Requirements

Bachelor of Music in Performance

As a music performance major at Rhode Island College, you will belong to one or more highly polished performing ensembles where rigorous musical standards are combined with musical understanding of the literature performed. You will learn about the historical and cultural contexts of musical masterworks. You will apply your growing knowledge of music theory to the literature you perform. And you will study with some of the finest performer/teachers in New England.

Our faculty members appear regularly as soloists and chamber musicians throughout the region, and many are members of the elite professional ensembles in the area, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, The Boston Pops, and the Rhode Island Philharmonic.

Many of our ensembles have achieved national recognition through touring and appearances at conventions of the MENC and ACDA, as well as in the major cities on the east coast, Canada, Italy, and Ireland. Ensembles have appeared in collaborative performances with the Rhode Island Philharmonic, the Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra, and in Carnegie Hall, NYC.

Highlights

• The Music Performance curriculum is highly respected for its hands-on, practical approach to the art of making music.
• Private applied lessons are taught by members of our performing faculty, who impart technique and wisdom based on their own professional experiences.
• Low student-to-teacher ratio in all music classes allows for one-on-one learning and the development of close, professional mentoring relationships between students and faculty.
• Performance opportunities abound for undergraduate music performance students at RIC in a variety of settings: solo, chamber, and large ensembles.

Professional Job Placement

Our Performance majors fare exceedingly well in the professional job market. Many have gone on to play professionally in leading symphony orchestras, sing in major opera houses, and serve as conductors and administrators with leading musical organizations in the country. Others have gone on to serve as faculty members in colleges and universities. Many have gained admission to some of the best graduate schools and succeeded in their pursuit of advanced degrees.