Music Education and Performance Oakland University

Overview

The Music Education and Performance programme at Oakland University offers a unique dual focus that prepares students for the complexities of the modern musical landscape. By integrating high-level artistic training with specialised pedagogical instruction, the university ensures that graduates are equally capable on the concert stage and in the classroom.

Students benefit from a vibrant community of performers, educators, and composers, fostering an environment where artistic freedom meets academic excellence. The curriculum is designed to expand career possibilities by providing hands-on practice in various settings, including professional concert venues, K-12 classrooms, and community music programmes.

Why Music Education and Performance at Oakland University?

One of the primary advantages of studying at this institution is the personal, face-to-face approach to instruction. Students build close relationships with professors and receive significantly more one-on-one attention than is typically available in larger music departments, allowing for tailored artistic development.

The university maintains strong links with school districts and community organisations, which actively recruit students for workshops and internships. This ensures that learners gain over 100 hours of practical experience before they even begin their formal student-teaching assignments, providing a distinct professional edge.

The faculty consists of consummate professionals who have achieved distinction as performers and academicians. These mentors share first-hand experience and life lessons that extend beyond the standard curriculum, helping students to cultivate a versatile set of marketable skills and a strong professional identity.

Performance opportunities are abundant, with the school producing more than 150 events annually. Even first-year students routinely perform in ensembles or as soloists in first-rate venues, allowing them to develop a commanding stage presence and a diverse portfolio of work throughout their studies.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: USD 23867 per year
• National fee: USD 23867 per year
• Local fee: USD 16772 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

To progress through the degree, students must pass an initial entrance audition followed by a major-standing audition for upper-level courses. Modules may include:

• Keyboard technique
• Vocal technique
• Music theory
• Music history
• Global music
• Percussion
• Brass
• Strings
• Woodwinds
• Conducting
• Marching band
• Educational psychology and music
• Teaching in band and orchestra classrooms
• Teaching in choral classrooms
• Teaching in elementary classrooms
• Creating an inclusive classroom

Careers with Music Education and Performance

Graduates are well-prepared for a variety of roles within the arts and education sectors. Many pursue careers as music teachers in K-12 school districts, while others find success as professional performers, conductors, or accompanists. The versatile nature of the degree also supports roles in arts administration and creative production.

Common career pathways for alumni include:

• Music teacher
• Performer
• Conductor
• Accompanist
• Studio musician
• Nonprofit director
• Composer or arranger
• Concert reviewer
• Choir director
• Musical theatre director

Additionally, the programme provides a strong foundation for those wishing to pursue graduate studies. Alumni have a high success rate for admission into advanced degree programmes, allowing them to further specialise in performance, musicology, or educational leadership.