Music & Music History: Study Resource & Degree Program Information

General Information About Music and Music History Degree Programs

Musicology programs are dedicated to general music theory while touching on as many of the sub-disciplines as possible, allowing students to learn basic facts about the history, cultural effects and psychological underpinnings of the art of music. Historical musicology focuses specifically on the lives and bodies of work of influential composers and the study of music against the backdrop of the historical events of the time.

Music And Music History Degree Study Options

Bachelor of Arts degrees in musicology are available both at physical universities and online. Liberal arts colleges and universities with a reputation for liberal and fine arts programs are more likely to have the best musicology programs. These degrees can be obtained in around four years, possibly less through distance online learning programs.

Advanced Music And Music History Degrees

Master's degrees and doctoral degrees in musicology are available. Students will generally specialize in one area of musicology, usually historical musicology, ethnomusicology or music theory. Master's degrees in musicology typically take two years to complete although some may take longer.

Master Of Arts in Musicology

The Master of Arts in Musicology is a traditionally two-year degree where students will learn to deepen their understanding of music history, theory and cultural relevance. Students are expected to focus on one of the major areas of musicology, but they can also opt to study two of the fields together or link one of the fields to an outside discipline.

Doctor Of Musicology

Doctoral candidates in musicology are expected to bring even more intense focus to their study of the discipline and make an original contribution to the field, be it in the area of research, analysis or composition. The doctoral degree in musicology can take as many as six years or more to complete, and doctors of musicology will be well equipped for academia and many other music-related careers upon their completion of the degree.

Choosing A Degree In Music Or Music History

Students do not need to have any innate musical talent or skill for playing an instrument in order to successfully earn a bachelor's degree in music. They do not even need to be able to read music, although learning to read music may be encouraged depending on the program and some programs may have separate tracks for those who do and do not read music. All one must possess is a love for music and an interest in how it has developed and how it influences the world.

Career Opportunities In Music And Music History

Musicology majors can of course become musicians, music composers or music producers, but there are many other careers open to music and music history specialists including music teacher, music therapist, music librarian, film scoring, music reviewer and music software development.

Earning Potential For Music And Music History Careers

A music teacher at a public school usually makes up to $45,000 per year. At a college or university, the salary can reach $70,000 or more. Music therapists can also make anywhere from $20,000-$70,000. Salaries for performing musicians will vary tremendously based on the type of performance, the venue, the reputation of the performer and the talent of the performer.

Getting Your Music Or Music History Degree Online

There are several online universities that offer music degrees. It is important that you make sure that you are earning your online music degree from an accredited institution so that your degree will carry the same weight as one earned from a brick-and-mortar institution. Online distance learning music programs tend to be the best option for those interested in continuing their education who already have work and family responsibilities preventing them from attending regular classes. The right online university can provide continuing students with the information and materials they need to become an expert in the field of music.

Getting Your Music Or Music History Degree Offline

Bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral degrees in musicology can all be earned at a traditional university. Students interested in a career in music may want to look into schools that are specifically designed around art or music curricula. In addition to coursework, students will often be required to do research which will involve listening critically to various pieces of music, so the state of the school’s music library will also be important. Students should take advantage of the university setting to interact with other musically inclined students and professors and share thoughts and experiences on music with them.