Music Performance
Program Details
The music performance program is tailored to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to excel as a performance artist. Whether you're aiming for a career in music, education or other fields demanding a robust liberal arts foundation, our program is designed to meet your professional aspirations. With a dynamic curriculum emphasizing practical experience and cultural diversity, you'll be well-prepared to thrive professionally both within and beyond Xavier.
Degree Awarded
Bachelor of Arts in Music
Curriculum
The sample course sequence below illustrates class offerings for the Music Performance major. Consult the official Xavier University course catalog for detailed registration and advising information.
Fall
- MUSC 198: Studio Class............ 0cr.
- MUSC 199: Recital Attendance............ 0cr.
- MUSC 200: Music Theory I [Quantitatve]............ 3cr.
- MUSC 201: Aural Skills I............ 1cr.
- MUSC 208: Keyboard Skills I............ 1cr.
- Private Lesson I............ 1cr.
- Large Ensemble I............ 1cr.
- CORE 100: First-Year Seminar............ 3cr.
- CORE 101: First-Year Co-Curricular Passport ............ 0cr.
- ENGL 101 or ENGL 115............ 3cr.
- Second Language Elective I............ 3cr.
Spring
- MUSC 198: Studio Class............ 0cr.
- MUSC 199: Recital Attendance............ 0cr.
- MUSC 202: Music Theory II............ 3cr.
- MUSC 203: Aural Skills II............ 1cr.
- MUSC 209: Keyboard Skills II............ 1cr.
- Private Lesson II............ 1cr.
- Large Ensemble II............ 1cr.
- CORE 102: First-Year Co-Curricular Passport............ 0cr.
- Second Language Elective II............ 3cr.
- PHIL 100: Ethics as Intro to Philosophy............ 3cr.
- THEO 111: Theological Foundations............ 3cr.
Fall
- MUSC 198: Studio Class............ 0cr.
- MUSC 199: Recital Attendance............ 0cr.
- MUSC 210: Music History I............ 3cr.
- MUSC 300: Music Theory III............ 3cr.
- MUSC 301: Aural Skills III............ 1cr.
- Private Lesson III............ 1cr.
- Large Ensemble III............ 1cr.
- Scientific Perspectives............ 3cr.
- ERS Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- MUSC 198: Studio Class............ 0cr.
- MUSC 199: Recital Attendance............ 0cr.
- MUSC 211: Music History II [Writing]............ 3cr.
- MUSC 303: Aural Skills IV............ 1cr.
- Private Lesson IV............ 1cr.
- Large Ensemble IV............ 1cr.
- Mathematical Perspectives............ 3cr.
- Natural Science Elective............ 3cr.
- Free Elective............ 3cr.
Fall
- MUSC 198: Studio Class............ 0cr.
- MUSC 199: Recital Attendance............ 0cr.
- MUSC 311: Rock, Pop and R&B [OC+Divers]............ 3cr.
- Private Lesson V............ 1cr.
- Large Ensemble V............ 1cr.
- Theological Perspectives............ 3cr.
- ENGL/CLAS/SPAN 205: Literature and the Moral Imagination............ 3cr.
- Free Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- MUSC 198: Studio Class............ 0cr.
- MUSC 199: Recital Attendance............ 0cr.
- Private Lesson VI............ 1cr.
- Large Ensemble VI............ 1cr.
- Free Elective............ 3cr.
- Free Elective............ 3cr.
- Free Elective............ 3cr.
- Free Elective............ 3cr.
Fall
- Philosophical Perspectives ............ 3cr.
- Free Elective............ 3cr.
- Free Elective............ 3cr.
- Free Elective............ 3cr.
- Free Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- Historical Perspectives ............ 3cr.
- Social Science Elective............ 3cr.
- Free Elective............ 3cr.
- Free Elective............ 3cr.
- Free Elective............ 3cr.
Sample Courses
Sample courses within the music performance curriculum:
- Private Lessons (MUSC 276-299)- The music performace curriculum includes 6 hours of private music lessons. Lessons include: bassoon, cello, clarinet, composition, double bass, flute, French horn, guitar, harp, jazz guitar/voice, oboe, organ, percussion, piano, rap, saxophone, songwriting, trombone, trumpet, tuba, viola, violin, and voice.
- Studio Class (MUSC 198) - Meeting every other week, this course engages students in professional development by requiring them to perform for each other in the form of a master class, attend presentations and workshops, and receive instruction in pedagogy and other topics relevant to the profession.
- Electronic Music (MUSC 127) - This course provides an introduction to the hardware and software used in electronic music production, emphasizing music sequencing, digital recording and mixing techniques. Students will learn the fundamentals of creating, editing and arranging electronic music.
- Keyboard Skills I (MUSC 208) - Skills learned include elementary scales, arpeggios, triads, chord progressions and solo repertoire as well as sight-reading, accompaniment, harmonization, transposition and improvisation.
- Music History II (MUSC 211) - This course traces the path of Western Classical music from the early Romantic period to the present, situating the music in its historical and cultural context.
- Rock, Pop and R&B (MUSC 311) -This course offers an exploration of popular music styles, spanning from the origins of the Blues to contemporary trends like Hip-Hop and Alternative. Students will delve into the evolution of these genres, examining their cultural significance, musical characteristics, and impact on society.
Career Outcomes
99 percent of Xavier students are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduation. Explore Xavier's Career Outcomes Dashboard to view career outcomes by major.
Xavier music graduates have gone on to such diverse positions and employers as:
- Music educator, public and private schools
- Private music studio instructor
- University professor
- Performer in local bands
- Sales, professional recording equipment
- Member, United States Army Band
- Cincinnati Opera
- Nashville music industry
- Public health administrator
- Teach for America
- Jesuit Volunteer Corps
- Montessori and special education teachers
- Physician, registered nurse or other medical professional
- Procter and Gamble
Xavier music graduates have also been accepted into graduate music programs at:
- Columbia University
- Florida State University
- Indiana University School of Music
- Miami University (OH)
- Northwestern University
- Ohio University
- Peabody Conservatory
- St. Louis University
- University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
- University of Louisville
- University of Massachusetts
- University of Maryland
Find more information on our Music Alumni webpage.
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Xavier University, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, is nationally recognized as a top university by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review. 99 percent of our students are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2022).
Kickstart Your Musical Performance Career in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio is one of a handful of U.S. cities to boast a professional ballet, opera, symphony and theater. Here, you'll have the opportunity to engage with hundreds of local arts organizations, including the Cincinnati Pops, Cincinnati Ballet and Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.
Broaden Your Musical Horizons and Develop Versatility as a Performer
There are numerous musical clubs and organizations on campus, including the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, the XU Concert Choir, the women and men's choruses and the Edgecliff Vocal Ensemble.
Learn in a Program Focused on Personal Attention
Small class sizes allow you to ask the right questions and get the attention you need to succeed and learn. On top of that, our Career Development mentoring program will connect you with a Cincinnati-based professional in your field.
Graduate With Honors
Are you looking for an academic challenge? The University Scholars Honors Program offers incoming students a more challenging curriculum and close support from professors while completing their undergraduate degree. Acceptance into the program is highly selective and includes a $2000 travel grant.
Music Performance Major at Xavier University
The Department of Music is committed to the advancement of knowledge through the study of music as an art and a science. This study encompasses music theory, music history, pedagogy, esthetics, music education, and an extensive list of applied music opportunities. Students go on to hold positions as music teachers for all ages in schools, organists and choir directors, performers, private studio music instructors and many roles in arts organizations and businesses.
Xavier University’s College of Arts and Sciences challenges students to develop an integrated understanding of humanity, the world, and God by pursuing the questions raised in Xavier's core and departmental curricula. The College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest college at Xavier University. The college provides an excellent liberal arts education in the Jesuit tradition that prepares students for careers, professional or graduate school, and life in a global society.
Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."