Prepare for a rewarding professional career, no matter what music degree path you choose.
You can pursue roles in the music industry, including performance, composition, radio, recording, publishing and presentation.
You can pursue roles in the music industry, including performance, composition, radio, recording, publishing and presentation. With a degree in music education, you can become a K–12 classroom music instructor or private teacher. Or you can be involved in community engagement through music.
Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and Adelphi University Professor of Music Paul Moravec working with a student.
Collaboration leads to musical composition that tells a story without words.
Sidney M. Boquiren, PhD, crafted his song cycle from verses by students from third grade to high school.
Skill building doesn’t stop at graduation. I was fortunate to have the Adelphi network supporting me through school and after. Summer work experience with Adelphi’s Opera Theatre director taught me about the perseverance that’s required in the business. That perseverance eventually led me to a leading part in the hit musical parody Spamilton.
Ani Djirdjirian ’16
BS in Music (Vocal Performance), is the 2019 winner of the Elliot Norton Outstanding Visiting Musical Performance, Actress, Award for her role in Spamilton.
The minor in music is designed for students who have chosen another field of study as their major, but wish to be more informed about music and become more experienced in high-level music performance.
The Concentration in Composition provides training for young composers in preparation for graduate studies and professional activities outside academia. Students in this concentration have the opportunity to work with our renowned composition faculty as they develop their portfolios. Guest lectures at our New York City campus and performances of student compositions by student performers and visiting professional artists supplement the academic curriculum, providing opportunities for student composers to network with their peers and professional musicians.
The Concentration in Instrumental Performance allows student instrumentalists the opportunity to work closely with faculty members in the department to develop a deeper understanding of repertoire and technique for their respective instruments, while gaining valuable experience performing with the department’s large and small ensembles.
The Concentration in Jazz Studies offers musicians an opportunity to obtain the skills and knowledge to advance confidently in the genre as a performer, in additional studies in graduate school, or through work as a conductor or arranger for jazz groups.
The Music Therapy Concentration offers music majors a comprehensive introduction to music therapy as well as a clear path toward acceptance into graduate school programs in the field. Build a strong foundation in musical skills, intercultural understanding and the healing arts as preparation for future study in music therapy.
The Concentration in Piano Performance offers pianists an opportunity to obtain the skills and knowledge necessary to move forward in the field, whether in graduate school, as a piano instuctor, or in other professional activities, such as working as a repetiteur, staff accompanist, church pianist or music director.
The Concentration in Vocal Performance provides training for young singers in preparation for graduate studies and professional performance opportunities. Students in this concentration work with our faculty to develop a varied solo repertoire that demonstrates a high level of achievement as a singer.
Our music majors participate in cocurricular opportunities off campus to broaden their experiences and enrich our communities:
To apply for this music degree program, submit the appropriate application requirements along with an audition:
All undergraduate students have the opportunity to apply for the following programs to expand their educational landscape:
Yes, Adelphi offers a BS degree in Music, as well as a BS in Music Education.
Yes, If you plan to teach in a school setting, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in music education and certification from the state where you hope to teach.
Talented musicians and singers generally don’t need a college degree to find employment in nightclubs, recording studios and the like, although formal education may enhance your abilities. But those who want a career in classical music or opera may need a bachelor’s degree or higher for employment. Also, if you want a career in the music business beyond performing you will likely need at least a bachelor’s degree.
