Students seeking to establish a performance career in classical music performance (vocal or instrumental) can pursue degrees that focus heavily on developing skills in a specific performance area, such as flute or trumpet.
Students interested in teaching music in schools can pursue degrees that incorporate music study with education courses leading to a teaching certificate.
A music degree with a concentration in music composition includes private composition lessons, several classes in orchestration and music theory, as well as method classes in which students learn performing basics on many different instruments to better understand how to write music for them.
Depending on the program, these degrees can prepare students to serve on staff at opera companies, orchestras and other classical music organizations or to enter the business of commercial music (i.e. record producers, artist management).
Music degrees are also available with several other majors, including music therapy, musical theatre, music theory, music history, music production, conducting, arranging, audio production, church music, jazz performance, film scoring and pedagogy.