Professor Jeff Bailey with student in Music Production program

Music Programs and Ensembles

Bachelor of Arts

Explore Hamline's music major and programs

Musicians, sound designers, and anyone who is passionate about music will find a home in Hamline’s music major, contemporary music production minor, and Certificate in Music Production program. Our music department has been accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) since 1961. The program provides you with an expansive curriculum that blends contemporary and traditional skills to help you develop your expertise in performance, theory and composition, contemporary digital music technology, business and marketing, and music histories and cultures.

During the program, you will learn how to use industry-standard equipment, including Apollo, Neve, API, Undertone Audio, Soyuz, Stager, Peluso, ATC 25s, and Focal. In addition, we have a spacious Mac lab classroom where you can learn how to use industry-standard software, including Logic Pro, Pro Tools, and QLab software.

What’s more, as Hamline is located in the robust Twin Cities performing arts scene, our professional, well-connected teaching staff will provide you with excellent internship opportunities with recording studios, theater companies, music venues, commercial music libraries, educational organizations, and music producers.

 

Music major, minor, certificate, and ensembles

Music major (BA)

Choose from a wide variety of courses suited to your creative and career interests.

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Contemporary music production minor

Build an interdisciplinary toolkit with select music courses that will enhance your talents in another field.

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Music production certificate

Develop a technical toolkit and demonstrate your expertise to employers seeking skilled musicians and sound designers.

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Ensembles

Share your talent with audiences across the Twin Cities and collaborate with skilled musicians and mentors in our wide array of ensembles.

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Music courses

Explore music courses available to all students including voice, piano, guitar, violin, choir, orchestra, and more.

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Hamline orchestra performing
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Learn about Hamline's orchestra

Hamline Orchestra Director Yali You talks about the unique and exceptional qualities of the university's symphonic orchestra.

Engaged learning and student research opportunities
 

Your research opportunities are limited only by your imagination. Our students have produced EPs and LPs and composed original theme music for podcasts, underscores for theater productions, soundtracks for dance shows, art shows and community events, and compositions for Hamline ensembles. They've investigated the intersections of music with other liberal arts studies, from studying music and second language learning and exploring religiosity in songwriting to examining legal battles over ownership in the entertainment industry.

From your first semester, you'll connect with greater Twin Cities communities by sharing your music with audiences in formal and informal settings. Your flute ensemble may perform for the residents at a neighborhood retirement home; if you are a jazz musician, your senior recital may be performed at a St. Paul jazz club; as a member of choir, your voice will uplift congregations in local churches.

Music production student on computer

Internships for music students

We make sure you leave Hamline with music work experience on your resume, and the opportunities are boundless. Whether you want to explore a career in sound design, music production, advertising, or more, we have internship opportunities for you.
 

Music student at Hamline playing violin

     

    Examples of past music student internships include:

    • Greater Twin Cities Youth Orchestra, rehearsal assistant
    • St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, educational outreach intern
    • Shifting Paradigm Records, marketing and operations assistant
    • Essential Sessions, recording studio assistant
    • Tinderbox Music, radio and streaming services assistant
    • Keys 4/4 Kids, nonprofit piano donations & distributions administrative assistant


    Explore career paths

      Our innovative courses and one-on-one mentoring by faculty will give you the tools to succeed in a variety of jobs, such as:

      • Recording and post-production producer
      • Freelance composer-arranger
      • Sound designer
      • Grants and special events manager
      • Front of house sound engineer
      • Retail experience manager
      • Music ministry coordinator

      You can also put your degree to work in any number of fields, including:

      • Performance and instruction
      • Recording and technology
      • Music business
      • Arts administration
      Hamline Music student Jesse Mickelson playing guitar in Hamline music room

      The music production program has taught me so much as a composer. I joined the program as a novice and left able to mix my own music, chop samples, write orchestral mockups, and much more. I learned so much from Jeff Bailey's mentorship and even found my first composing job.

      Jesse Mickelson '22, Music and Certificate in Music Production

      Take your studies further with graduate school

      Our graduates have gone on to graduate schools across the country in the pursuit of master’s degrees. Examples of programs and schools include:

      • Master's in Vocal Performance, Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University
      • Master’s in Scoring for Film, Television, and Video Games, Berklee College of Music (Valencia, Spain campus) 
      • Master of Music in History and Literature, University of Northern Colorado.
      • Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting, Manhattan School of Music
      • Graduate Certificate in Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television, USC Thornton
      • Master of Music in Voice Performance, Lionel Hampton School of Music, University of Idaho

      Take your first step today

      Come see our music program in person, or get your questions answered by one of our admissions counselors.

      Contact information