Areas of Study
Join our exciting and supportive environment of over 350 students! You’ll receive expert instruction from diverse and talented faculty and the chance to grow tremendously as a musician.
We build on a long legacy of musical training for leading performers, educators and scholars. You will be part of a community that values both artistic excellence and comprehensive skill-building. As a student in music, you will engage with several other aspects of music in addition to your area of focus. Scroll down to explore our Areas of Study.
Areas of Study
Brass
We offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in Brass, where you can focus on your main instrument as you work towards your career goals. Study trumpet, trombone, horn, euphonium or tuba.
Culture & Expression
The Culture and Expression program is a flexible and customizable option if you have broad interests in music and beyond. It’s ideal if you want to minor or double major in a non-music field and great for transfer students.
No audition is required, but you may audition for scholarship consideration.
Jazz Studies
You can pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in jazz performance or composition in the award-winning Jazz Studies area. It’s a supportive community with renowned faculty, a tradition of excellence, over 170 DownBeat Student Music Awards and a Grammy nomination.
Latinx Music
Our Latinx Music program feeds your passion for the musical traditions of Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. It’s the first of its kind in the U.S. and focuses on community engagement.
No audition is required, but you may audition for scholarship consideration.
Music Business and Recording Arts
Music Business and Recording Arts lets you customize your classes to focus on business, recording or a balance of both. You’ll prepare for the professional world as you learn the financial, legal and artistic aspects of the music business, alongside the technical and aesthetic skills of recording arts in our state-of-the-art recording and mixing studios.
No audition is required, but you may audition for scholarship consideration.
Music Composition
You can pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in Music Composition. You’ll collaborate with diverse students and faculty to cultivate your unique creative voice and build on our tradition of students’ works premiered worldwide.
Music Education
You can pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in Music Education. Our experienced and dedicated faculty will help you become exceptional teachers. You’ll join our extensive music ed alumni network of music educators excelling in Colorado and beyond.
Music History and Literature
This area forms the academic backbone for our music degrees of all levels. No matter your degree, you’ll dive into an inclusive curriculum that covers historical musical repertoire, evolving styles and performance practices. We offer master’s and doctoral degrees in Music History and Literature.
Music Theory
Build a strong musical foundation in aural skills, sight singing, voice leading, form and analysis and 20th/21st-century musical materials during your bachelor’s degree that will prepare you to perform and/ or teach during your career. Or dig deeper into advanced music theory and research with the Master of Music degree.
Percussion
You can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in Percussion. You’ll have numerous opportunities to perform in School of Music ensembles and focus on your skills in applied lessons as you move towards your career goals.
Piano
You can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in Piano. You’ll have numerous performance opportunities and work with expert faculty and renowned guest artists. Your focus on your instrument in applied lessons will take you towards a career as a performer or educator.
Strings
We offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in Strings, where you can focus on your main instrument as you work towards your career goals. Study violin, viola, cello, double bass or classical guitar.
Voice
You can pursue both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Voice. You’ll train with faculty who are active international and national performers in a supportive environment that gives you the skills and education you need to become a successful performer or educator.
Woodwinds
We offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in Woodwinds, where you can focus on your main instrument as you work towards your career goals. Study flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon or saxophone.
Minors & Certificates
Choose courses in music history, theory, literature, performance or ensembles to complete the 21 required credits for this minor. You can take a maximum of 7 credits of performance and ensemble participation to meet the requirements.
If you are a music student who wants to go into the music technology industry and/or produce your own music, this certificate is for you. You’ll take 6 courses that will give you a solid foundation in contemporary technologies and related techniques such as MIDI, digital music notation, sequencing, samplers, recording, microphone techniques, mixing, composition, video scoring, music production, critical listening, music publishing, copyrights, promotion, marketing and more.
You can incorporate the Arts Entrepreneurship Certificate into your undergraduate major in many different ways to get yourself ready for the professional arts world. You can choose the 15 credits required for this certificate according to your interests.
A Glimpse into Our Music Programs
