About the College

The College of Music is located on the north side of the Michigan State University campus in an area noted for its exceptional natural beauty. Directly north of the world-famous W. J. Beal Botanical Garden, the college consists of two neighboring buildings that include classrooms, computer music studios, a computer-assisted-instruction classroom, a music education resource room, a music therapy clinic, a psychology of music laboratory, recording facilities, rehearsal spaces, private teaching studios, and 81 practice rooms. The College of Music is located adjacent to the main library, which houses the music collections within the Fine Arts Library, and near the Concert Auditorium, home of an early childhood music classroom and research facility. The music buildings are located conveniently two blocks from downtown East Lansing.

Fast Facts
College of Music students come from 35 states and 23 countries, including Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Georgia, Germany, Israel, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, New Zealand, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, and Venezuela. Click here for more facts about the MSU College of Music.

Our History
From its modest beginning as a regionally respected department of music to a college that is nationally and internationally acknowledged to be among the best in several areas of performance and music education, the Michigan State University College of Music aims at nothing less than becoming a model training ground for a new generation of  performers, scholars, and music educators. Click here to learn more about the history of the MSU College of Music.

Our Mission
To provide the highest quality professional instruction; to instill in students a dedication and desire to achieve excellence and understanding in all aspects of their musical education; to develop their abilities to the highest professional standards; to expand cultural awareness and diversity; to provide access for comprehensive non-degree instruction; to participate in community, state, regional, national and international arenas through service, teaching, research and performance; and to support an excellent faculty vitally engaged in significant research, scholarly and creative endeavors.

Our Vision
Fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music since 1934, the College of Music at Michigan State University is a national leader and innovator offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in music performance (brass, winds, percussion, piano, strings, and voice), music education, music theory, musicology, composition, conducting, piano pedagogy, and jazz studies.

• The College of Music is committed to developing and supporting the personal creative expression of each and every student. The highly creative environment that characterizes the college’s programs encourages students to be fearless in exploring the frontiers of their art and profession. It’s an environment that nurtures the highest level of excellence.
• We’re known nationally and internationally as a leading professional training ground for composers, music educators, and performers. Our graduates are found on the world’s concert stages, on the faculties of the nation’s best schools of music, in outstanding ensembles, and in the country’s most successful music education programs.
• The groundwork for our students’ professional success is laid in small classes, outstanding mentoring, and a diverse range of performance opportunities. These are complemented by the frequent campus visits of some of the world’s leading musicians, whose unique perspectives and life experiences open new horizons for our students. Our ensembles include four bands, eight choral ensembles, four orchestras, a new music ensemble, and several jazz bands and combos. More than 300 events, including recitals, concerts, workshops, master classes, and clinics, are offered every academic year.
• The international reputation of the College of Music attracts some of the world’s leading teachers and performers to its faculty. Students thrive on the personal attention they receive from these outstanding musicians and scholars.
• Our students are globetrotters who learn from and are mentored by teachers and performers from many cultures. The opportunity to learn from masters of other musical traditions is a distinctive feature of every program in the college. World-renowned musicians regularly visit East Lansing to lead master classes, and students have unique opportunities to study and perform internationally. This cosmopolitan outlook sets the MSU College of Music apart from other schools.
• Students graduate not only with the skills necessary to become accomplished performers, composers, and educators but also with the ability to think thoughtfully and critically about issues relevant to the music profession. Alumni of the College of Music at Michigan State University are transforming the world with their vision, talent, and creativity.
• Accreditation: The Michigan State University College of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), 11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21, Reston, VA 20190-5248; Telephone: 703-437-0700