The Department of Music encourages its students to participate in performance in classes, private lessons, ensembles, and concerts. Students from all over the University participate in musical activities and performances, and are often joined in the ensembles by faculty and members of the community at large.
Intermediate to advanced performers may enroll in private studio courses, while our basic musicianship provide opportunities for those who would like to begin instrumental or vocal study.
Ensembles
Our ensembles perform a wide variety of music, including Western art music, jazz, folk music, popular music, and music of non-Western cultures. Several ensembles make recordings and take part in tours of foreign countries.
Private Lessons
Studio courses (private lessons) covering a very wide range of instruments in the 0500 level with private instructors are reserved for intermediate to advanced performers and carry an additional fee: Twelve lessons of at least 45 minutes will be provided per semester, study materials are chosen by the student in consultation with the instructor, and the student is expected to prepare/practice outside of class at least 7 hours per week.
Basic Musicianship
In addition to private lessons, our Basic Musicianship courses serve those who would like to begin study of an instrument in a group setting. These are relatively large capacity enrollments filled on a 1st come 1st served basis.
Performance Faculty
Our performance faculty are established professionals in Pittsburgh's vibrant music scene, bringing a rich combination of musical excellence and practical experience to their teaching.
Guest Performers and Lecturers
Our guest performance and lecture series give students and the community the opportunity to engage with scholars and performers who are leaders in their respective genres and areas of research as they share their ideas and motivations through concerts, workshops, lectures, and informal chats.