Music – Peck School of the Arts

Music is a powerful art form that can enrich your life and your community. That’s why our minor in music is designed for a wide variety of students like you who are interested in exploring music and the many ways it can enhance your own life.

Our program provides you with a challenging and supportive music experience to complement your major. For many students, our minor is a way to build on previous music experience despite having a different academic focus. That’s because music adds excitement to your life, and there’s no way you should give up on that. No matter what your major is, our music minor is a great addition to your education. We’re glad you are here!

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Program Type

Minor

Program Format

On Campus

The arts are for everyone

A minor or certificate in the arts provides a well-rounded education. That’s because the arts foster creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They enhance communication and presentation skills, which are valuable in any professional setting. Engaging in the arts also increases empathy and understanding of diverse people and perspectives. Plus, they bring a unique selling point to your resume by demonstrating a versatile skill set.

And let’s be honest: The arts are also a lot of fun, adding stress relief and variety to your college experience.

All Minors & Certificates

89%Executives agree that creativity is a top skill

91%Americans agree the arts are vital to education

73%Americans say the arts help them understand others

45Minutes of art making can reduce stress levels

Program Details

The music minor offers you flexibility to choose from a wide array of music electives to create a program uniquely matched to your interests. Plus, you can choose to add private lessons to your experience. For that, you’ll just need to audition and also enroll in a performance ensemble.

View the Music Minor requirements.

Interested in declaring a minor or certificate? Contact us to get started.

Studios & Ensembles

Our studios and ensembles are led by our renowned artist faculty who have active professional careers. Studios and ensembles are structured to offer a wide variety of training and performance opportunities for musicians of various abilities. Whatever your level of skill and interest, you’ll benefit from our studios and ensembles.

Studios Ensembles

Music Performances

With a season packed with music concerts, you’ll have many opportunities to put your hard work on display for live audiences in our performance venues. You can also support your fellow musicians by attending their performances and broaden your musical horizons through limited engagements from visiting artists and touring acts. Learn more about venues and performing arts events.

Student Recitals

Peck School of the Arts music students take the stage in solo and group student recitals throughout the school year. Students showcase musical technique and skill, while audience members enjoy exceptional performances by Milwaukee’s emerging musicians.

Internships & Opportunities

Located within the cultural capital of Wisconsin, students regularly perform professionally both as soloists and chamber musicians in the greater Milwaukee community while earning their degree. See where your education can take you. Learn more about internships and opportunities.

Student Organizations & Clubs

Meet like-minded people in a wide variety of student organizations and clubs who inspire creativity and will support your aspirations. Collaborate and create, network with professional artists, and deepen your connection with faculty, mentors and fellow students outside of the classroom.

Study Abroad

We believe that a complete education in the arts should take you beyond the classroom and the local community. By studying abroad, you’ll gain more than a change of scenery. You’ll embark on a transformative educational experience and bring a global perspective to your field of study. Explore upcoming trips offered in partnership with the Center for International Education.

Alumni Stories in Music

Chamber music festival in France featured four PSOA alumni who are also siblings

A harmonious blend of culture, heritage, and music painted the Loire Valley during the second annual Musiques et Vignes en Confluence, a chamber music festival in central France. Bernard Zinck (Associate Professor of Violin and Area Head of Strings and String Pedagogy) created the Musiques et Vignes en Confluence in …
UWM Student Kathryn Henry Singing In Met Opera Audition Finals

Kathryn Henry confessed she felt "so many butterflies" when she walked on the Metropolitan Opera stage Sunday morning in New York. But that was just a quick look-see for Henry and other semifinalists in the national Met Auditions competition. When she returned later that day to sing, the University of …

View More Alumni Stories

Careers in Music

Accompanist
Acoustic Engineer
Arranger
Artist Management
Arts Administration
Audio Software Designer & Programmer
Audio/Visual Technician
Broadcast Engineer
Chamber Musician
Choral Music Educator
Clinician
Consultant
Collaborative Pianist
Community Arts Organizer
Composer
Concert Production/Promotion
Conductor
Cruise Ship Entertainer
Curator
Development Director
Diction Coach
Early Music Performer
Editor
Education Director
Elementary/Secondary School Teacher
Engraver
Ensemble Administration
Entertainer
Ethnomusicologist
Event Manager
Film Composer/Conductor
Foley Artist

Folk Music Performer
Foundation Administration
Instrumental Music Educator
Instrumental Performer
Instrument Repair/Restoration
Jazz Performer
Licensing Administrator
Luthier
Managing Director
Marketing & Sales
Mastering Engineer
Media Developer
Military Bands/Orchestras
Music Cognition (Science & Medicine)
Music Critic
Music Education Teacher
Music Historian
Music Librarian
Music Journalist/Blogger
Music Publicist
Music Store Owner
Music Supervisor
Music Therapist
Music Theorist
Musical Theatre Artist
Musicologist
Multimedia Artist
Opera Performer
Opera Dramaturg
Opera Management
Opera Prompter
Orchestral Musician

Outreach & Educational Programming
Peace Corps (Teaching Music Abroad)
Piano Tuner/Technician
Pit Musician
Private Studio Teacher
Producer
Program Notes Author
Promotion Manager
Publisher
Radio Manager/Broadcasting
Recitalist
Recording Artist
Record Label Administration
Singer/Vocalist
Songwriter/Lyricist
Sound Designer/Engineer
Sound Technician
Suzuki Instructor
Studio Musician
Talent Agent/Director
Television/Theatrical Composer
Theatre Stage Manager
University Administration
University Faculty
Video Game Scoring
Vocal Coach
Voice Therapist
Voiceover Artist
Wardrobe Specialist
Wigmaker

Program Faculty

Which faculty you have within this program is dependent upon your chosen courses or interests. For a list of all Music faculty and staff please follow the link below.

Music Faculty & Staff