Academics
The Music Department offers courses in theory, composition, and the history and current trends of both Western and non-Western music, as well as private voice and instrument lessons. Students of all levels of experience are welcome in any course, unless a prerequisite or instructor’s permission is indicated.
A Comprehensive Musical Education
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The Liberal Arts Advantage
The Boston College music major's liberal arts framework offers a broader perspective than that offered by conservatories or schools of music. Our students encounter diverse historical, theoretical, cultural, ethnographic, and performance perspectives, going on to fulfilling careers both within the wide world of music and in diverse other fields.
Within the major, all students acquire a common base of knowledge and then specialize in an area such as composition, performance, music history, or cultural studies. A grounding, not only in the traditional skills of Western art music, but also in American music and the traditions of other cultures, is considered indispensable.
Private Lessons
The Music Department offers individual instruction in voice and instruments, either for credit or not for credit.
- Students interested in for-credit lessons should enroll in either MUSP1925 (voice) or MUSP 1985 (instrumental). Students interested in non-credit lessons should enroll in either MUSP 1900/1910/1920 (voice) or MUSP 1960/1970/1980 (instrumental).
- Individual voice and instrumental instruction, for either credit or non-credit, requires an extra fee. In addition, several free, non-credit performance courses offer instruction and/or coaching in various instruments and ensembles.
- Private lessons, when taken for credit, require a juried performance at the end of the semester. Students may count up to three credits of individual instruction toward graduation.
Core Courses
The Music Department offers a variety of courses that satisfy University Core requirements in the Arts and Cultural Diversity and serve as introductions to the various areas of musical knowledge.