A Christian Liberal Arts University, Est. 1846

Music Performance Major

Does This Strike a Chord?

For those passionate about singing or playing an instrument for others, a Music Performance major will teach you everything you need to reach musical excellence and refine your talent for professional performance.

Our foundational music courses allow students to delve into composition and conducting, study music theory and harmony, and examine major compositions and their historical contexts. By analyzing and practicing performance techniques and theory, you will develop new skills and sharpen your existing musical gifts. Our Music Performance program will stretch the limits of your abilities and provide active experience through music technology in our fully equipped music lab, vocal and instrumental ensembles, and personal music instruction and lessons.

Find Your Beat

Music Performance majors must choose a concentration in piano, vocal, or instrumental music performance and decide on a primary and secondary instrument to focus on over their four years. Every Music Performance student closes their four years of study with a culminating senior recital.

Instrumental: Become an expert on the instrument of your choice. The instrumental performance curriculum will provide you with an introduction to electronic music, instrumental arranging, instrumental pedagogy, and musical literature.
Piano: Focus on piano performance with additional studies in theory and history, composition, and electronic music. You will also study piano pedagogy and piano music literature. Piano students are encouraged to take choral and instrumental arranging courses to complement their studies.
Vocal: Learn how to best express your voice through song. Voice courses include vocal pedagogy; vocal literature; diction in Italian, French, German, and English language; and two foreign language proficiency courses.

Fill out our Music Interest form

2019 Performances

Lyric Theatre
She Loves Me
Feb. 1-2 at 8 p.m.
Feb. 3 at 2 p.m.
Butz Carruth Recital Hall
Tickets $10*
Taylor Sounds & Chorale
“And The Winner Is...” Valentine Dinner
Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m.
Alspaugh Rooms, Hodson Dining Commons
Tickets $30*
Lyric Theatre
“Opera Scenes”
Apr. 5-6 at 8 p.m.
Butz Carruth Recital Hall
Wind Ensemble
Spring Concert
Apr. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Rediger Auditorium
Symphony Orchestra
Grandparents Day Concert
Apr. 26 at 4 p.m.
Rediger Auditorium

Chorale & Sounds
“Chords of Love” Reunion Concert
Apr. 27 at 1:30 p.m.
Rediger Auditorium
Jazz Ensemble
Spring Concert
Apr. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Butz Carruth Recital Hall
Symphony Orchestra
Spring Concert
May 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Rediger Auditorium
Adoration Chorus & Strings
Spring Concert
May 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Butz Carruth Recital Hall
Taylor Ringers
Spring Concert
May 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Butz Carruth Recital Hall

*Order your tickets by calling 765-998-5232. If a performance’s ticket price is not listed, tickets are not required.

Music Performance Curriculum & Degree Options

Contact the Music Program

Dr. Christopher Bade, Department of Music, Theatre & Dance Co-chair & Professor of Music
765-998-5258
chbade@taylor.edu

Lisa Royal, Music Program Assistant
765-998-5232
lsroyal@taylor.edu

Cathy Moore, Concert & Tour Coordinator
765-998-5292
ctmoore@taylor.edu

View Department Faculty & Staff

Related Majors and Related Minors

Related Majors

Related Minors

Studio Art

Music, Theatre, & Dance Department

Sharpening Your Craft; Engage Your Faith

The department of Music, Theatre & Dance emphasizes active learning in every program. By joining our Music and Theatre majors, you won’t just sit and study methods and theories—you’ll put them into action.

Through ensemble rehearsals, concerts, theatrical productions, student recitals, and fully staged musicals and operas, our students take their learning from the desk to the stage. You’ll also gain a technical background in music theory, acting methods, and dance techniques to take your gifts and skills to the next level and pursue industry-related careers on top of performance.

Auditions & Scholarships

All prospective music and musical theatre majors must audition for admission into the Music, Theatre & Dance department. Our programs offer both merit- and need-based awards that are designed to enhance the University’s financial aid package. To be considered for music scholarships, students interested in music majors or minors must be complete their auditions by March 15.

To sign up for an audition time, speak with a Taylor Music or Theatre professor, or to receive additional information about music auditions and scholarships, please contact Lisa Royal, the music program assistant, at lsroyal@taylor.edu.

Composing Your Future

Grad Programs

Some of our Music, Theatre & Dance graduates have gone one to complete their master’s degrees at the following colleges:

Bowling Green State University
Ball State University
Indiana University
Southern Illinois University
University of Michigan

Career Opportunities

No matter which Music, Theatre & Dance major you pursue, you will have a wide range of career opportunities, from music composer to performer to teacher to stage manager. The Music, Theatre & Dance department has a 96% career placement rate, and our faculty and Calling and Career Office work hard to connect students to employment and internship opportunities throughout their time at Taylor.

Learn more about Taylor University’s Music, Theatre, & Dance philosophy.

Music Facilities & Equipment

The Smith-Hermanson Music Center houses an electronic music studio, a music technology lab, teaching studios, rehearsal rooms, and practice rooms. The attached 218-seat Butz-Carruth Recital Hall boasts a Bösendorfer grand and a Steinway piano. The Recital Hall is designed to provide the best acoustics for performance recording. The electronic studio and technology lab are equipped with music composition and editing software.

Other facility equipment includes:

47 pianos across campus
Wind, brass, string, and percussion instruments
Electronic and pipe organs
Five-octave handbells
African drums
Drum sets and keyboards

Private Lessons & Ensembles

We offer ensembles and private lessons in all instrumental and choral areas.

Instrumental: symphony Orchestra, wind and jazz ensembles, jazz combos, bell choirs, and chamber music ensembles such as string quartet, brass ensemble, and flute choir
Piano: piano, piano pedagogy, piano class, and accompanying
Voice: voice, musical theatre, lyric theatre, opera, and three choral ensembles

Explore Taylor’s Ensembles

Contact Lisa Royal at lsroyal@taylor.edu or 765-998-5232 to learn more.

Programs Offered