Music composition
Bachelor of Music
Compose your future in music
As a student in this program, you’ll study one-on-one with expert composition faculty while developing performance skills on your preferred instrument or voice-type. Your studies will culminate in a senior composition recital. Admission to the music composition program requires an audition on your primary instrument or voice.
Designed for aspiring composers, the B.Mus. composition program offers a solid foundation for those who choose to start their career immediately or pursue graduate study. You’ll work with distinguished faculty including soloists, chamber and orchestral musicians, conductors, composers and experienced educators who broaden your perspective across styles and genres.
Primary instruments
- Brass: horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba
- Woodwinds: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone
- Strings: violin, viola, cello, double bass (string bass), guitar
- Keyboard: piano
- Voice
- Percussion: concert percussion, drum set
If you want to pursue a career in performing, the B.Mus. performance degree is the right fit for you. If you would like to inspire the next generation of musicians, our B.Mus. education program will prepare you for a successful teaching career. If you are interested in building a career that combines music with other fields, the B.A. or B.S. in applied music provides a strong musical foundation and the flexibility to pursue additional coursework tailored to your career goals.
Note: You must audition for admission into all B.Mus programs. The B.A. and B.S. in applied music have both auditioned and non-auditioned options. Learn more about the Lionel Hampton School of Music audition process.
View the sample four-year plan for this degree.
Overview
Create, compose and perform
Degree fit
This program could be a good fit if you:
- Love to perform or create music.
- Have prior training in an instrument or voice.
- Want to pursue music professionally.
- Are disciplined and hardworking.
Career outcomes
Current job openings
313 in ID, WA, OR, MT and HI* Career data provided by Lightcast.
Financial aid and scholarship opportunities
Financial aid
Paying for college can feel overwhelming, but U of I’s Financial Aid Office is here to help. Our experienced financial aid counselors can assist you in exploring financial aid options, making informed financial decisions and addressing common concerns.
To maximize aid and scholarship possibilities, be sure to complete your FAFSA. For information on FAFSA deadlines and answers to common questions, visit the University of Idaho FAFSA website.
Plan ahead — estimate your cost of attendance with U of I’s Cost Calculator.
University scholarships
Unlock scholarship opportunities at University of Idaho! When you apply to U of I, you're automatically considered for scholarships. We also offer a variety of scholarships based on experience, background and academic programs that students can apply for to help pay for college.
Explore available scholarships on our Scholarships website.
Music scholarships
At the Lionel Hampton School of Music, we believe that you should be supported for the entirety of your degree. All LHSOM-specific scholarships are designated as four-year awards — provided that you make progress toward a music degree, perform in LHSOM ensembles and maintain academic standards. To make this possible, our scholarship committee meets every year to consider both incoming and continuing students, and each of our scholarships can fund multiple eligible students, rather than awarding each scholarship to a single recipient. All incoming students are considered for a scholarship based on their audition for the LHSOM.
Clubs and involvement opportunities
Hands-on learning
- Gain teaching experience as an undergraduate practicum assistant in music theory, aural skills, music history and applied instruction.
- Collaborate on-campus with the English and Film programs and off-campus with the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre.
- Teach and develop your pedagogy skills through our Preparatory Division, which offers exceptional pre-college music instruction to the community.
- Perform in master classes with renowned musicians, including artists from the Auditorium Chamber Music Series, a series that presents some of the world's finest chamber ensembles on campus.
- Perform with one of our 20-plus large and small ensembles.
- Participate as a performer, listener, intern or volunteer in the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, a four-day event which draws hundreds of top jazz artists and spectators from around the world to University of Idaho each year.
Internships
- Disney All-American College Band
- Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
- Dynamix Academy of Music and Dance (Shanghai)
- Interlochen Center for the Arts
Further opportunities are available within the Lionel Hampton School of Music, including arts management, choral administration, jazz festival site management and production management.
Application information
Undergraduate applications open each September, and admissions are processed on a rolling basis. Qualified students are admitted and considered for scholarships and financial aid as applications are received.
Explore admission requirements and apply on our Admissions website.