As a music performance major, you will prepare as a modern-day performing musician in the instrumental or vocal area of your choice.

At a Glance

  • Flexibility
    Full Time
  • Delivery Options
    On Campus
  • Degree
    BM

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What courses will you take?

A trombone player performs at the University Orchestra's "All You Need is Love!” Valentine's Day concert.

Our B.M. in Music Performance curriculum offers an immersive musical experience that supports artistic growth and prepares you to work in performance or related fields.

You will receive private lessons with acclaimed professional musicians and perform in a diverse array of musical ensembles. You will also take a variety of supportive courses on non-traditional subjects, including musicians’ health, career planning, recording, pedagogy, performance enhancement skills, and technology.

At UMass Lowell, we offer two options, which lead to a wide range of career opportunities. 

  • Instrumental Option — For students whose primary focus is instrumental, courses focus on wellness, practice techniques, self promotion, pedagogy and performance. Recitals are required during the Junior and Senior years. Courses for Instrumental Option.
  • Voice Option — For students whose primary focus is voice, courses focus on vocal health, practice techniques, different singing styles, and language and diction. Recitals are required during the Junior and Senior years. Courses for Voice Option.

Visit the Academic Catalog for: 

Visit the Academic Catalog for all degree pathways, including those from prior enrollment years.

  • Acquire instrumental or vocal mastery through regular performance
  • Attain literacy in global musical culture
  • Understand core compositional and analytical techniques covering a broad variety of musical styles 
  • Develop collaborative skills through participation in ensembles

  • Be sufficiently prepared for viable careers in performance through acquisition of technical, creative, and entrepreneurial skills; 
  • Develop tools and techniques to promote, preserve and advance live music and the performing arts in American society; and 
  • Assimilate the requisite knowledge, skills and attitudes required to produce the next generation of musical innovators, thinkers, and leaders.

Why study music performance at UMass Lowell?

Students singing holding music sheets

Performance Ensembles

Join one of our many performance ensembles, including.

  • World Music Ensemble
  • Concert Band
  • Marching Band
  • University Choir
  • Chamber Singers
  • Jazz Ensemble
  • and more
Conductor leads wind section of orchestra

Advanced Facilities

Located minutes from downtown Lowell and convenient to Boston, Moloney Performing Arts Center contains:

  • 1,200-seat concert hall
  • 225-seat recital hall
  • 30 rehearsal suites
  • 6 sound recording technology studios (including world-class tracking and mixing spaces)
  • Music technology laboratory (containing state-of-the-art Apple workstations with MIDI keyboards)
  • Classroom spaces (with fully integrated smart-classroom technology)
close-up-playing-Guitar

Expert Faculty

Work with our faculty, who are skilled music educators and talented professional musicians. Small class sizes ensure that students work directly with faculty throughout their studies.

What can you do with a degree in music performance?

A violinist performs at the University Orchestra's "All You Need is Love!” Valentine's Day concert. Image by Tory Germann

Graduates of UMass Lowell's Music Performance program acquire the technical, creative, and entrepreneurial skills to launch successful careers in performance.