undergradly.
Major · Visual & Performing Arts

Music Performance honest path, demanding craft

Music Performance, General trains you to master an instrument or voice as a soloist and ensemble player. The work is rigorous and the market is competitive: median earnings five years out sit near $43,743, and most graduates piece together income from teaching, gigs, and project work.

Schools offering
474
Annual completions
3,958
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$44k

About this major

Music Performance, General prepares you to master an instrument or voice as both a soloist and an ensemble musician. Coursework typically pairs daily private lessons and studio classes with music theory, ear training, music history, conducting, and small- and large-ensemble work. Expect juries each semester, recital requirements, and audition-based studio placement that shapes which faculty you study with.

The major fits students who already practice with discipline and want a structured environment to take their craft further. You spend more time in practice rooms than in lecture halls, and your repertoire — not just your GPA — defines your trajectory. About 474 colleges award this credential, from conservatories like Oberlin and Berklee to large universities like Indiana-Bloomington and University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

The earnings picture is sobering and worth naming. Median earnings five years after graduation sit at roughly $43,743, with bachelor’s-only graduates closer to $43,972. BLS projects only 1.1% growth for musicians and singers, and the occupation requires no formal credential — meaning you compete with self-taught performers in an audition-driven market. Most graduates assemble income from several sources: performance gigs, private studio teaching, music directors and composers roles (median $63,670), church music, freelance recording, and increasingly content creation. Postsecondary music teaching (median $80,190) usually requires a master’s or doctorate.

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

Occupation Median wage Job growth Typical education
Musicians and singers — +1.1% No formal educational credential
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80k +1.7% Master's degree
Music directors and composers $64k -0.3% Bachelor's degree
Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$44k

Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings

Associate's

$37k

Bachelor's

$44k

Who this major is for

This major rewards students who already practice without being asked. If you have several years of serious instrumental or vocal study, comfort with juried performance, and a willingness to spend weekends in rehearsal halls, the structure of a performance program will sharpen what you already do. Comfort with the audition process matters too — your studio placement, ensemble seat, and post-graduation prospects all run through auditions, and that environment is constant.

Financial realism is the second filter. With median five-year earnings near $43,743 and primary occupations growing at 1.1% or less, this is not a degree where the market lifts you. Graduates who succeed usually have a tolerance for patchwork income, are willing to teach privately while building performance work, and often pursue a master’s to compete for postsecondary or orchestral positions.

Reconsider if you’re drawn to the idea of music more than the daily grind of practice, if you need predictable salaried income early, or if you can’t see yourself comfortable with audition rejection as routine feedback. Pairing performance with music education licensure, music technology, or music management is a common way to keep the craft and add a steadier income floor.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Music Performance, General

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
Berklee College of Music Boston, MA 0 193 193
University of Rochester Rochester, NY 0 109 109
Oberlin College Oberlin, OH 0 108 108
Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, IN 0 104 104
California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA 0 86 86
James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA 0 75 75
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI 0 72 72
Musicians Institute Hollywood, CA 43 28 71
Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD 0 69 69
New York University New York, NY 0 66 66
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Music, General

7,606 completions/yr

Music Technology

1,542 completions/yr

Music Management

1,476 completions/yr

Musical Theatre

1,121 completions/yr

Music, Other

861 completions/yr

Music Theory and Composition

847 completions/yr

Jazz/Jazz Studies

341 completions/yr

Voice and Opera

283 completions/yr

Considering this direction?

We've taken a hard look at the debt, earnings trajectory, and degree-level tradeoffs for the Music Performance, General field. Read our verdict before you commit.

Is Music Performance, General worth it? Read verdict
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

How much do graduates actually earn early in their careers?
Across all degree levels, median earnings five years after graduation are about $43,743. Bachelor’s-only graduates report a median of roughly $43,972, while associate’s-only graduates sit closer to $36,881. These figures lag many other bachelor’s degrees, so plan around a slow ramp and multiple income streams.
What jobs do music performance graduates typically pursue?
BLS tracks three primary occupations linked to this CIP: musicians and singers (project-based, no formal credential required), music directors and composers (median wage $63,670, bachelor’s typical), and postsecondary art, drama, and music teachers (median wage $80,190, master’s required). Many graduates blend gig work with private studio teaching or K-12 certification.
Is the job market growing?
Not meaningfully. BLS projects 1.1% growth for musicians and singers, 1.7% for postsecondary music teachers, and a 0.3% decline for music directors and composers. These are slow-growth or flat occupations, so career outcomes depend more on audition results, networking, and entrepreneurial hustle than on macro tailwinds.
Do I need a graduate degree to make this work?
Often, yes. Postsecondary teaching jobs typically require a master’s and frequently a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA). Serious orchestral and operatic performers usually pursue a Master of Music for additional studio time and audition prep. A bachelor’s alone is workable for commercial, studio, and church-music tracks.
Where do most students study this major?
About 474 colleges award credentials in this CIP, with 3,958 total completions reported. The largest programs include Berklee College of Music (193 bachelor’s), University of Rochester (109), Oberlin College (108), Indiana University-Bloomington (104), and California State University-Long Beach (86). Conservatories, large state flagships, and specialized commercial schools all appear in the top tier.
What related majors should I consider if I want more career flexibility?
Music Technology (1,542 completions) opens audio production and studio work. Music Management (1,476) routes you toward labels, venues, and tour ops. Music, General (7,606) is broader and pairs well with education licensure. Musical Theatre (1,121) widens the audition pool to stage work.