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Music at UW-Eau Claire

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The Largest Undergrad Music Program in the UW System

Intro

Join a community of 300+ student musicians and take part in the well-established and beloved tradition of music at UW-Eau Claire. Whether you’re a declared music major or a student from across campus, the UW-Eau Claire Music Department welcomes any passionate student interested in growing as a musician and as an individual.

Explore over 100 Music and Theatre Arts performances to attend and enjoy!

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The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Voice and Choral Area hosts the state’s largest undergraduate choral program!

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With a range of degree options, supportive and student-focused faculty, and plentiful performance opportunities, students are encouraged to grow as musicians and individuals.

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Since we are a purely undergraduate program, all major roles in operas and musicals are played by budding performers just like you!

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Music education and performance majors enroll in voice pedagogy, exploring voice science and how to be a successful voice teacher.

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The UW-Eau Claire Band program offers students a variety of concert bands, jazz ensembles, and athletic bands designed to meet the artistic and educational needs of Blugolds, regardless of major area of study.

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The Blugold Marching Band is one of the nation’s premiere marching bands and features 425+ performers known for musical and visual power, high energy, and fan-friendly performances.

1922 Eau Claire Normal Band - UWEC Bands recently celebrated 100 years!

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Since 1922, the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Band program has provided rewarding and enriching musical experiences for nearly 700 students each year

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Fueled by growing student interest, the Jazz Area has flourished, now featuring four large Jazz ensembles and dedicated Jazz combo instruction. Today, Jazz at UW-Eau Claire is thriving, with over 110 students enrolled in jazz-related courses each year.

20220922 University Symphony Orchestra Group

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The University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire’s Music and Theatre Arts Department has a proud tradition of excellence in string performance.

UWEC Symphony Orchestra performs at the Viennese Ball

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As an undergraduate-only program, we are dedicated to providing personalized attention and meaningful opportunities for our students.

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Earn a bachelor’s degree in Applied Instrumental Music or Music Education—programs accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.

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Whether you’re preparing for a career as a performer, private instructor, or educator, you’ll benefit from a rigorous curriculum and hands-on professional experiences.

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ARTS ADMINISTRATION

Learn what it takes to work in the Arts industry, whether you're interested in music, theatre, visual art, or dance. This program is perfect for students looking to utilize their creativity and management skills.

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SONGWRITING

Explore lyrics, melody, harmony, and structure to develop the ability to create your own original songs with the Songwriting Certificate. Curriculum will explore general musicianship abilities and an understanding of the cultural significance of songs

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RECORDING ARTS

The program offers students a foundation in musicianship, design, and recording technology, as well as opportunities to explore specific interests in areas like composition, design, music history, physics of sound, and business.

STUDYING MUSIC AT UWEC

Transform your passion for music into professional excellence in our rigorous program accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. Our noteworthy range of degree programs, supportive faculty, and plentiful performance opportunities will give you the experience needed to tackle your future endeavors and launch you into a career you'll love!

Explore Our Music Degree Programs

Academic & Performance Facilities

Known for its vibrant music scene, both UW-Eau Claire and the city of Eau Claire offer many unique spaces to showcase and polish your skills.

Performances

Students can gain practical ensemble experiences in opera, choir, wind ensemble, orchestra, and jazz groups, while gaining experience in chamber music and musical theatre. Take advantage of performance opportunities such as participating in solo recitals, competing in concerto competitions, partaking in guest artist master classes, and collaborating with faculty on research and performance projects. These array of performance opportunities will help grow your performance resume.

From student recitals, ensemble concerts, theatre productions, to guest artist masterclasses and performances, there are over 100 Music and Theatre Arts events to attend and enjoy each year!

Applied Studios

Highly trained faculty who are active performers and scholars provide students with weekly individual lessons and a studio class in which students perform for one another and offer critiques to their peers. Applied studios are purposefully small to allow for meaningful relationships and a more personalized education.

Our applied wind, brass, percussion, composition, piano, string, and voice studios are competitive and require an audition to gain personal access to one-on-one training in your musical focus.

➤Music Education

Encouraging the love of music and helping youth hone their musical skills is a noble calling. Music education has been central to UWEC since its foundation in 1917. We have a 100% placement rate for our music education graduates of whom we are very proud.

We offer many experiences to help our students develop as educators. Opportunities include organizing festivals for middle school and high school students, serving in leadership positions in the marching band, participating in immersion programs and engaging in student organizations focused on music education. Music education students also receive frequent exposure to public school classroom settings through various practica, and the program culminates with a semester of student teaching. Faculty from across the department — from bands, choirs and orchestra — contribute to the music education curriculum.

Learn about our Teaching – All Music, Instrumental Emphasis, Degree

Learn about our Teaching – All Music, Choral Emphasis, Degree

Dr. Gary Don teaching students in a Haas Fine Arts theory classroom

➤Music Theory & History

Led by highly trained and specialized faculty, the music theory and history area offers a diverse and engaging array of courses for both the music and theatre arts major and the general UWEC student.

Music theory explores how music works and why, and it examines musical patterns derived from physical principles of sound and the aesthetic goals of composers. Courses in music history provide students with an introduction to relevant issues of culture, race, gender and socioeconomic factors as they impact the development and reception of music literature produced within both the Western (classical, popular and folk music traditions) and non-Western arenas (e.g., music practices in Africa, India and elsewhere). Through these course offerings, students enrich their experience as musicians, becoming better interpreters, performers and composers of music. Embracing a curriculum that is relevant to all students, study in this area aims to open up musical worlds as varied as Louis Armstrong, Mozart, Beyoncé, Libby Larsen and an Ojibwe powwow.

Two people look at a computer screen showing sheet music

➤Composition

Explore compositional styles and techniques — and develop your own— with a composition bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Led by accomplished, globally recognized faculty, this program will help you find and cultivate your compositional voice.

➤Keyboard

The keyboard Area at UWEC provides valuable opportunities for students in solo performance, chamber music, and accompanying. A specialized array of courses includes piano literature, piano pedagogy, accompanying and piano ensemble.

Jazz Ensemble 1 in 2022 posing with instruments at Big Falls State Park

➤Wind, Brass, Percussion

The wind, brass, and percussion students receive weekly individual lessons and a studio class in which they perform for their peers. Our undergraduate-focused department provides individual attention and mentorship that launches successful musical careers.

Chamber Ensembles

Chamber music is an essential aspect of music making in the music program at UWEC. Performing with a smaller group of musicians in a chamber group provides students with the opportunity to further develop their musicianship skills and to form close bonds with their peers. Chamber music groups exist across the music program and are formed in various ways. Some of these ensembles are extensions of a studio, some are formed by faculty, and some are classes in which any student can enroll. It is best to inquire to the Music and Theatre Arts Department with any questions you have.

BASSically Brass
Brass ensembles (trios, quartets, quintets)
Contemporary ensemble
Percussion ensemble
Piano ensemble
Saxophone quartets
Studio ensembles (clarinet, flute, trombone and more)
String ensembles (duets, trios, quartets)
Voice ensembles
Woodwind ensembles (trios, quartets, quintets)

Eileen Phillips Cohen String Quartet

All four members of the Eileen Phillips Cohen String Quartet receive full in-state tuition for the academic year, and there is the potential for the scholarship to cover a full four-year degree. Financial need is not a consideration. The Quartet is coached regularly by UWEC string faculty, is featured at major departmental and university events, and provides regular recitals. The recipients of the scholarships are also expected to be leaders of the University Symphony Orchestra. The generosity of the L.E. Phillips Family Foundation has created an opportunity for music students through this scholarship rarely seen at the undergraduate level. Scroll down this page to watch the video of Cohen scholars talking about this exciting opportunity!

Check this page for details on auditions for the Cohen Scholarship.