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Music degrees are widely available online and are just as respected as campus degrees. Lectures are viewed through live or recorded video sessions, while homework assignments and tests are delivered through an online learning management system. Online music students may have opportunities to gain professional experience with local businesses, schools, or performance groups through internships.

Explore our list of 100% online music degrees above that blend traditional music education with innovative distance learning. Emphasizing practical application, this online degree aims to provide you with the opportunity to gain technical skills that are critical for success in today's multifaceted music industry landscape, with options ranging from songwriting to music production. 

How good a music degree is depends on each individual and their post-graduation expectations. Some students may want a broad range of career opportunities, in which case a music business degree may be best for them. Passionate musicians may be eager to learn everything about their instrument from experienced professionals, prompting them to pursue a specialized degree in saxophone, jazz piano, or percussion. Aspiring music teachers need practical classroom experience, making music education a good degree for them. 

Some schools may accept music majors without prior experience as long as they have a good GPA. However, this is less true for musicians who must show audition videos to prove their skills with an instrument. Students who have played in a band, sang in a choir, or even worked in a record store will have a better chance of securing admission into a music degree than those without any experience in the industry. 

Generally speaking, a degree is not required to become a musical performer, such as a musician or singer. This is one field where skill and talent are just as important, if not more so, than education. However, performers who do pursue degrees may gain an advantage by studying the business aspects of the music industry as part of their degree curriculum. The one exception to this rule is in classical music, where performers are usually expected to have a formal education.

The music industry offers many career paths, and a music degree can provide students with the proper knowledge and experience to make a living. Although salaries vary from role to role, music majors have the opportunity to discover niche areas that fit their interests. Check out some of the pros and cons of earning music degrees below:

Pros

• There are more music-related opportunities in the U.S. than anywhere else. A from the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA) found that the music industry contributed $170 billion in value to the economy.
• Musicians love what they do for a living. In 2019, reported high job satisfaction 鈥� well above the average of other occupations.
• Music graduates are in a unique position to help others. Whether through counseling children in music therapy or performing in orchestras, music degrees are a great way to positively impact other people's lives.

Cons

• Consistent work is hard to find for most musicians. Full-time jobs for singers and instrumentalists are uncommon, with most working part-time and taking occasional gigs.
• Music degrees are not always necessary. Music teachers and therapists are required to have at least a bachelor's degree, but musicians do not need a formal education to be successful. 
• Music takes a lot of discipline. Professional musicians require significant practice and training, which is generally considered a lifetime process. 

Aspiring musicians and entertainment professionals can pursue an online music degree to learn various aspects of the music industry. There are programs focused on music production, business, theory, and education, each allowing students to develop a foundational understanding of their discipline and learn practical skills. Many music degrees are liberal arts programs at their core core, featuring interdisciplinary coursework on diversity, culture, and ethics in music. 

Students can hone their craft through an online degree in music, whether the program involves instruments, singing, recording, or production. There are also programs involving music history and criticism, music therapy, and artist management. Music is a versatile field and includes a wide array of study options. 

Students should always pick an accredited school for their online music degree. This designation lets them know that a third-party education agency has adequately vetted the programs they're studying and the faculty that teach them. Every school featured on OnlineU is accredited. 

A bachelor's degree in music typically takes full-time students four years to complete. Some programs allow students to transfer up to 75% of their credits, which decreases the time it takes to graduate to just over three years. Music degrees require approximately 120 credits, with some programs having a minimum number of credits taken each semester to be eligible for financial aid and scholarships. 

There are a lot of different music degrees, each focused on either technical, managerial, or theoretical studies, depending on the specialization. Specializations allow music majors to center their studies around a specific niche in order to prepare for their career goals. 

Graduates may want to gain experience in music theory and composition to become composers, conductors, singers, or musicians. Others may aim to become therapists through a music therapy degree online. Aspiring high school teachers will want to pursue an online music education degree. 

Some schools are devoted entirely to music and therefore offer a wide range of relevant majors. Berklee College of Music, for example, has 15 music majors at the bachelor's level, allowing students to narrow their coursework to fulfill learning objectives in areas such as film scoring, Black music,  jazz composition, and songwriting. Berklee also offers an online music business degree with courses in marketing, touring, law, and finance. 

The curriculum of online music programs includes classes in music theory, music history, psychological and sociological aspects of music, conducting, theory and application of music education, music technology, and trends in music education. While the curriculum and organization of online music education degree programs vary, many programs require students to complete an internship or thesis project after they complete the coursework component of the degree.

Music programs delivered on campus are typically hands-on, as students practice and perform their instruments and receive feedback and guidance from classmates and instructors. Students in on-campus music technology and production programs may have opportunities to put their knowledge to work in real recording studios. Online programs try to re-create this experience by using streaming video, collaborative software, and other technologies. Some online programs may require students to enroll in individual lessons and join performance groups at local colleges and universities for credit. Consider your learning style and needs when researching online programs.

Although on-site training is not commonly required for online music schools, students interested in working professionally in the music industry, especially as performers, are advised to gain some professional experience before graduation. Working musicians must be prepared to find gigs, conduct themselves professionally, and network effectively, so students should begin practicing for their careers as soon as possible. Students hoping to work in other aspects of the music industry, like management or marketing, can also benefit from gaining professional experience before graduation to become more attractive to employers.

Here are four common courses for a music degree online:

• Music Business: This is a core course in many majors because it discusses the music industry as a whole, including the labels, publishers, distributors, promoters, and managers that keep it profitable. Musicians and business professionals benefit from learning how each segment functions, how money is generated, how technologies are utilized, and how rights are protected.
• Music Production Analysis: Music production analysis explores the various components of successful songwriting and record production. Artists learn to develop an identity, tell stories through lyrics, create compelling melodies, and arrange instruments. The end of the course involves an analysis of these fundamentals, where students learn when it's appropriate to break the rules.
• Music Foundations in Therapy: This course teaches students about the intersection of music and neurology, including the cognitive and sensorimotor research that propels this field. Instructors cover the history of music therapy, the latest research in the neurosciences of music, clinical practices of music therapy, and biomedical music studies.
• Voice Technique: Voice technique courses are practical online learning sessions between voice coaches and performers. Singers engage in live video sessions where they learn to maximize their voice by expressing emotion, expanding their range, and understanding melody. They also cover breathing work, tone, voice care, and harmony. 

Earning a music degree online prepares students for a variety of careers. Musicians can study specific instruments, gaining an in-depth knowledge of their craft from seasoned professionals. This is particularly beneficial for aspiring orchestral musicians who must have music degrees to join symphony orchestras. Music managers also greatly benefit from a music degree. 

Music is a business like any other form of entertainment and therefore requires business-savvy professionals trained in marketing, finance, and public relations. 

• write and arrange music, including creating the melodies, lyrics, rhythms, and structures of songs. Their work may appear as symphonies, movie scores, pop music, or radio advertisements. They also have administrative responsibilities such as hiring musicians, organizing rehearsals, and arranging recording time. 
• write and perform music in a range of formats and settings. Much of their work is done independently and requires tremendous practice and training devoted to their instruments. Once skills are acquired, however, musicians often perform in groups such as bands and orchestras. Paid work is usually intermittent, with many musicians playing part-time or as a hobby. 
• play an essential role in music production, whether in studios or during live performances. Their highly technical work involves an advanced understanding of music recording software and sound equipment. They set up and break down equipment, record instruments and vocals, and mix the music to the artists' specifications.
• The rise of music in clinical practices has made a promising and effective career choice. Professionals are responsible for influencing patients' behaviors and improving their cognitive functions by creating personalized music sessions. This may include lyric discussions, viewing live performances, writing songs, and playing instruments.

Rather than entering the workforce directly after graduating, there are several academic options to pursue beyond a bachelor's degree in music, such as master's programs for graduates interested in teaching music at the university level. PhD programs can also be taken for academic research in music composition and theory. Then there are certificates that are used to learn specific software, such as Ableton Live, or musical styles, such as blues guitar. 

Salaries for music graduates range from around $50,000 to $80,000, depending on the career path chosen. Pay also varies significantly by level of exposure and public reception, particularly for musicians and composers. 

Students can help manage the uncertainty by limiting their debt during college through . Alternatively, can help aspiring music teachers, counselors, and composers achieve their career goals with lower tuition costs.

It's important that applicants understand the admission requirements before picking a college. Students should have a background in music before applying to college for a music degree. Not all schools require extensive experience, but to prove they have a strong desire to make music a career, it helps if applicants show their music knowledge. Musicians and singers, for example, must undergo an audition for their particular instrument.