The Music Performance major at UNH focuses on developing advanced skills as a performer, with strong emphasis on performance study, musicianship, and preparation for master and doctoral degree programs. At UNH, students benefit from studying with highly sought-after performers and teachers, performing in top ensembles, and gaining outreach experience through programs like the Chamber Music Program and numerous gigging opportunities. The curriculum covers music theory, history, and world music, and students can participate in dynamic guest lectures, performances, and a study abroad exchange with Cardiff University in the U.K. If you wish to develop your talent as a performer while also gaining a broad liberal arts education, check out our Bachelor of Arts in music with an option in performance: Music Major: Performance Option B.A.
What is a Bachelor of Music in performance?
The Bachelor of Music in performance degree is the program for you if you wish to focus intensively on developing your skills as a performer. This program places heavy emphasis on performance study and is great preparation for master and doctoral degree programs. You’ll develop your musicianship through private study, chamber music and some of the best performing ensembles in the region. You’ll be immersed in the study of music theory, history, literature and world music while sharpening your listening and performance skills.
Why study performance in music at UNH?
The applied studio faculty at UNH are some of the region’s most sought-after performers. They are also phenomenal teachers who will prepare you for entry into top master’s degree programs at home and abroad. You will perform frequently in chamber music ensembles and some of the best performing ensembles in New England. You will develop your ability to promote yourself as an artist through outreach experiences like the Chamber Music Program and numerous gigging opportunities. Our department also hosts dynamic guest artists and lecturers throughout the year and offers a study abroad exchange program with Cardiff University in the U.K.
Potential Careers
- Artist management
- Arts administrator
- Arts nonprofit team member or director
- Military musician
- Music educator
- Music professor
- Music therapist
- Private lesson instructor
- Professional performer
-
Music Performance MajorWhen Alyssa Ostrowski ’23 started at UNH she thought she wanted a career teaching music. But after her first semester, she realized that she wanted more time to focus on her instruments, drums and other percussion. She also added a minor in art. The music program is what drew Ostrowski to UNH. In high school, she became acquainted with the UNH 3 O’Clock Jazz Band when they performed…Learn More -
Music Performance MajorHometown: Scarborough, Maine What made you choose UNH? During all four years of high school, our jazz ensemble participated in the annual Clark Terry Jazz Festival at UNH, an adjudicated event that welcomes middle high school groups from all…Learn More -
Music Performance Major | Music ProfessorWhat are you currently doing for work? I am a professor of clarinet and director of the woodwind program at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami, as well as chamber musician and arts administrator. I am a member of Pulse Trio, and we have performed across the United States, as…Learn More -
Music Performance and Psychology Majors | Licensed Professional CounselorWhat are you currently doing for work? I am a licensed professional counselor for Connecticut Department of Corrections. Since leaving UNH, I continued with both the music and psychology fields by working towards a Masters in Music Therapy degree at Loyola University and playing viola…Learn More -
Music Performance MajorWhy did you choose UNH? I chose UNH because of the wonderful experiences I had visiting the music department when I was doing my college audition process. My private instructor, Nic Orovich, seemed really interested in me, and really wanted me to come to UNH. Plus I got to see what being…Learn More
Curriculum & Requirements
The Bachelor of Music in performance degree is the program for you if you wish to focus intensively on developing your skills as a performer. This program places heavy emphasis on performance study and is great preparation for master and doctoral degree programs. You’ll develop your musicianship through private study, chamber music and some of the best performing ensembles in the region. You’ll be immersed in the study of music theory, history, literature and world music while sharpening your listening and performance skills.
Degree Requirements
All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.
Major Requirements
All bachelor of music students are required to give a public performance during their senior year, which fulfills the Discovery Program capstone requirement:
- For students in the performance option, a full recital is required. Students in the bachelor of music in performance degree program are required to perform a half junior recital.
Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of each individual major program. B.M. in music majors may use MUSI 502 Musics in Context (a required core course for the major) to satisfy the Inquiry Discovery category requirement, and MUSI 515 Music in World Cultures (a required core course for the major) to satisfy the World Cultures Discovery category requirement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | ||
| MUSI 471 & MUSI 472 | Theory I and Theory I | 6 |
| MUSI 473 & MUSI 474 | Ear Training I and Ear Training I | 2 |
| MUSI 475 & MUSI 476 | Functional Piano I and Functional Piano I 1 | 2 |
| MUSI 571 & MUSI 572 | Theory II and Theory II | 6 |
| MUSI 573 & MUSI 574 | Ear Training II and Ear Training II | 2 |
| MUSI 575 & MUSI 576 | Functional Piano II and Functional Piano II 1 | 2 |
| MUSI 501 & MUSI 502 | The Western Musical Canon and Musics in Context | 6 |
| MUSI 515 | Music in World Cultures | 4 |
| MUSI 540 | Recital Attendance | 0 |
| MUSI 691 | Music Internship I | 1-2 |
| MUSI 731 | Conducting | 2 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
MUSI 701 | Topics in Music History | |
MUSI #713 | Art Song | |
MUSI 715 | Survey of Opera | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
MUSI 771 | Counterpoint | |
MUSI 781W | Analysis: Form and Structure | |
| Performance Study (Applied Lessons): select from the following courses | Variable | |
MUSI 541, MUSI 545, MUSI 546, MUSI 547, MUSI 548, MUSI 549, MUSI #550, MUSI 551, MUSI 552, MUSI 553, MUSI 554, MUSI 555, MUSI 556, MUSI 557, MUSI 558, MUSI 559, MUSI 560, MUSI 561, MUSI 562, MUSI 563, MUSI 564, MUSI 741, MUSI 745, MUSI 746, MUSI 747, MUSI 748, MUSI 749, MUSI 751, MUSI 752, MUSI 753, MUSI 754, MUSI 755, MUSI 756, MUSI 757, MUSI 758, MUSI 759, MUSI 760, MUSI 761, MUSI 762, MUSI 763, MUSI 764 | ||
| Performing Ensemble: select from the following courses | Variable | |
MUSI 441, MUSI 442, MUSI 448, MUSI 450, MUSI 452, MUSI 453, MUSI 454, MUSI 455, MUSI 456, MUSI 457, MUSI 459, MUSI 460, MUSI 462, MUSI 463, MUSI 464 | ||
| Total Credits | 39-40 | |
- 1
Students will be given the opportunity to test out of MUSI 471 Theory I, MUSI 475 Functional Piano I, MUSI 476 Functional Piano I and MUSI 575 Functional Piano II, MUSI 576 Functional Piano II.
Bachelor of Music in Performance (Voice)
Degree program has final approval from the National Association of Schools of Music.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUSI 791 | Music Internship II | 2-4 |
| MUED 741 | Techniques and Methods in Choral Music | 2 |
| MUED 755 | Vocal Pedagogy | 2 |
| MUSI 520 & MUSI 521 | Diction for Singers I and Diction for Singers II | 4 |
| MUSI #713 | Art Song | 3 |
| or MUSI 715 | Survey of Opera | |
| MUSI 545/745 | Voice (voice lessons) 1 | 25 |
| Select 8 credits of the following: 2, 3 | 8 | |
MUSI 441 | Concert Choir 2 | |
MUSI 442 | Chamber Singers | |
MUSI 448 | Vocal Arts Project | |
| Select one of the following: | 8 | |
ITAL 401 & ITAL 402 | Elementary Italian I and Elementary Italian II | |
GERM 401 & GERM 402 | Elementary German I and Elementary German II | |
FREN 401 & FREN 402 | Elementary French I and Elementary French II | |
| Total Credits | 54-56 | |
- 1
Three credits of lessons each semester until the student's senior recital semester; then it is 4 credits.
- 2
Four credits must be MUSI 441 Concert Choir; the remaining 4 credits must be MUSI 441 Concert Choir, MUSI 442 Chamber Singers, or MUSI 448 Vocal Arts Project.
- 3
Students in the Bachelor of Music Performance program in the vocal track are required to complete 8 credits of ensemble. Students in this program are required to enroll in at least one ensemble in every semester of enrollment at UNH, including at least 4 credits of MUSI 441 Concert Choir, with the remaining credits coming from MUSI 441 Concert Choir, MUSI 442 Chamber Singers, and MUSI 448 Vocal Arts Project.
Bachelor of Music in Performance (Piano)
Degree program has final approval from the National Association of Schools of Music.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUSI 791 | Music Internship II | 2-4 |
| MUED #743 | Materials and Methods in Piano Music | 2 |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
MUSI 771 | Counterpoint | |
MUSI 781W | Analysis: Form and Structure | |
| Select 3 credits of the following: 2 | 3 | |
MUSI 775 | Composition | |
MUSI 776 | Composition | |
MUSI 777 | Advanced Composition | |
MUSI 779 | Reading and Writing Musical Scores | |
| Any 700-level advanced music history or advanced music theory course 2 | 3 | |
| MUSI 795 | Special Studies (Topic V) advanced piano pedagogy) | 2 |
| MUSI 795 | Special Studies (Topic E) piano literature) | 1-2 |
| MUSI 455 | Collaborative Piano 3 | 4 |
| MUSI 541/741 | Piano (piano lessons) 4 | 25 |
| Performing Ensemble: select from the following 5 | 4 | |
MUSI 441, MUSI 442, MUSI 448, MUSI 450, MUSI 452, MUSI 453, MUSI 454, MUSI 455, MUSI 456, MUSI 457, MUSI 459, MUSI 460, MUSI 462, MUSI 463, MUSI 464 | ||
| Total Credits | 49-52 | |
- 1
A B.M. piano performance major must take both MUSI 771 Counterpoint and MUSI 781W Analysis: Form and Structure.
- 2
A B.M. piano performance major must take an additional 700-level music history or music theory course.
- 3
This course will be taken a total of 4 times.
- 4
Three credits of lessons each semester until the semester of the senior recital; then it is 4 credits.
- 5
Students in the Bachelor Music Performance program, Piano are required to complete 8 credits of ensemble: 4 of these credits in MUSI 455 Collaborative Piano and 4 of these credits in a conducted ensemble (MUSI 450 Symphony, MUSI 452 Wind Symphony, MUSI 453 Symphonic Band, MUSI 441 Concert Choir, MUSI 442 Chamber Singers, MUSI 460 Jazz Band, MUSI 454 UNH Marching Band).
Bachelor of Music in Performance (All other Instruments)
Degree program has final approval from the National Association of Schools of Music.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUSI 791 | Music Internship II | 2-4 |
| Techniques & Methods: select from the following 1 | 2-3 | |
MUED 745 | Techniques and Methods in String Instruments | |
MUED 747 | Techniques and Methods in Woodwind Instruments | |
MUED 749 | Techniques and Methods in Brass Instruments | |
MUED 751 | Techniques and Methods in Percussion Instruments | |
| Select 3 credits of MUSI 700-level Advanced Music History or Advanced Music Theory 2 | 3 | |
| Performance Study (Applied Lessons): select from the following 3 | 25 | |
MUSI 541, MUSI 545, MUSI 546, MUSI 547, MUSI 548, MUSI 549, MUSI #550, MUSI 551, MUSI 552, MUSI 553, MUSI 554, MUSI 555, MUSI 556, MUSI 557, MUSI 558, MUSI 559, MUSI 560, MUSI 561, MUSI 562, MUSI 563, MUSI 564, MUSI 741, MUSI 745, MUSI 746, MUSI 747, MUSI 748, MUSI 749, MUSI 751, MUSI 752, MUSI 753, MUSI 754, MUSI 755, MUSI 756, MUSI 757, MUSI 758, MUSI 759, MUSI 760, MUSI 761, MUSI 762, MUSI 763, MUSI 764 | ||
| Performing Ensemble: select from the following 4, 5 | 12 | |
MUSI 441, MUSI 442, MUSI 448, MUSI 450, MUSI 452, MUSI 453, MUSI 454, MUSI 455, MUSI 456, MUSI 457, MUSI 459, MUSI 460, MUSI 462, MUSI 463, MUSI 464 | ||
| Total Credits | 44-47 | |
- 1
B.M. instrumental performance majors take one methods class in the appropriate instrumental family, e.g., a trumpet player would take MUED 749 Techniques and Methods in Brass Instruments, to fulfill this requirement.
- 2
This is in addition to the advanced music history and advanced music theory class already required.
- 3
Three credits of lessons are taken each semester until the student's senior recital semester; then it is 4 credits.
- 4
Students in the Bachelor of Music Performance program in the instrumental track for all instruments except piano are required to complete 12 credits of ensemble. Students in this program are required to enroll in at least one ensemble in every semester of enrollment at UNH, at least 6 of which must be on their primary instrument.
Further, instrumentalists specializing in woodwind, brass, string, or percussion instruments should enroll in one credit of a conducted ensemble (MUSI 450 Symphony, MUSI 452 Wind Symphony,MUSI 453 Symphonic Band, MUSI 441 Concert Choir, MUSI 442 Chamber Singers, MUSI 460 Jazz Band, MUSI 454 UNH Marching Band) in every semester of enrollment.
- Students will exhibit the skills necessary for artistic expression at the highest possible level as defined by their particular area of concentration in solo and small ensemble (not conducted) and large ensemble (conducted) settings.
- Students will exhibit competency in musicianship and analysis through: their understanding of musical forms and processes; aural, verbal and visual analyses; skill in performance; academic, pedagogical, and compositional applications; rudimentary ability to create derivative or original music.
- Students will demonstrate familiarity with musical literature from the formal concert repertory and from musical traditions outside of that repertory. Students will demonstrate the ability to place music in historical, cultural, and stylistic contexts.
- Students will demonstrate collegiate-level skill in the English language and competence in written and oral communication in English.
- Demonstrate the ability to use technologies current to their area of specialization for professional development and entrepreneurship, and career preparation and promotion.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of the fundamentals of pedagogy as required in the particular field of study.
- Students in vocal studies will demonstrate competencies in diction and language, as well as interpretive skills, physicality, and stage deportment.
- Students will plan, prepare, and perform a solo recital in collaboration with faculty and staff that includes both organizational elements and artistic preparation.
Explore Program Details
Use these checklists to track your completion of major requirements. Always check with your advisor if you have any questions.
