Bachelor of Arts in Music
Program Overview & Goals
Music majors at Hendrix College develop musical knowledge, technical skill, creativity, and artistic expression through performance, theory, history, and collaborative practice. Students engage with diverse musical traditions and styles while cultivating discipline, critical listening, and interpretive insight. The program emphasizes experiential learning, performance, and creative exploration in both individual and ensemble settings.
Via Hendrix
Whether your goals include completing a master’s degree, becoming a composer, or playing music professionally, you can get there Via Hendrix.
Via Hendrix connects your academic experience to the life and career you want to build.
From your first year through graduation, you will engage in hands-on learning, personalized guidance, and professional experiences that help turn ambition into action. At Hendrix, career readiness is woven into the fabric of the liberal arts experience, empowering you to grow intellectually, professionally, and personally from day one.
Careers & Outcomes
Hendrix Music students hone their critical thinking and problem solving skills, learning to reflect on complex and conceptual issues, and engage in self-assessment of their own progress, essential skills for the professional world.
Salary Projections
The median salary for a music director is $63,670, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Top Industries
- Music Education
- Performance
- Composition
- Arts Administration
- Music Therapy
- Music Business
Career Options
The Hendrix Music major is versatile. Hendrix Music alumni work in a variety of interesting, fulfilling careers, including:
- Composer
- Musicologist
- Church Musician and Conductor
- Broadway Theatre Musician
Co-op Opportunities
Experience separates good job candidates from great ones. At Hendrix, professional work experiences are guaranteed through our robust co-op program. Through this required component of the Music major, students can work at places including:
- Schools
- Music Businesses
- Theatres
- Churches
Roadmap to the Bachelor of Arts in Music
Every Music major takes classes in music theory, performance, music history, and ensemble participation. Through experiential learning opportunities, you also develop creative expression, collaboration, and critical thinking skills while refining your musicianship through performance and applied practice.
Year One
Our First-Year Experience gives you the freedom to discover what you care about most and find a path to get there. Your coursework this year allows you to master the foundations of music theory, aural skills, and performance. You also begin to learn how to interpret music, collaborate with other musicians, and develop your unique artistic voice.
Year Two
In your second year, you will have a stronger vision of what your academic experience and career planning look like. Your integrated advising team of faculty, career counselors, and mentors will ensure that the things you study align with your future goals while still providing room to explore.
Year Three
Your third year includes a required full-time co-op. For one semester, you earn credit while applying knowledge from your coursework in a professional setting.
Year Four
Your last year is not the finish line. It is where everything starts. Complete the Music Capstone, showcase your growth as a musician through advanced performance or research, and graduate ready to pursue your next stage.
Meet the Faculty
Every member of our full-time faculty in the Department of Music holds a Ph.D., demonstrating their expertise and close connection to the current pulse of their respective fields of study. Just as importantly, they are dedicated to you. They work closely with you as both teachers and mentors, supporting you every step of the way to your dream career.
Alex Polyakov
Assistant Professor of Music
Gretchen Renshaw
Associate Professor of Music
Associate Provost of Budget and Development
Related Programs
At Hendrix, you can study music theory and composition, performance and ensemble work, or even build your own major that blends music with other fields.
Your Next Steps Via Hendrix
Discover your creative and academic potential and learn how much value the Music major via Hendrix College can deliver for you as you develop your artistry, performance skills, and critical understanding of music.