Ramapo College of New Jersey

What you'll study

The programme balances performance, musicianship and academic study. Core areas include private lessons, ensemble performance, aural skills, music theory and music history. Students select elective pathways in areas such as classical performance, jazz and contemporary music, composition and arranging, music technology and recording, or music education.

• Performance and Ensembles: regular participation in choir, orchestra, wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, chamber groups and musical-theatre productions; senior recital as a capstone for performance majors.
• Musicianship: sequential courses in harmony, counterpoint and aural skills that build practical sight-singing, dictation and keyboard proficiency.
• Music History and Literature: surveys of Western music, studies in 20th- and 21st-century music, and specialised seminars in topics such as opera, jazz history or popular music studies.
• Composition and Technology: classes in composition, arranging, digital audio workstations, recording techniques and production; studio practicum and portfolio development.
• Applied Lessons and Pedagogy: weekly one-to-one instruction on principal instrument or voice, methods courses for those pursuing teaching, and supervised teaching practica.
• Liberal arts electives: courses across the humanities and social sciences to broaden contextual understanding and critical thinking.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a high-school diploma or equivalent and present a solid academic record. Admission typically requires an audition and may include an interview to assess musical potential and fit with the programme.

• Submitted materials usually include academic transcripts and a completed application.
• The audition commonly asks for prepared repertoire (typically contrasting pieces), sight-reading or a prepared technical demonstration, and may include basic theory or aural tasks.
• Applicants may also be asked to submit recordings or a portfolio if an in-person audition is not feasible.
• Those intending to pursue teacher certification should review additional state-specific requirements and preparatory coursework.

Career prospects

Graduates move into a wide range of music- and theatre-related careers. The programme prepares students for both professional practice and further study.

• Performing artist: orchestras, opera, musical theatre, chamber ensembles, jazz groups and freelance performance.
• Music educator: private lesson teaching, community music leadership, and entry to certification routes for K–12 teaching (additional certification may be required).
• Composer/arranger and music producer: writing for ensembles, media composition, and work in recording and production studios.
• Music technology and audio engineering: studio work, live sound, post-production and related technical roles.
• Arts administration and production: concert management, marketing for arts organisations, community arts programming and theatre production roles.
• Further study: graduate work in performance, composition, musicology, music therapy, conducting or music technology.

Why study at Ramapo College of New Jersey

Ramapo College offers a close-knit music community where students receive personalised instruction and regular performance opportunities. The department emphasises practical experience—through ensembles, student recitals and collaborations with the theatre programme—supported by faculty who are active performers and scholars.

• Access to on-campus performance venues and rehearsal facilities, and hands-on experience in music-technology labs and recording studios.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration with the College’s theatre programme and liberal-arts curriculum, helping students develop versatile artistic and professional skills.
• Proximity to the New York metropolitan area, enabling internship, networking and performance opportunities while retaining small-class attention.
• Individualised applied lessons and a senior-capstone recital or project that prepares graduates for professional life or advanced study.