Music

The University of Virginia’s College at Wise offers multiple opportunities in the area of music, including options for teaching licensure.

A major in music is one of several offered under its Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences, which the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) has authorized the College at Wise to offer. The curriculum for this major aligns with the national expectations as they pertain to liberal arts degrees with majors in music.

Learn more about studying music at UVA Wise by consulting the College Catalog.

• Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Science - Music
• Music Minor

Recognizing that music is a crucial component of the liberal arts experience, the University of Virginia’s College at Wise Division of Music believes in the significance of offering a strong music program to students of all ability levels – from the novice to the pre-professional musician. Therefore, the mission of the Division of Music is:

1. To provide the highest quality pre-professional undergraduate music training possible in the areas of performance, elementary and secondary vocal and instrumental teaching, and theory; this program shall remain consistent with the educational objectives and standards of the college as a whole, consistent with the standards of the National Association of Schools of Music, consistent with traditionally recognized practices in the pre-professional training of musicians, and consistent with, and in accordance with, the skills, areas of expertise, and professional goals of its music faculty taken as a whole.
2. To provide a broad range of opportunities for study and participation in both performance and music courses by students who may not intend to pursue music as a profession.
3. To provide support for the creative, artistic, and professional development of its music faculty. 4. To provide the services of performance and music expertise to the college community in the forms of concerts, ceremonial music, and interdisciplinary teaching.
4. To provide leadership in educational and cultural experiences in music to the outside community.

Audition for the Music Program

All applicants seeking admission to one of the degree programs in the Division of Music and/or a music scholarship must audition before a music faculty auditions committee. Learn more about auditioning for the music program.

Major in Music

The major in music is a program that provides a foundation of music studies in music theory, music history/literature, applied music, ensemble performance, orchestration, and conducting, and from which a student may pursue specific interests through the completion of additional advanced music course work. The degree culminates in the presentation of a thirty-minute lecture recital typically given during the Junior or Senior year.

Minor in Music

The minor in music is designed to provide students with the opportunity to pursue music as a performing art and as an adjunct to the major academic field. It does not prepare students to teach music in the public schools. The minor in music is available only to those students who have a background in music performance as a soloist and/or member of an instrumental and choral organization at the high school and college level. Students electing the minor in music will be required to complete an instrumental, vocal, or piano solo entrance audition and examinations in basic musicianship. Scores on entrance examinations may allow the student to be exempted from some lower level requirements for the minor in music. Courses with a final grade less than C- will not count toward the minor in music.