Music BM, BA & Minor

About this Program

Develop your musical voice through Music BM, BA and minor pathways as you perform, compose and collaborate across diverse musical styles while building the artistic, technical and professional skills for today’s music industry.

Explore music through a distinctive poly-stylistic approach that encourages you to perform, compose and create across genres ranging from classical and jazz to pop, experimental and contemporary music. You’ll study with accomplished musicians and educators while developing your skills through private instruction, ensemble performances, interdisciplinary collaborations and music technology in a supportive creative community.

Throughout the program, you’ll gain real-world experience by performing in solo and ensemble settings, composing original works and collaborating with artists across disciplines. Industry connections, internships and professional mentoring help you build a portfolio and prepare for careers as performers, composers, producers, educators, audio engineers, arts administrators and other roles across the evolving music industry.

Whether you’re seeking intensive professional music training, a flexible interdisciplinary education or an opportunity to continue making music alongside another major, the Music Department offers pathways to match your goals. You’ll graduate with the creativity, technical expertise and adaptability to thrive in a wide range of musical and creative.

Quick Facts

Program Type

Major or Minor

Degree

Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Arts
Minor

School

Cornish College of the Arts

Campus

South Lake Union

Learning Format

In-Person

Duration

4 years

Start Date

August, January

Credits

120 semester credits

Find YOUR Creative Path

Our Music programs are designed with flexibility in mind. Students can explore different academic and creative paths early in their studies and, if their interests evolve, easily transition between the BM and the BA without losing progress toward their degree. BA students benefit from the freedom to study across disciplines by pursuing a double major or minors, while students pursuing a BM receive specialized training. This structure helps you find the program that best supports your artistic and professional goals as they evolve through your course of study.

Music BM

The Bachelor of Music (BM) is the most immersive pathway for students who want to pursue advanced musical study and professional performance. Through extensive coursework, private instruction, ensembles and individualized mentorship, you’ll deepen your skills on your primary instrument, voice or in composition while exploring additional musical interests through elective lessons. You’ll also complete a third-year Cornerstone Project and a fourth-year Capstone Project, giving you multiple opportunities to showcase your artistic growth and creative vision.

Throughout the program, you’ll perform regularly, compose original music, collaborate with students across artistic disciplines and gain experience with music technology, professional practices and the business of music. Close mentorship from faculty who are active performers, composers and educators, combined with internships and connections throughout Seattle’s music community, will prepare you for careers across the music industry. You’ll also have enough elective flexibility to pursue a minor in another Seattle University program, broadening your education while maintaining an intensive focus on music.

Music BA

The Bachelor of Arts in Music combines rigorous musical training with the flexibility to pursue a second major, multiple minors or other academic interests across Seattle University. You’ll build a strong foundation through private instruction, ensembles, composition, music technology and performance while developing your creativity across a wide range of musical styles. With no audition required for admission, the Music BA provides an accessible pathway for students who want to integrate music into a broader interdisciplinary education.

Designed for students with diverse interests, the Music BA allows you to tailor your education to your personal and professional goals while continuing to grow as a musician. You’ll learn from accomplished faculty mentors, collaborate with students across artistic disciplines, perform regularly and develop professional skills through internships, industry connections and portfolio-building experiences. Whether you aspire to compose for film, perform professionally, work in arts administration or combine music with another field, you’ll graduate prepared for a wide range of creative careers.

Music Minor

The Music Minor gives you the opportunity to continue developing your musical interests while pursuing any major outside of music at Seattle University. You’ll choose from a variety of music courses, ensembles and performance opportunities, building skills in musicianship, creativity and collaboration while exploring diverse musical styles. Whether you want to complement another arts discipline or simply continue making music as part of your college experience, the Music Minor provides a flexible way to deepen your artistic practice without adding a second major.

Core Skills & Techniques

Private Instruction: At the heart of our program is private instruction, the one-on-one lessons you will engage with on a weekly basis with a faculty mentor. Your main private instruction will be on your instrument, voice, or composition, and you can augment with additional, elective lessons. This allows you to tailor your studies to suit your interests. Are you a singer/songwriter who wants to learn guitar to better accompany your songs? Are you a bass player who also wants to play the saxophone? Private instruction allows you to make a plan that works best for your goals.
Performance: We offer experience in solo and ensemble performance across various genres and styles. Every Music student performs each semester through our Scores of Sound Festival, and we offer student showcases several times per year.
Composition: Developing skills in composing, songwriting and arranging music for different ensembles and media, including film and games.
Music Theory and Ear Training: Students engage in an in-depth study of music theory, harmony, and aural skills that go beyond traditional approaches. We pride ourselves on a curriculum that not only builds a solid foundation in musicianship but also encourages innovation and creativity. Our program equips students with the skills to analyze, understand, and create music across a variety of genres, preparing them to lead in the ever-evolving landscape of the music industry.
Music Technology: Integrated throughout the entire curriculum, our program ensures that students not only gain proficiency in recording, editing, and producing music using industry-standard software and equipment, but also acquire advanced and experimental skills that are essential for thriving in today’s music industry.
Music History and Literature: We go beyond dates and facts and help our students make connections across time and around the globe. You will study composers and musicians from antiquity to the present and gain skills in research methods. This approach enables our students to appreciate diverse musical traditions and understand their influence on contemporary music, enriching their own creative practices with a global perspective.
Pedagogy: The program emphasizes not only the technical skills required to teach music but also the importance of fostering inclusivity, cultural awareness, and community engagement through music education. Students learn to use music as a tool for social change, preparing them to become educators who inspire and lead within their communities.
Professional Practices: Built into all our courses and connected to the Seattle University Career Engagement office, we are committed to preparing our students for the business side of a career in music. In addition to practical needs like resumes, bios, and artist statements, you’ll have 1:1 mentoring with our professional faculty through your private instruction. Our alums are found throughout every aspect of the music industry, from concerts stages to recording studios to college classrooms.

Connect Your Passion to New Possibilities

Explore purposeful academic combinations while pursuing a rigorous arts education to enhance your career preparation. At Seattle University, you can combine a Music BA with a wide variety of other majors or add any minor while staying on track to graduate in four years. You can also customize a Music BM by pursuing any minor offered across Seattle University without extending your time to degree.

While this is not an exhaustive list, explore some of the many ways Music can be paired with other disciplines to enhance your academic journey and strengthen your professional preparation:

Visit Cornish College of the Arts

For more than a century, Cornish College of the Arts has inspired artists, performers and designers to push creative boundaries and shape the future of their fields. Today, at Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University, you can experience that legacy firsthand while exploring the studios, performance spaces and collaborative community where creativity comes to life. Schedule a campus visit, take a virtual tour or connect with our admissions team to discover how you can make this historic creative community your own.