Music
Is music your passion? At Elmhurst University, you’ll learn to put that passion to work in the world. Whether you pursue a career in performance, teaching, music business or composition, Elmhurst will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to follow your dreams and achieve a successful future.
THE BENEFITS OF MUSIC AT Elmhurst
As a music student at Elmhurst University, you will:
• Benefit from a well-rounded curriculum designed by engaged faculty who are active scholars and practitioners in their field, so you can gain a versatile skill set and professional connections
• Study on a safe, suburban campus less than 30 minutes from Chicago, so you’ll have access to the city’s top companies and job opportunities
• Learn in small, supportive classroom environments with high-end technology that can help you excel in your future career
• Gain a professional edge on your resume through performance experiences and opportunities
PROGRAMS OF STUDY
Elmhurst’s music programs lead to careers in every aspect of the industry, such as teaching, performance and the business side of music.
MAJORS
• B.A. in Music
• B.A. in Music Industry
• B.M. in Jazz Studies
• B.M. in Music Education
• B.M. in Music Production
• B.M. in Performance
• B.M. in Theory/ Composition
• B.M. or B.S. in Music Business
AUDITION INFORMATION
MINORS
• General Music
• Composition
• Jazz Studies
• Music Industry
• Music Production
• Popular Music Studies
• Religious Studies and Church Music for Music Majors
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
• Music Performance
• Piano Pedagogy
All students seeking a music major must audition for acceptance into the Department of Music on their major instrument/voice before a panel of music department faculty. This process applies to the following majors:
• B.A. in Music
• B.M. in Jazz Studies
• B.M. in Music Education
• B.M. in Performance
• B.M. in Music Production (only for those auditioning on voice or instrument)
• B.M. in Theory/Composition
• B.M. or B.S. in Music Business
Music Industry majors are not required to audition but must submit an essay and attend an interview with Elmhurst music faculty.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Each music major at Elmhurst has its own set of requirements, but they share some common ground.
Scan for additional info regarding admission as well as programs, audition information and resources. elmhurst.edu/Music
Please refer to the Office of Admission for more information about Elmhurst’s overall admission policies and processes. elmhurst.edu/Admission
PROGRAM Highlights
Here is a breakdown of our music program options:
BACHELOR OF ARTS (B.A.) IN MUSIC
The bachelor of arts in music degree is designed for students who wish to pursue studies in an individualized program in musicology, church music, music therapy, music technology or other areas.
• General music degree
• Choose a “focus area” for capstone, providing an in-depth study in your area of interest
• Good path for those who want to pursue a master’s degree or double major
• A starting point for students aiming to transition to the more specialized Music Performance major; students can enroll in this program and remain until they successfully pass the entrance audition for Music Performance
BACHELOR OF MUSIC (B.M.) IN MUSIC PERFORMANCE
The bachelor of music with a major in music performance is designed for students who wish to pursue a career and/or graduate-level study in music performance.
• Intense applied study
• Chamber music ensembles
• Junior and senior capstone recitals
• Coursework in areas of study including performance, literature, pedagogy and music business
PERFORMING ENSEMBLES
All majors on campus are encouraged to join the wide variety of performance ensembles and even tour the world while playing on global stages. All ensembles are audition based. The ensembles include:
• Bands
• Choirs
• Orchestra
• Jazz Bands
• Jazz Combos
• Vocal Jazz Ensembles
• Chamber Music
• Classical Guitar Ensemble
• Gretsch Guitar Ensemble
BACHELOR OF MUSIC (B.M.) IN MUSIC EDUCATION
The music education program at Elmhurst University is a comprehensive and creative program, which provides students with individualized learning experiences, giving them the knowledge and skills needed for successful careers as music educators. Music education students have continuous handson teaching experiences at public schools in preparation for student teaching. Graduates are licensed to teach band, orchestra, choir and general music to grades PreK-12 in Illinois and most other states.
Students are required to pass the appropriate content-area test prior to the student teaching semester, as well as the edTPA/ISBE assessment prior to program completion. Student teaching occurs during the final term, lasting a full 16 weeks, after all other coursework has been completed. Student teaching includes two placements: one elementary/middle school placement and one high school placement.
Music Education students learn to play instruments in classes that focus on:
• Piano I and II
• Brass Techniques
• Woodwind Techniques
• Percussion Techniques
• String Techniques
• Vocal/Choral Techniques
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN MUSIC EDUCATION
• Varsity Strings
• Varsity Band
• Lessons on secondary instruments
• Active collegiate chapter of the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA)
• Chamber Ensembles
• On-campus clinics and events
EMPLOYMENT RATE FOR ELMHURST MUSIC EDUCATION GRADUATES*
2023 - 100%
2024 - 96%
* Department
BACHELOR OF MUSIC (B.M.) IN JAZZ STUDIES
The bachelor of music in jazz studies degree is designed to prepare students for diverse careers in performance and composition, with a focus on jazz and commercial music. Coursework includes:
• Improvisation
• Jazz arranging
• Jazz history
• Jazz keyboard
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN JAZZ STUDIES
• Jazz theory
• Applied Jazz lessons
• On-campus clinics and events include hosting visiting schools and performing concerts at The Mill Theatre, Buik Recital Hall and various other locations across campus.
• Performing ensembles include two big bands, five combos, the Gretsch Electric Guitar Ensemble, and two jazz vocal ensembles that perform regular concerts on campus and at community events in and around Elmhurst throughout the year.
• Off-campus performances consist of tours to area high schools and jazz festivals throughout the Chicagoland area. In previous years, the Jazz Band has performed at international music festivals.
• Junior and senior capstone recitals are presented and performed entirely by students. Everything from the logistics and repertoire to the rehearsals and advertising are prepared by students.
• The Jazz Band has performed with these recent guest artists: Wayne Bergeron, Byron Stripling, Marshall Gilkes, Ryan Keberle, Sharel Cassity, John Fedchock, Danny Gottlieb, Carmen Bradford, the Yellowjackets, Patti Austin, John Pizzarelli, Denis DiBlasio, Michael Davis, Patrick Williams and Doc Severinsen.
• The Elmhurst University Jazz Festival is a continuation of the American College Jazz Festival, which was originally established in 1968. This annual event is held on campus and serves as a forum for jazz education. Guest artists with iconic names in jazz attend and offer constructive critiques of each performing group, conduct clinics and demonstrate their skill in concert. They also grant awards to outstanding ensembles, individual musicians and student composers and arrangers.
• June Jazz is an annual community event hosted on campus each summer, where wellknown guest artists perform with the Elmhurst University Jazz Band. Past performances featured Morgan James, Roberta Gambarini, Diane Schuur, Dee Dee Bridgewater, The Manhattan Transfer, Simone and many others.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Elmhurst’s music business program prepares students for work in the growing and ever-changing music industry. It draws on the vast resources of the Chicagoland area for internships, outstanding faculty and career opportunities.
Four Major Options:
• Music Business, B.M. – A degree aimed at serving performing musicians who want to also have a solid understanding of the business side of music.
✓ Offers a heavier concentration in music
• Music Business, B.S. – A degree aimed at those musicians whose primary goal is to work in one of the many facets of the music industry.
✓ Focuses more heavily on the business side of music
• Music Industry, B.A. – A degree focused entirely on the business side of the music industry, where the study of music is minimal.
✓ Learn skills relative to marketing, live music promotion and management, record label sales and promotion, copyright considerations and the laws governing the music industry, music production, artist management and digital technology
✓ Take a small number of fundamental music courses for a basic knowledge of music
• Music Production, B.M. – A degree focused on learning the necessary skills essential to working in this field and thriving in the multifaceted world of modern music production.
✓ Gain an understanding of the digital audio workstation, create and arrange music of different genres and comprehend and craft music in its various forms for multiple uses in audio production, video production, live performance and commercial music production
✓ Develop contemporary songwriting and commercial music skills
✓ A music degree where your laptop can be your primary instrument
✓ Work toward a career in music as a writer for film/TV, video games, commercials and contemporary popular music
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN MUSIC BUSINESS
• Music Business Student Union – Organize student concerts, guest speakers and other events
• Student Production Services – Student-run audio/video recording services for a variety of events
• Elmhurst University Jazz Festival – Working with artists and state-of-the-art technology in real time for recording and streaming of performances
• National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Conference – Opportunities to travel to Anaheim, Calif. for the annual NAMM conference, as well as partake in networking and get a first look at new technologies
• Spring Playback – Yearly live music production; students are involved in producing a multi-band concert that features national and local talent
BACHELOR OF MUSIC (B.M.) IN THEORY AND COMPOSITION
This program is designed for students who wish to pursue studies in the analytical and creative sides of the music discipline.
• Curriculum is comprised of the music core, as well as additional courses in music theory, composition, history, literature and related fields
• Includes a senior project as a capstone experience, which is typically a recital of new works (for composers) or a major analytical paper (for theorists)
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN MUSIC THEORY AND COMPOSITION
• Annual Guest Artists – Elmhurst students write music for professional guest artists
• Orchestration and Arranging – Students write/arrange for the Elmhurst University Orchestra
• Malambo Competition – Annual composition competition for Elmhurst Students to compose a piece for choir, band or orchestra and a public performance of their work
• Film Scoring – Students write music for film and other media
• Songwriting – Students write/set lyrics to music within various song forms
• Composition Seminar – Students have an opportunity to share their work and learn about recent composition styles/techniques within a community of peers
MUSIC MINORS
• General Music – Students interested in music can easily add this minor by completing two courses, three terms of applied music, instrument or voice, and four terms of participation in a performance ensemble
• Composition – Designed for music majors who wish to pursue studies in the analytical and creative aspects of music while maintaining a primary focus in another music discipline
• Jazz Studies – This program creates the theoretical foundation necessary to be proficient in the study and performance of jazz and related commercial music
• Music Industry – Prepares students for work in the industry in areas such as concert promotion, booking agencies, music law, performance management, licensing, and royalty collection and distribution
• Music Production – Prepares students for careers in media music, audio engineering, live mixing and record producing
• Popular Music Studies – Designed for students pursuing music or non-music degrees who are interested in understanding modern popular music and how it connects with the broader music community and society as a whole
• Religious Studies and Church Music – Linked program of study for students who want to serve the church through music and theology
music.admission@elmhurst.edu