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.
Music Ensembles
Our Ensembles perform a wide range of music, including Western art music, jazz, folk, music of non-Western cultures, and popular music. These ensembles perform every semester in public concerts and often engage in tours inside and outside of the United States.
Private Lessons
Studio courses (private lessons) cover a wide range of instruments at the 0500 level with private instructors. Studio courses consist of twelve lessons per semester, of at least 45 minutes each; 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. These courses are reserved for intermediate to advanced performers and carry an additional fee.
Studio courses are taught by our Performance faculty — established professionals in Pittsburgh's vibrant music scene who bring a rich combination of musical excellence and practical experience to their teaching.
Basic Musicianship
In addition to private lessons, our Basic Musicianship courses serve those who would like to begin the study of an instrument in a group setting. These are relatively large capacity enrollments filled on a first come, first serve basis.
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.