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Music Performance

Bachelor of Music

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A student vocalist performs a solo piece in front of a grand piano, showcasing expressive voice technique in a recital setting.

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Pursue Musical Excellence

The BM in Music with a concentration in Music Performance, involves in-depth study in a particular performance medium (voice, strings, woodwinds, percussion, or brass). Hone your craft in one-on-one lessons, large ensembles, and chamber music settings. The curriculum includes courses in business acumen, preparing students to work in a gig economy.

Visit the Department

Music Performance Curriculum and Courses

The Bachelor of Music in Performance degree comprises separate tracks for voice and instrumental students.

  • Voice
  • Instrumental
    • Instrumental students must select a major brass, woodwind, string, or percussion instrument.

Coursework includes one-on-one applied music lessons, ensemble performance, and courses in music theory and music history. Performance majors give two solo recitals, one during junior year and one during senior year.

  • MUS 101 Theory of Music 1
  • MUS 100 Ensemble
  • MUS 211 History of Western Music
  • MUS 406 Advanced Analysis
  • MUS 494 Senior Recital
Full Course List
Learning outcomes

Program Overview

Perform

Each year, Miami University’s music performances bring our community together on a remarkable scale—124 concerts, recitals, and showcases reaching nearly 13,000 live attendees, alongside 125,000 more at marching band events. From intimate student recitals to packed stadiums and a televised bowl game reaching over half a million viewers, our music program carries forward a proud tradition of artistry, education, and cultural leadership that resonates far beyond the stage.

Grow

At Miami University, music training is just the beginning—our students grow as artists, educators, and leaders through individualized guidance and hands-on experience. Lifelong mentoring is at the heart of our program, ensuring that the support, wisdom, and connections built here continue to shape careers and enrich lives long after graduation.

Excel

Our students step into their careers not as novices but as professionals in the making—fluent in the discipline, rigor, and artistry their field demands. Through hands-on training, expert mentorship, and real-world projects, they graduate with confidence, craft, and a clear artistic voice.

They don’t “break into” the industry; they transition seamlessly into it. By the time they leave us, they are collaborators, creators, and contributors—ready to claim their place and shape the future of their field.

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  • Regardless of concentration, students audition and study a primary instrument. These include:

    • Basson
    • Cello
    • Clarinet
    • Double Bass
    • Euphonium
    • Flute
    • Harp
    • Horn
    • Oboe
    • Percussion
    • Piano
    • Saxophone
    • Trombone
    • Trumpet
    • Tuba
    • Viola
    • Violin
    • Voice

  • Updated 2/25

    First Year: Fall Semester/Semester 1

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement*0
    MUS 101Theory of Music I3
    MUS 151Aural Skills I1
    MUS 144Applied Music3
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    MUS 160Functional Piano(1)
    MUS 235Lyric Diction2
    ENG 111Composition and Rhetoric (MP PA1B)3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Total16 (17)

    First Year: Spring Semester/Semester 2

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 102Theory of Music II3
    MUS 152Aural Skills II1
    MUS 144Applied Music3
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    MUS 161Functional Piano(1)
    MUS 236


    		Lyric Diction
    [even-numbered Spring only]
    -OR-
    MP fulfilling course    		2

    /
    3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Total16(17)
    17(18)

    Second Year: Spring Semester/Semester 4

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 201Theory of Music III3
    MUS 251Aural Skills III1
    MUS 244Applied Music3
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    MUS 260Functional Piano(1)
    —MP fulfilling course or Multicultural
    Perspectives in Music MUS 185 (MP PA4B
    + SI) [Fall only] if no MUS 186    		3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Total17(18)

    Second Year: Fall Semester/Semester 3

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 202Theory of Music IV3
    MUS 252Aural Skills IV1
    MUS 244Applied Music3
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    MUS 261Functional Piano1
    MUS 221Music Technologies [Spring only]3
    MUS 236


    		Lyric Diction
    [even-numbered Spring only]
    -OR-
    MP fulfilling course    		2


    3
    —MP fulfilling course or Global Playlists
    MUS 186 (MP PA4C + SI) [Spring only] if no MUS 185    		3
    —Total17/18

    Third Year: Fall Semester/Semester 5

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 211History of Western Music (MP PA3A)3
    MUS 344Applied Music3
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    MUS 301
    MUS 456
    /
    MUS 451    		Counterpoint [even-numbered Fall only]
    Vocal Pedagogy [even-numbered Fall only]
    -OR-
    Advanced Aural Skills I [odd-numbered Fall only]    		3
    2
    /
    1
    MUS 352Conducting I [fall only]2
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Total17/13

    Third Year: Spring Semester/Semester 6

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 212History of Western Music3
    MUS 344Applied Music3
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    MUS 406


    MUS 452    		Advanced Aural Analysis (MP Capstone)
    [odd-numbered Spring only]
    -OR-
    Advanced Aural Skills II
    [even-numbered Spring only]    		3


    1
    —Half Recital
    (no registration)    		0
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Free Elective1
    —Total14/12

    Fourth Year: Fall Semester/Semester 7

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 444Applied Music3
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    MUS 301
    MUS 456
    /
    MUS 451    		Counterpoint [even-numbered Fall only]
    Vocal Pedagogy [even-numbered Fall only]
    -OR-
    Advanced Aural Skills I [odd-numbered Fall only]    		3
    2
    /
    1
    MUS 420Vocal Coaching1
    MUS 425Great American Songbook Project*1
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Language Requirement4
    —Total18/14

    Fourth Year: Spring Semester/Semester 8

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 444Applied Music3
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    MUS 406


    MUS 452    		Advanced Analysis
    [odd-numbered Spring only]
    -OR-
    Advanced Aural Skills II
    [even-numbered Spring only]    		3


    1
    MUS 494Senior Recital0
    MUS 426Opera Production1
    MUS 420Vocal Coaching1
    —Language Requirement4
    —Free elective1
    —Total14/12
    —Total Hours: 124

    *MUS 140 Recital Attendance requires seven semesters of registration.

    Functional Piano requirement: Completion of MUS 261 or proficiency examination required.

    *One registration of MUS 426 Opera Production is required, and one additional registration of MUS 426 Opera Production or MUS 425 Great American Songbook Project is required.

    ^Performance requirement: Half recital in year 3, semester 6; MUS 494 Senior Recital in year 4, semester 8.

    Language Requirement: One year in French, German, or Italian, in addition to Lyric Diction; may be met by proficiency exam. Two years of the language in high school usually fulfills the requirement.Large Music Ensemble requirement: Enroll in a large choral ensemble each semester. The large choral ensembles include: MUS 100B Men’s Glee Club, MUS 100D Choraliers, and MUS 100Q Chamber Singers. Entrance to each group is by audition.

    It is the responsibility of the student to check to see that all university requirements have been fulfilled – please refer to the General Bulletin.

  • Updated 2/25

    First Year: Fall Semester/Semester 1

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement*0
    MUS 101Theory of Music I3
    MUS 151Aural Skills I1
    MUS 144Applied Music3
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    MUS 160Functional Piano(1)
    ENG 111Composition and Rhetoric(MP PA1B)3
    —MP fulfilling course13
    —Total14(15)

    First Year: Spring Semester/Semester 2

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 102Theory of Music II3
    MUS 152Aural Skills II1
    MUS 144Applied Music3
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    MUS 161Functional Piano(1)
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Total17(18)

    Second Year: Fall Semester/Semester 3

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 201Theory of Music III3
    MUS 251Aural Skills III1
    MUS 244Applied Music3
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    MUS 260Functional Piano(1)
    —MP fulfilling course or Multicultural
    Perspectives in Music MUS 185 (MP PA4B + SI)
    [Fall only] if no MUS 186    		3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Total14(15)

    Second Year: Spring Semester/Semester 4

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 202Theory of Music IV3
    MUS 252Aural Skills IV1
    MUS 244Applied Music3
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    MUS 261Functional Piano1
    MUS 221Music Technologies [Spring only]3
    —MP fulfilling course or Global Playlists MUS 186 (MP
    PA4C + SI) [Spring only] if no MUS 185    		3
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Total18

    Third Year: Fall Semester/Semester 5

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 211History of Western Music (MP PA3A)3
    MUS 344Applied Music3
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    MUS 301
    /
    MUS 451    		Counterpoint
    (even-numbered Fall only)
    -OR-
    Advanced Aural Skills I
    (odd-numbered Fall only)    		3
    /
    1
    MUS 352Conducting I [fall only]2
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Total15/13

    Third Year: Spring Semester/Semester 6

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 212History of Western Music3
    MUS 344Applied Music3
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    MUS 406
    /
    MUS 452    		Advanced Analysis (MP Capstone)
    (odd-numbered Spring only)
    -OR-
    Advanced Aural Skills II
    (even-numbered Spring only)    		3
    /
    1
    MP fulfilling course3
    MP fulfilling course3
    —Half Recital
    (no registration)    		0
    —Free Electives2
    —Total18/16

    Fourth Year: Fall Semester/Semester 7

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 140Recital Attendance Requirement0
    MUS 444Applied Music3
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    MUS 301
    /
    MUS 451    		Counterpoint
    (even-numbered Fall only)
    -OR-
    Advanced Aural Skills I
    (odd-numbered Fall only)    		3
    /
    1
    —MP fulfilling course3
    —Free Electives6
    —Total16/14

    Fourth Year: Spring Semester/Semester 8

    CourseTitleCredits
    MUS 444Applied Music3
    MUS 100Large Music Ensemble1
    MUS 406
    /
    MUS 452    		Advanced Analysis
    (odd-numbered Spring only)
    -OR-
    Advanced Aural Skills II
    (even-numbered Spring only)    		3
    /
    1
    MUS 494Senior Recital0
    —Free Electives9
    —Total16/14
    —Total Hours: 124

    *MUS 140 Recital Attendance requires seven semesters of registration

    1 9 credit hours of MP Perspectives Areas must double dip with 9 credit hours of MP Signature Inquiries unless 9 hours of free electives are used as MP fulfilling courses.

    Functional Piano requirement: Completion of MUS 261 or proficiency examination required.

    ^Performance requirement: Half recital in year 3, semester 6; MUS 494 Senior Recital in year 4, semester 8.

    Large Music Ensemble requirement: Enroll in a large instrumental ensemble, in one’s primary performance medium, each semester. The large instrumental ensembles include: MUS 100C Symphony Orchestra, MUS 100E Marching Band, MUS 100F Symphony Band, and MUS 100G Wind Ensemble. Entrance to each group is by audition. Pianists may fulfill the ensemble requirement through participation in a large instrumental ensemble, a large vocal ensemble, accompanying (MUS 110/120), or chamber music as a pianist. (MUS 110/120 fulfills either accompanying requirement or large ensemble requirement in a single semester, but not both). Guitarists may fulfill the ensemble requirement through enrollment in a vocal ensemble, an instrumental ensemble, or chamber music as a guitarist.

    Additional Degree Requirements Depending on Major Instrument:

    Piano:

    • MUS 110, 120 Accompanying or 100I/J Chamber Music (1, 1)
    • MUS 457 Piano Literature [even-numbered Fall semesters] (3)
    • MUS 458 Piano Literature[odd-numbered Spring semesters] (3)
    • MUS 430 Piano Pedagogy [even-numbered Spring semesters] (2)

    Strings:

    • MUS 433 String Pedagogy [even-numbered Fall semesters] (1)
    • MUS 100I Chamber Music (1, 1)

    Percussion:

    • MUS 100M Percussion Ensemble (1, 1)

    Guitar:

    • MUS 454 Guitar Repertory and Pedagogy (2)

    It is the responsibility of the student to check to see that all university requirements have been fulfilled – please refer to the General Bulletin.

Career Options for a Music Performance Major

Performance majors are prepared to do just that — perform. Our graduates find work as members of professional ensembles, and as freelance artists. Others pursue graduate study at many of the nation’s leading conservatories and music schools. Graduates of our program have also established careers as independent studio teachers.

Additional Opportunities

The Department of Music at Miami University is a vibrant community of scholars, performers, and educators. You can broaden your horizons through a number of enrichment opportunities.

A choral ensemble of music performance majors sings on stage, performing a vocal piece that emphasizes voice and ensemble coordination.

Ensembles

All Performance majors are required to be in a large ensemble each semester. But there are additional opportunities to be explored, such as Jazz Ensemble, Steel Band, and our newly created Laptop Ensemble.

More About Ensembles

An orchestra of music performance majors performs under a conductor, featuring a full range of instruments including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.

Competitions

Winners of the Concerto Competition are invited to perform with the Symphony Orchestra, while finalists in the Undergraduate Artist Competition receive cash awards. Demonstrate your excellence in performance through these competitive opportunities.

More About Competitions

Facts and Stats

Your college experience here will be one of the most exciting times of your life. To make sure of this, we’ll provide you with a powerful support system.

90%

First-to-second year retention

Miami University Data

12

Among Public Universities in the United States for Four-Year Graduation Rate

OIRE

95%

Of 2021 CCA graduates employed or pursuing advanced degrees within six months of graduation

Miami University Data

Pair Your Music Performance Major With the Perfect Major, Co-Major, or Minor

Explore a wide range of majors, co-majors, or minors that complement your major. Whether you’re looking to deepen your expertise or broaden your academic experience, these programs are designed to help you build a well-rounded and impactful degree.

Customize your education to do more, see more, be more.
View All Programs

Music Admission Requirements

To pursue a music degree, you must apply both to Miami University and to the Department of Music. These are separate processes, but you may complete them concurrently—no need to wait for a University admission decision before applying to the Department.

Note: A successful audition or portfolio review is required to be admitted.

Contact Us

Undergraduate Admission

513-529-2531
[email protected]

Department of Music

Benjamin Smolder, M.M.
Interim Chair and Associate Professor
Department of Music
Presser Hall 204
501 S. Patterson Ave.
Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-6009
[email protected]