Marymount University

What you'll study

The programme balances applied music study with academic courses and ensemble participation. Core areas include music theory and ear training, music history and literature, applied lessons (voice or instrument), chamber music and large ensembles, and musicianship skills such as conducting and score reading.

• Applied lessons — weekly one-to-one instruction with faculty and regular juries; preparation for studio classes and an upper-level recital.
• Ensembles — participation in choir, orchestra, chamber ensembles, or contemporary groups; opportunities for chamber coaching and student-led projects.
• Music theory and ear training — sequential study from basic harmony through advanced analysis and aural skills.
• Music history and literature — survey courses covering Western art music, plus electives in popular music, non-Western musics, and 20th/21st-century repertoire.
• Composition and arranging — courses in writing for voice and instruments, electronic composition and notation software.
• Music technology — instruction in recording, digital audio workstations, notation software and basic sound reinforcement.
• Professional development — courses and workshops on rehearsal technique, audition preparation, arts entrepreneurship and internship placements in regional arts organisations.

Students typically complete a mixture of major requirements and liberal-arts general education courses. Upper-level students prepare a senior recital or capstone project demonstrating performance, composition or research achievement.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a high-school diploma or equivalent and provide academic transcripts. Admission to the music major usually requires an audition and may request a portfolio or recorded submission for composition applicants.

• Academic transcripts showing successful completion of high-school coursework.
• Live audition or recorded performance demonstrating technical proficiency, musicality and repertoire appropriate to the student’s principal study.
• For composition applicants, examples of scores and recordings or a portfolio of works.
• Letters of recommendation and a personal statement outlining musical goals are typically requested.
• International applicants must meet the university’s English proficiency requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates pursue a range of careers in performance, education, composition and the wider music industry. The programme prepares students for both immediate entry into professional work and for graduate study.

• Performer — orchestral, chamber, opera, musical theatre, contemporary and freelance work.
• Music educator — private studio teacher, community music leader, or pathway to certification and classroom teaching (licensure requirements vary by state and may require additional coursework).
• Composer/arranger and music production — writing for media, theatre, ensembles and working in recording or post-production.
• Arts administration and management — roles in presenting organisations, advocacy, fundraising and programme coordination.
• Further study — graduate degrees in performance, conducting, composition, musicology, ethnomusicology or music therapy.

Why study at Marymount University

Marymount offers a close-knit music community with small class sizes and frequent performance opportunities. The university’s location near Washington, D.C., gives students access to a rich cultural ecology of concert halls, professional ensembles, theatres and internship placements.

• Individual attention — one-to-one applied lessons with experienced faculty who are active performers and teachers.
• Performance-first environment — multiple ensemble options, studio recitals, and regular public performance opportunities to build repertoire and stage experience.
• Practical training — emphasis on real-world skills such as music technology, audition preparation and entrepreneurship for self-directed careers.
• Regional connections — internships, collaboration and networking opportunities with arts organisations across the metropolitan area.
• Liberal-arts foundation — a broad curriculum that supports interdisciplinary study and transferable skills valued by employers and graduate programmes.