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Music Major

Gain hands-on experience in your musical area of expertise and prepare for a bright career.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music

Are you passionate about music? Musical inspiration and talent is a gift to both the performer and the audience. The mission of the MVNU Music Department is to promote students’ creativity, encourage potential, and develop the skills, knowledge, and appreciation of the musical arts to be successful musicians, teachers, and entrepreneurs.

The Music program at MVNU provides students with training from seasoned professionals, offering experiences in classical and contemporary music in a variety of venues. Students have the opportunity to participate in numerous choral and instrumental music ensembles, events and special performances, study abroad trips, and more.

Scholarships are available to music majors and minors as well as non-majors. Guided by outstanding faculty with a commitment to faith-based liberal arts education, students are able to develop their God-given talents and abilities in music.

Music Curriculum

The Music Department offers a variety of avenues to pursue a quality music education. The baccalaureate program allows students to choose from a B.A. Music Education or a B.A. Music with a choice of two tracks: Music Performance or General Music.

Also offered are a two-year associate degree and several music minors including a semester-long program through the Contemporary Music Center in Nashville. Another option, in collaboration with the School of Christian Ministry, is a newly approved Worship Arts program. For details of these programs, check out the catalog.

Faith & learning at MVNU

As an intentionally Christian University, we integrate our faith into everything we do at MVNU. From prayer before class to exploring real-world moral and ethical dilemmas, we’ll teach you what it means to shine forth.

Travel

MVNU offers a number of fantastic travel and study afar programs designed to broaden your perspective, introduce you to new and exciting domestic and international cultures, and enhance your resume.

Students in non-music degrees may complete a general music or worship music minor. Students of all majors have the opportunity to spend a semester in Nashville and complete a minor through the Contemporary Music Center. The program offers a music business track, technical production track, or performing artist track.

Study Abroad:
  • Hungary
  • Spain
  • Austria
  • Italy
  • England
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Jordan
Service Learning:
  • Belize (Tropical Biology)
  • Swaziland
  • Haiti
  • Croatia, Austria & Hungary
  • Italy
  • Spain, Portugal & France
  • Greater Columbus Area
  • Orlando
  • San Francisco
  • New Orleans
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Guyana
  • Guatemala

Music Scholarships

Need a little help with finances? We’ve got you covered. Explore scholarships, grants, and other resources to help you pay for your education.

Get guidelines, information, applications, and recommendation forms for music scholarships.

The TEACH grant is available for students who plan to teach in high-need areas after graduation.

MVNU has many endowed scholarships available for students of a wide variety of backgrounds and majors.

Careers with a Music Degree

Our graduates can be found in places like: Kenya, Hawaii, Indonesia, London and Australia. Many are employed as music educators, worship leaders, professors, choir directors, sound engineers, and more! Graduates of the Music Department are trained for a variety of careers, including:

HIGHER LEARNING

Prepare for graduate school or seminary with emphasis in music.

CHURCHES

Become a minister of music, worship leader, or music director.

SCHOOLS

Become a choral or instrumental music teacher (k-12) or director of orchestral education.

PRIVATE INSTRUCTION

Launch a business as a private studio music teacher or an accompanist.

COMMUNITY

Serve in or lead a community-based choir or orchestra.

PERFORMANCE

Build a career as a contemporary/classical solo artist, or studio musician.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Music producer, media relations coordinator recording engineer/sound electronics specialist, art/music research.

ENTERTAINMENT

Artist manager/booking agent, concert hall/festival/opera company manager, music tour or concert logistics coordinator

PUBLISHING

Become a composer/arranger or get into music publishing, editing, journalism, or critique.

MUSIC LIBRARIAN

Organize, acquire, preserve, and reference materials related to music, including sheet music and recordings

MUSIC THERAPY

Become a music therapist (with appropriate certification) and change lives.

Donor Dinner 2023-75
Ensembles Concert 0429-07
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Meet the Faculty

Learn from faculty members who know how to balance theory and practical application for a relevant, empowering, Christ-centered learning experience.

The faculty of the Music Department are talented musicians and excellent instructors. All are respected in their discipline on campus and in other professional settings. They reflect a wide range of abilities as accomplished vocalists, pianists, instrumentalists, conductors, and clinicians.

Adjunct Faculty and Staff

  • Sabina Anderson – Treble Singers
  • Andrew Clarkson – Guitar/Guitar Class
  • Dr. Cary Dachtyl – Percussion
  • Rebecca Dangerfield – Bassoon
  • Charles Dettmar – Jazz Band
  • Charla Dryburgh – Staff Accompanist
  • Sarah Jancura – French horn
  • Dr. Gabrielle Valladares – Clarinet/Saxophone
  • Dr. Cynthia Mahaney – Voice
  • Dr. Trevor Marcho – Low Brass
  • Dr. Juan Carlos Ortega – Strings/String Ensemble
  • Jennifer Packard – Flute/Flute Choir
  • Dr. Jim Puckett – Composition
  • Anthony Springer – Cello
  • Aaron Van Valkenburg – Worship Band/Music Technology

R.R. Hodges Chapel and Fine Arts Center

Thorne Performance Hall

MVNU Music majors spend much of their time in the R.R. Hodges Chapel and Fine Arts Center. The first floor of the Chapel features the Thorne Performance Hall, which features a new Shigeru Kawai piano. This is where Music majors perform their senior recitals.

Music band room

There is also a large band room on the first floor which you will learn and practice. The second floor of the Chapel holds fully equipped musical classrooms, such as a keyboard lab for piano class. There are also multiple small practice rooms with pianos and outstanding acoustics for student use.

Check these majors out, too

Worship Arts

Demonstrate intentional, faith-filled expressions of worship that help usher people into the presence of God.

Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (CSD)

Help children and adults overcome communication obstacles with a degree that prepares you for grad school.

Psychology

Study the human mind and make a difference in people’s lives with a degree that prepares you for grad school or career success.

Computer Science

Learn to design, build, and manage computer science innovations in a fast-growing, competitive field.

Minors that pair well

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