Music at Aquinas College

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

A music degree is a multi-faceted and engaging path, utilizing many learning approaches to investigate everything we recognize as Music. The great 20th Century American conductor and composer, Leonard Bernstein said “Music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable.” While some degrees (such as the Bachelor of Arts in Music) may be less of a singularly defined career path as others that are offered at Aquinas College (the Bachelor of Music Education and the Bachelor of Music in Liturgical Music), the nature of these studies, which encompass music theory, history and literature, performance - solo and ensembles, pedagogy and conducting, jazz and more, enables students to develop skills desired by employers today, such as self-direction, teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking, perseverance, communication and creativity.

At Aquinas College, many students who have come for a Major outside of Music desire to continue their musical involvements and development after high school by: making Music their Second Major; adding a Music Minor to their major; participating in Performing Groups for General Education (GenEd) credit- Artistic Practice; taking an Artistic Theory GenEd course in Music Theory, Sight Singing and Ear Training, Recording, Songwriting, or Music History; or taking Lesson for credit - Private or Group - in areas of previous knowledge such as the Piano, Voice, or other Instrument, or studying in a new exploratory direction, such as Guitar, Harp, Jazz or Organ. Learning music is a meaningful and gratifying experience for people of all ages. The mixture of creativity, discipline, and communication that music study demands of students helps them to succeed in the classroom, in society, and in life.

There is overwhelming evidence on campus and in the community that Aquinas College music students and graduates add great value and service through their music at all levels and in numerous ways. Our professional degree programs in Music Education - “Music has the power of producing a certain effect on the moral character of the soul, and if it has the power to do this, it is clear that the young must be directed to music and must be educated in it.” (Aristotle) - and in Liturgical Music prepare students to be leaders and demands constant formation and lifelong learning in pursuance of “the art of musical liturgy” (National Association of Pastoral Musicians). While a music major is often characterized as preparing one for a narrow career focus, it is just the opposite and can lead to a broad range of careers in and outside of the arts.