Portland State University’s Music program offers an inclusive, conservatory-level path to build your unique musical identity, with specialization options in areas like voice or instrumental performance and jazz. Whether you want to perform onstage, compose for film and video games, or dig deep into how music works, you will find your place here. We also offer a Music Education major for students who are passionate about teaching the next generation of musicians.
At PSU, you will study in a highly connected musical community where performance and academics cross paths every day. Located in the heart of downtown Portland, our program gives you direct access to the city’s vibrant arts scene. You will learn from faculty who are active performers, composers, scholars, and educators, all while gaining real-world experience.
Prospective music majors and minors must apply to PSU, submit a secondary application to the School of Music & Theater, and complete an audition. Students planning to be Sonic Arts & Music Production majors need only apply to PSU; they do not need to complete the music application or audition.
Our program allows you to dive deep into your specific passion while keeping your career options open.
Earn your instrumental music degree at PSU to build strong technical skills and artistic expression. You’ll receive focused private instruction from faculty and frequent opportunities to perform in solo recitals and chamber and large ensembles like our orchestra and bands. Our program allows you to tailor your degree to your specific passions, whether you choose to focus on classical performance, jazz, or contemporary styles.
Our voice program allows you to explore and elevate your artistry through jazz, choir, and opera. From introductory voice training all the way to starring roles in our award-winning opera productions, you'll graduate with a firm foundation in the vocal arts and a resume full of performance credits.
Our award-winning Opera program, headed by Kelley Nassief, mounts two fully staged productions each year — including contemporary opera in our studio theater in the Fall, and a large mainstage production with live orchestra, hand-built sets and costumes, and professional direction in the Spring. PSU’s internationally recognized Choral program regularly collaborates with the Oregon Symphony and performs diverse music from around the world. We offer choirs for all abilities, including the internationally recognized, award-winning Chamber Choir, directed by Ethan Sperry and the Briar (Rose & Thorn) Choirs, directed by Coty Raven Morris. The Music Education program, over half of which is made up of talented vocalists, offers fantastic training as you prepare to enter the classroom.
Portland State’s Jazz program is deeply integrated with the city of Portland’s thriving creative scene. Whether you are an instrumental or voice student, you’ll experience artistic individuality, collaboration, and real-world engagement. You’ll learn improvisation, composition, and finding your artistic focus and gain experience and build connections performing in small combos and large ensembles, engaging directly with Portland's jazz scene and our partners at the Montavilla and PDX Jazz Festivals.
Composition
Develop your original voice in a city known for its new music scene. You will study theory, performance, harmony, orchestration, and industry-standard music technology (like DAWs). You’ll also receive one-on-one mentoring with our expert faculty and further your compositional techniques and sharpen their creative focus. Students get hands-on learning with direct access to peer performers, performance opportunities through ensembles, reading sessions dedicated to student works, and composition recitals where you’ll get to hear your music performed.
Music History
Explore the cultural roots of music while connecting the sounds of the past to today's world. You’ll build strong research and critical thinking skills through advanced classes and a faculty-mentored final project. Outside the classroom, you can connect with peers in the Musicology Circle and play in diverse ensembles ranging from jazz bands to Javanese gamelan. Ultimately, this degree gives you the deep knowledge needed to succeed in top graduate programs or launch a wide variety of music careers.
Music Theory
Understand how music really works beneath the surface. You’ll dig into harmony, melody, rhythm, and form while exploring many different musical styles. Because written and compositional skills are built directly into most of your classes, you get a hands-on approach to creating and analyzing music. The program perfectly balances deep academic study with actual music-making, helping you build strong critical thinking and research skills. Ultimately, it prepares you for graduate school or a wide variety of careers in and beyond the music world.
Music Minors
Want to keep music in your life while majoring in another field? We offer two minor paths to fit your goals:
- Music Minor: Take core music classes, join our campus ensembles, receive private instruction, and continue your artistic growth alongside your primary degree.
- Music History Minor: Focus on the cultural and historical side of music without a full major. You will explore the stories, cultures, and movements behind the music, building strong research and critical thinking skills.
Degree Options: BM vs. BA/BS →
We offer different degree paths to fit your specific career goals:
- Bachelor of Music (BM): A structured, performance-intensive degree. This is the best path if you want a highly specialized professional music career or plan to apply to graduate performance programs.
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) / Bachelor of Science (BS): These degrees offer greater academic flexibility. You still get the same great ensembles, private lessons, and performance opportunities, but with more room to double-major, take on a minor, or explore other subjects. (The BA includes a world language requirement, while the BS includes additional science courses).
Degree Maps
Why Study Music at Portland State?
- A Thriving Creative Hub: At PSU, collaboration isn’t just a buzzword; it’s our culture. Picture classical performers teaming up with jazz improvisers, student ensembles premiering original works by their peers, and music historians engaging directly with live, cutting-edge performances. Our community is a dynamic incubator for your artistic voice.
- The Portland Advantage: Our campus isn’t an isolated bubble — it’s the beating heart of one of the country's most vibrant and eclectic music cities. Step off campus and immerse yourself in a thriving arts ecosystem. Whether it's the legendary indie rock scene, cutting-edge electronic music, or renowned classical institutions, Portland has it all. Our students don't just study music; they live it, frequently performing, interning, and building essential networks with powerhouses like the Oregon Symphony and the globally recognized PDX Jazz Festival.
- World-Class Mentorship: Your professors aren't just academics; they are nationally recognized artists, internationally touring conductors, and award-winning practitioners actively shaping the music world. They bring that real-world expertise directly into the classroom, offering dedicated, one-on-one mentorship designed to guide your unique career path.
- Real-World Experience from Day One: We believe the stage is your classroom. You won't be waiting in the wings — from your very first year, you’ll be in the spotlight. Expect to perform in concerts, hear your original compositions brought to life by skilled musicians, or gain invaluable experience teaching in our community outreach programs.
Our graduates do not have to choose between rigorous musical training and a flexible career. You will graduate ready to adapt to the changing creative economy.
Common career paths include:
- Professional performer (solo, ensemble, or studio musician)
- Music educator (K-12 public schools or private studio teacher)
- Freelance composer for film, TV, theater, and video games
- Conductor or music director
- Arts administrator or non-profit leader
- Music producer or audio engineer
Top Employers: Our alumni work for the Oregon Symphony, Portland Opera, regional school districts (like Portland Public and Beaverton), recording studios, and freelance performance organizations across the Pacific Northwest.
Graduate School: Many of our students start working right away, but others go on to top-tier graduate programs. PSU alumni have been accepted into the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Indiana University, Manhattan School of Music, and more.