Department of Music
The Department of Music is preparing student musicians for the 21st century.
We offer a broad range of music degrees, ensembles, community programs, and activities
that exemplify musical diversity and the development of artistic excellence.
Instrumental or Vocal
This program can be combined with other fields of study. Available as a 36hr major, 48hrs major, or a minor.
Instrumental or Vocal
For careers as college professors, professional performers, and/or pursuing graduate level study.
Instrumental, Vocal, or Integrated
For careers as K-12 public/private school teachers and/or ensemble conductor.
For Incoming Freshman and Current Students
The Department of Music and PCAL offer many competitive scholarships, grants, and awards including Music Grants, Athletic Bands, Potter College Creative Arts Scholarship, Baker Scholarship Awards, Endowed Awards, and the Music Department Racial Equity Scholarship.
View Music Scholarships & Grants
Apply to the Music Program
The Department of Music also offers four graduate programs, including:
- Conducting - Choral, Wind Band, or Orchestral
- Conducting - Teacher Leader in Choral, Wind Band, or Orchestral
- Music Education - Teacher Leader
- Pedagogy
Apply to WKU's Music Program Now!
The Department of Music offers more than 20 ensembles open to majors and non-majors.
Big Red Marching Band, Campus Community Band, Chamber Ensembles, Choral Society, Chorale, Guitar Ensemble, Jazz Band, Musicals, Redshirts, Opera Theatre, Pep Band, Percussion Ensemble, Steel Band, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, Treble Chorus, Treblemakers, University Singers, Wind Ensemble, and many more...
The WKU Department of Music has a strong reputation for training students to be successful performers, educators, and artists. Graduates can be found teaching throughout the state of Kentucky as well as across the country including Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas.
Many graduates are performing as professional musicians in classical orchestras, service bands, opera companies, as soloists, in churches, and in popular media.
Our students have also gone on to highly acclaimed graduate schools.
WKU Music offers three Honors Band Clinics. One for high school students, one for middle school/junior high students and a Jazz Honor Band.
Information for the clinic will be sent through email in late October to all the Kentucky High School band directors and directors from in Indiana and Tennessee that have participated in the past.
Visit a university that is vibrant, exciting and progressive. Our department strives to engage music majors, minors, general students, community members, patrons, and audiences with a love and passion for creativity, expression, and performance through the fine art of making music.
The WKU music faculty believe that music is an essential part of life. They engage in superior solo and ensemble performances and are committed to taking students to the highest level of musicianship and citizenship. Our faculty have achieved national and international recognition for their accomplishments and share this expertise with their students, both in and out of the classroom or studio.
Instrumental Courses
A course for beginners. Scales and keyboard skills.
1 Credit Hr
Patterns for each meter, uses of the left hand, cueing posture, attacks, releases, terminology and score study.
3 Credit Hrs
Vocal Courses
Review of the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet and its application to the German and Italian languages using appropriate vocal literature.
1 Credit Hr
A required course for bachelor of music (B.M.) in performance majors which centers on teaching in their particular area of performance and provides a knowledge of basic repertoire.
3 Credit Hrs
Colonnade Explorations:
Arts & Humanities
Social & Cultural
MUS 320 ROCK AND ROLL
MUS 322 BLUES MUSIC
MUS 323 MUSIC AND DRAMA
MUS 327 MUSIC HISTORY II
Colonnade Connections:
Local to Global
Systems
Western Kentucky University is a fully accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music since 1948.
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