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Music

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Find your musical home at Luther College. Build your musical knowledge and performance skills to be the artist you want to be.

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Why study music?

Music is a unique discipline that affects the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. By studying music, you will learn how to create and interpret beautiful art. As you perform, you will improve your skills while collaborating with fellow musicians. Throughout your musical journey, you will develop discipline and analytical skills that can be applied in many fields. No matter your future, prepare for a lifetime of involvement in music.

Why study music at Luther?

Luther has one of the largest undergraduate music programs in the United States. Combine a strong liberal arts core with a wide variety of electives to shape your major and explore your passions.

As a music major at Luther, you can explore any of our six musical study areas: composition, jazz, keyboard, strings, voice, and woodwinds, brass, and percussion. (If you are interested in becoming a K-12 music teacher, explore our music education major.)

Luther's music major meets the highest level of industry standards by the National Association of Schools of Music. The school is evaluated every 10 years to ensure it meets the highest standards.

Finally, with nearly 50 accomplished faculty members, you will receive the attention you need to reach your full musical potential.

Program Highlights

On the Stage

Luther provides not only a strong academic program but performance opportunities to build your skills. Our campus is alive with the sounds of five choirs, three orchestras, two bands, and two jazz bands. We also have master classes, musical theatre, an annual opera, and more!

Tour the World

Luther features six touring ensembles. They typically travel during the spring semester on a rotating basis, performing around the country and the world.

Generous Scholarships

Luther offers a wide variety of scholarships and awards based on musical talent, regardless of whether you’re a music major or a non-music major.

What You’ll Learn

Your academic courses will cover music theory and history. You also will receive lessons, perform at recitals and participate in ensembles. If you are a music major, you will complete a senior research project.

Music Study Areas

Six study areas are focused on composition and performance:

Read more about Music Student Guidelines


Curriculum

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My first year was an amazing wild ride! I am great friends with my roommates, I loved my music classes, and even found an interest in Norwegian culture.
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My first year was an amazing wild ride! I am great friends with my roommates, I loved my music classes, and even found an interest in Norwegian culture.
Student Name, Class Year
CLASS LEVEL, MAJOR
Read the Story
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My first year was an amazing wild ride! I am great friends with my roommates, I loved my music classes, and even found an interest in Norwegian culture.
Student Name, Class Year
CLASS LEVEL, MAJOR
Read the Story
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My first year was an amazing wild ride! I am great friends with my roommates, I loved my music classes, and even found an interest in Norwegian culture.
Student Name, Class Year
CLASS LEVEL, MAJOR
Read the Story

Careers & Outcomes

As performers, Luther alumni can be found in many professional areas. Our alumni have appeared with opera houses and orchestras around the world. Luther graduates who studied music education excel in teaching careers at all levels and achieve almost 100 percent placement after graduation.

Employers

  • Metropolitan Opera
  • Paris Opera
  • Royal Opera House
  • Cleveland Orchestra
  • Minnesota Orchestra
  • Burning River Brass Band
  • The Phantom of the Opera (national tour)
  • Les Miserables (national tour)
  • Fiddler on the Roof (national tour)

Career Fields

  • K-12 or collegiate music teacher
  • Music therapy
  • Church music
  • Music criticism
  • Librarianship
  • Instrument repair
  • Composition and publishing
  • Piano and organ tuning
  • Arts administration
  • Radio and television

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Music Entrance Exam

Incoming music majors and minors need to take a music theory placement test before registering for classes.

VIEW DETAILS AND SAMPLE TEST

Music Scholarship Auditions

Luther offers a wide variety of scholarships and awards based on musical talent. To qualify, you must request a scholarship audition. Music scholarship auditions must be completed prior to the March deadline each year.

Find out more about music scholarship auditions

Study Plans

Music majors have the opportunity to develop supplemental study plans in consultation with music faculty and advisors. Study plans are achieved through electives but are not recorded as such on the transcript. The following areas are available:

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