Arts and Humanities Undergraduate
Bachelor of Music
BM Bachelor of Music
When you earn your Bachelor of Music degree at University of Bridgeport, you’ll gain the technical and artistic skills you need to emerge as a leader in this evolving field.
Earn a music degree focused on your future
Three concentrations
University of Bridgeport offers three concentration options for the Bachelor of Music degree program. When you earn your Bachelor of Music at UB, you will gain the technical and artistic skills you need to emerge as a leader in this evolving field. You’ll develop a deep understanding of the basic concepts related to music theory and history, as well as the opportunity to sharpen your skills with your primary instrument.
Performance
Music Performance track
A concentration in Music Performance allows you to refine your craft as a solo and ensemble performer.
You’ll choose your primary instrument and work with a private teacher to hone your skills and prepare for a rewarding performance career. An audition is required for this concentration.
Education
Music Education track
At UB, we are dedicated to shaping you into an effective educator.
The concentration in Music Education is designed to go hand-in-hand with our master’s degree program, which leads to an initial teaching certificate.
Business
Music Business track
In our Music Business concentration, you’ll learn the ins and outs of the music business and gain the skills to become an entrepreneurial figure in the profession.
The rich perspectives of the industry mean your coursework will differ based on your interests and career goals.
Curriculum
A common foundation for all music students
The Music BM degree program provides a common foundation for all music students, whichever concentration you choose.
Private lessons
Private lessons on the major instrument each semester of residence, at least 6 credits.
Music theory
Four semesters of music theory, 12 credits, plus four semesters of aural theory, 4 credits.
Music history
Four courses in music history, 12 credits.
Piano study
Piano study, 6 credits or more.
Turn your passion into a rewarding career
At UB, we will help you build the foundation for a successful career by combining your love for music with practical applications that are useful in the real world. While pursuing your Music BM, you’ll practice alongside expert faculty to perfect your technique and develop important interpersonal skills related to performing. You’ll also be exposed to the directing, conducting, and business aspects of the profession in order to shape you into a well-rounded professional musician.
Join a supportive community of musicians
As part of our Bachelor of Music degree program, you will gain extensive experience performing in front of a crowd. Over the course of the program you will engage in private lessons to practice a repertoire of complex music, culminating in a variety of performance opportunities.
Pursuing a music career is more than just learning an instrument — it means developing important connections with other musicians and learning to collaborate on a variety of musical compositions and performances. UB’s Bachelor of Music program is unique in that our students are exposed to a range of musical styles and performers, from the traditional to the modern, and from the regional to the global. You will have the opportunity to perform in at least one of our distinct ensemble groups every semester, so you’ll experience working with different musicians and performance styles, as well as gain an understanding of the importance of collaboration for success in the music industry.
Scholarship
Scholarships for students who sing or play
UB offers a scholarship for students who sing or play any instrument, including guitar, ukulele, drumset, bass, piano, digital music, woodwinds, brass, strings, etc. Scholarship amount: $1,500/semester ($3,000/school year). Scholarship recipients will continue to be eligible for these funds throughout their continued enrollment at UB.
What to submit
- A 1-2 page personal statement, or a 3-5 minute video, about your passion for, experience in, and commitment to music
- Please be sure to introduce yourself, include your primary instrument, mention music groups you have played in before or your interest in becoming part of a music group at UB.
- Write or talk about the ways in which music has been a part of your life
- Requirements of scholarship recipients include playing in campus events ensembles and scholarship ensembles.
Then choose one
- Option 1: a recommendation letter from someone whose profession is in or related to music, who can speak to your commitment to and experience in music activities
- Option 2: Submit a video recording of yourself playing an instrument or singing. This could be a solo recording or a recording of yourself playing/singing in a musical group (minimum of 3 minutes, your choice of musical repertoire/genre).
- Submit your materials to Professor Russell Fisher, Director of Ensembles. Your materials will be reviewed by the music department and you will be notified about your scholarship application decision shortly afterward.
Music faculty
Who you will study with
Mya Scarlato is Chair of Music.
Music Education
Kimberly McCord, Special Education. Mya Scarlato, K-12 General Music. Kenneth Trapp, Elementary Music. Mark Vickers, Conducting and Instrumental Education. Frank Zilinyi, Conducting and Choral Education.
Musicology and business
Alice Caldwell, Music History. Amanda Cook, Music Theory and Class Piano. Collin Edouard, Ethnomusicology. Loren Evarts and Maxwell Grube, Music History. Julie Viscardi-Smalley, Music Business.
Digital music and songwriting
Russell Fisher, Digital Music Class. Gary Ljungquist, Applied Lessons, Digital Music Class. Barbara Oleynick, Songwriting.
Ensembles
Chris Coogan, Director of Fusion Ensemble. Russell Fisher, Director of UB Steel and Percussion Ensemble. Frank Zilinyi, Director of University Singers. Alexis Zingale, Director of Chamber Ensembles.
Voice, brass and woodwind
Emilie Hannon and Richard Weidlich, Voice. Lisa Arkis, Flute. William Harris, Saxophone and Clarinet. Mya Scarlato, Trumpet and Trombone.
Strings, keyboard and percussion
Dan Arcamone, Guitar. Annalisa Boerner, Viola. Patrick Doane, Violin. Michael Goetz, Bass. Sarah Shreder, Cello. Chris Coogan and Aron Smith, Piano. Russell Fisher, Drumset and Percussion.
Internships and careers
Where a music degree leads
UB Music and Performing Arts students are encouraged to pursue credit-bearing internships, and have had experiences in arts administration, music business, community music, music education, creative arts therapy, technical theatre, and performance at a variety of organizations in Connecticut and the New York City metropolitan area.
What you will be able to do
By majoring in music at UB, students will: Develop a strong foundation in the theory and history of music. Select one or more musical concentrations — performance, education, or music business — and develop foundational skills in that area. Further develop their skills as a singer or instrumentalist. Possess sufficient musical acumen to make creative contributions to musical performances and ensembles. Further their ability to work in, learn from, and teach groups composed of learners from backgrounds and with multiple skill levels. Be able to connect musical knowledge with the learning occurring in the general education component of the undergraduate curriculum.
Course catalog
Online course catalog
View all courses offered and read full course descriptions in our online course catalog system.
General education requirements
3 courses
43 credits
General education requirements
Music theory
8 courses
16 credits
Music theory
Music history
5 courses
12 credits
Music history
Piano
3 courses
6 credits
Piano
Applied music lessons (primary instrument)
1 course
8 credits
Applied music lessons (primary instrument)
| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| APM 100 | Private Lessons |
Ensembles
4 courses
8 credits
Ensembles
Professional
7 courses
16 credits
Professional
Other requirements
1 course
0 credits
Other requirements
| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| MUSC 101 | Professional Music Seminar |
1 This course should be taken more than once for a total of 8 credits
2 You must take MUSC 103 twice, plus 6 credits of other ensembles
3 Weekly seminar participation for 6 semesters
Concentrations
15 credits
Concentrations
Students may select one of the following concentrations:
- Music Business
- Music Education
- Music Performance
Related programs
Start your application
An audition is required for the Music Performance concentration.