About the Division of Music
The Division of Music has been an important part of the university's cultural and academic life since 1897, when the division's antecedent, the School of Music, was established. The university has been an institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music since 1947. The 45-member music faculty includes internationally acclaimed artists and scholars who are distinguished teachers are well. The division is part of the College of Creative Arts, the center for the visual and performing arts at West Virginia University and in the state of West Virginia.
Wondering what the Division of Music at WVU would be like?
If you are interested in a career in music, you have a wide range of potential occupations from which to choose. Most fall into one of three basic categories: performing, composing or arranging, and teaching. To these ends, the Division of Music offers specialized programs in performance, theory, composition, music history, and music education, all of which lead to the bachelor of music degree.
The performance curricula prepare you for the added career option of private studio teaching in the principal performance area. Piano majors in performance may choose an alternative emphasis in pedagogy, accompanying, or jazz. An emphasis in jazz in the performance curricula for band or orchestra instrument is available. You may aspire to a career in performance as a member of an ensemble, or in composing or arranging music for performance.
The Division of Music and its programs are fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. The music education program is fully accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teaching Education and the West Virginia Department of Education.
