Our primary mission is to prepare students to become professional musicians and music educators. The School of Music is widely known for its scholarship in the field, and it is an important cultural resource for the profession, the campus community, and the people of Missouri.

Faculty members regularly perform, conduct, or present papers at music centers or conferences worldwide. At least 15 of 34 faculty have had professional engagements outside the United States during the past eight years. Several have gained national and international recognition for their research. Faculty composers have a long list of works to their credit that have been commissioned, performed by well-known ensembles, published, and recorded.

Faculty research often prompts changes in our curriculum and teaching methods, keeping the program current. Their performances and conducting engagements on other campuses and in other communities provide a basis for comparative analysis of standards and trends. Teaching quality is consistently praised.

Because of the nature of music studies at MU—small academic classes, team preparation for ensemble and chamber performances, and one-on-one relationships in the studio—professors quickly get to know students by their first names. They are genuinely interested in each student's success, present and future.

The College of Arts and Science encourages all undergraduates to get involved in research, service or teaching at some level. Music students share their talents in recitals and in an active, widely attended campus concert series. Those who live in the Fine Arts Residential College also learn from one another and from students in other creative areas.

Courses in music appreciation and theory are open to all students, as are private instrumental or vocal lessons and chances to perform. Many nonmajors take music courses or audition for music ensembles.

The School of Music offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs. More than 70 percent of the 220 students enrolled in degree programs are undergraduates. Fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, the school offers a Bachelor of Arts in music or a Bachelor of Music degree with majors in performance (piano, voice, strings, woodwinds, percussion or brass), music history, music theory and composition. Through the College of Education, it offers a Bachelor of Science in music education.

The BM degree is for students who hope to pursue a career composing, performing or teaching at the college level, or who go on to graduate education in one of those areas.

Students interested in performing are required to audition on campus or submit a tape. The literature, especially for pianists, must include three selections from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic or 20th Century periods.

The BS in music education, for students who plan to teach at the elementary or secondary level, emphasizes studio courses. Students take piano classes during the first two years until proficiency exams are passed.

Initial advising for music education majors is provided through the College of Education, but later is done by music education faculty. Students in BM or AB music programs are advised by the director of undergraduate studies in music. After the first semester, they are assigned to faculty advisers in their specific area.

The director of undergraduate studies continues to advise students about scheduling and course requirements until the end of the sophomore year, when students complete an Area of Concentration Form for official admission to their specific program.

The Student Success Center is a valuable resource for information about all fields. Also, music faculty members represent a wide range of backgrounds that covers the spectrum of careers in music. As a profession, music tends to draw talented people into multiple roles as teachers, performers, conductors, and composers.

Many MU graduates in music education do what they have been well-trained to do: They teach in schools across the state and in many other parts of the country.

Most who graduate with the BM degree go on to graduate study at MU or other leading schools of music, such as the Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, Yale, Northwestern, the Cincinnati Conservatory, Rutgers, Rice, and the University of Texas. We take pride in their accomplishments as signs that we are continuing to give our students the preparation they need to succeed, even as those needs change.

Music alumni are pursuing career paths of all kinds, proving the value of a musical education that is not limiting, but broadening. The School of Music takes pride in their achievements.

The School of Music holds at least three scholarship audition dates each year. Auditions can also be arranged at the convenience of the student and individual instructors.

For information about applying to the music program or auditioning for a music scholarship, call or write:

School of Music
135 Fine Arts Building
Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: (573) 882-2604

For information about applying to MU, call or write:

Office of Admissions
230 Jesse Hall
Columbia, MO 65211-1300
Phone: (573) 882-7786
1-800-225-6075 (toll free in Missouri and Illinois)
Fax: (573) 882-7887
e-mail: mu4u@missouri.edu