Idaho State University

What you'll study

The programme combines applied private lessons, ensemble participation and core academic courses to develop musicianship, performance skills and musical understanding. Students take sequential coursework in music theory and ear training, music history and literature, and applied lessons on their principal instrument or voice.

• Applied Lessons and Performance — weekly one-to-one lessons, studio classes and a senior or junior recital requirement for performance majors.
• Ensembles — participation in chamber groups, choir, wind ensemble, orchestra or jazz ensemble depending on focus; opportunities to accompany and perform in theatre pit ensembles through collaboration with the theatre department.
• Theory and Musicianship — tonal harmony, counterpoint, ear training and sight-singing, with placement testing to determine entry level.
• Music History and Literature — survey courses covering western art music, 20th/21st-century music, and elective topics such as American music or popular music studies.
• Pedagogy and Conducting — methods courses for those pursuing music education, group piano and keyboard skills, and introductory conducting.
• Composition and Technology — basic composition, arranging and music technology/recording techniques available as electives or emphasis areas.
• General Education — a liberal-arts component that complements music study with coursework in humanities, sciences and communication.

Students may choose degree tracks such as performance, music education, composition or a broader Bachelor of Arts in Music; each track includes required core courses plus specialised electives and practicum experiences.

Entry requirements

Applicants must hold secondary-school completion or an equivalent credential and submit academic transcripts. Admission to the music programme typically requires an entrance audition to demonstrate applied proficiency on the chosen instrument or voice; some tracks may request a portfolio for composition applicants. Incoming students may also take placement exams in theory and piano/keyboard to establish appropriate course entry.

Additional requirements commonly include a preparatory interview and completion of general university admission steps. International applicants should consult the university for English language proficiency expectations and documentation details.

Career prospects

Graduates move into a variety of music-related careers. Typical paths include:

• Professional performer — soloists, orchestral or chamber musicians, jazz and commercial performers.
• Music educator — classroom teachers, private instructors and ensemble directors (note that K–12 public-school teaching usually requires additional state teacher certification).
• Composer/arranger and music creator for media or live performance.
• Music technology and production roles — audio engineering, studio work, and live-sound engineering.
• Arts administration and community music roles — programming, outreach, and festival coordination.
• Further study — many graduates pursue graduate degrees in performance, musicology, composition or music education.

Why study at Idaho State University

Idaho State University offers a music education with a combination of personalised instruction and ample performance opportunities through ensembles and collaborative theatre productions. Students benefit from faculty who are active performers and teachers, hands-on experience in rehearsal and recital settings, and access to regional performance networks.

The programme emphasises practical career preparation alongside academic breadth, with scholarship opportunities, studio teaching practicum and pathways to teacher certification or graduate study. Close collaboration between the music and theatre areas provides additional opportunities for those interested in musical theatre, pit playing and interdisciplinary projects.