voice and musical knowledge through a variety of opportunities. Not only will you take lessons with our faculty, but you will be able to participate in choral ensembles, opera productions and oratorios. You will be prepared to perform professionally or continue your education to become a teacher. You will perform a recital as your capstone experience.
In your courses, you will learn:
- Diction for singers (English, Italian, German and French)
- Teaching resources and techniques
- Vocal and choral literature
- Performance techniques
- Choral conducting and arranging
- Opera workshop and performance
As part of your degree, you must pass the Foreign Language Proficiency examination in Italian, French or German prior to your senior year. You may instead choose to take one year of foreign language study in the above languages.
In this option, you will study one of the woodwind and brass instruments: bassoon, clarinet, flute, oboe, saxophone, euphonium, horn, trombone, trumpet or tuba. You will learn the skills to be a professional performer, private studio teacher or university instructor. You will improve through lessons with faculty and a variety of performance opportunities, from ensembles to master classes. You will perform a recital as your capstone experience.
In your courses you will learn:
- Chamber music techniques
- Teaching resources and techniques
- Wind and symphonic literature
- History of performance practices
Careers & Outcomes
Upon graduating, you will be qualified to find a career in a variety of music-related roles. You can become a professional musician or a private studio teacher. You will also be prepared for advanced degrees to further hone your skills to become a music professional or university-level instructor.
Common career paths for graduates include:
- Professional performer
- University music professor
- Music teacher in the schools
- Private music teacher
- Music arranger
- Composer
- Music therapist
- Music industry executive
- Recording studio engineer
- Arts administrator
- Music agent
Make music together.
As a Music major at CSUN, you can practice and perform with a wide variety of on-campus ensembles. We have four choral ensembles, two concert bands, three jazz ensembles, a symphony orchestra and 10 smaller ensembles. Find your musical community here.
Admission Information
In addition to meeting all the requirements for admission to CSUN as a freshman or transfer student, music majors must submit complete an audition application. You will be sent an audition application from the Office of Admissions and Records once you apply CSUN.
Should You Get a B.M. or B.A. in Music?
Both the B.M. and B.A. in music will help you combine your love of music with a career you're passionate about. You can choose which one you would like to major in based on your future plans.
For a career as a performer, university teacher or private studio teacher, choose the B.M. degree. During your time at CSUN, your courses will concentrate on performance and theory. You will hone your instrument skills, play in ensembles and improve through lessons with instructors.
For a career in music-related industries—such as music education, music industry or music therapy—choose the B.A. degree. You will still take lessons and perform with our ensembles to increase your music skills. But you will also take classes that focus on your potential career. You can learn about the psychology of music and sound recording techniques.
Learn more about our B.A. program