Whether you intend to major in music or to remain active as a musician while majoring in another discipline, the School of Music offers you close mentoring in the classroom as well as wide latitude to explore diverse and ambitious performance opportunities. Award-winning faculty — who are active performing artists themselves — will challenge you to take your passion to its fullest potential.
Winds and percussion students majoring or minoring in music study technique and repertoire for the orchestral musician and concert soloist. Additionally, opportunities in jazz include faculty-advised student combos, the Jazz Orchestra (please see "Performance Opportunities," below), and coursework in jazz history and jazz theory and improvisation. Studio lessons may include additional repertoire or training in jazz techniques or improvisation at the discretion of the instructor.
Programs in Winds & Percussion
Puget Sound offers four majors and the music minor for winds, brass and percussion students:
- Bachelor of Music in Performance
- Bachelor of Music in Music Education
- Bachelor of Music with Elective Studies in Business
- Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Music
- Minor in Music with Applied Studies
To major in music, an entrance audition is required. Please note audition requirements. Auditions for Regular Decision and Transfer students take place in January and February, preceding fall enrollment. Please see additional information for Transfer students and for Early Decision students.
Lessons
Private weekly lessons in wind and brass instruments or percussion are offered to majors and non-majors. Percussion lessons are centered in orchestral training; drum set may also be incorporated into the lesson curriculum.
- Students who are not majors, minors, or scholarship recipients may take lessons for academic credit on a space-available basis.
- Non-credit lessons are offered through Community Music.
Scholarships
Learn about music scholarships (awarded regardless of major).
Performance Opportunities
Wind Ensemble: Performs regularly during the academic year. Open to all Puget Sound students; a placement audition is required. Placement auditions for new students are held in the fall, during orientation.
Symphony Orchestra: Performs regularly during the academic year. Open to all Puget Sound students; a placement audition is required. Placement auditions for new students are held in the fall, during orientation.
Concert Band: A non-auditioned ensemble that performs regularly during the academic year, open to all students.
Jazz Orchestra: A big band ensemble that performs regularly during the academic year and regularly collaborates with well-known guest artists. The ensemble is open to all Puget Sound students; a placement audition is required. Placement auditions for new students are held in the fall, during orientation. The ensemble includes a rhythm section with electric bass, drum set, and piano.
Student Noon Recitals occur on selected dates during the noon hour for majors and non-majors. Students majoring in music present formal evening recitals, typically during the junior and senior years. Recitals are scheduled through the School of Music office and are open to all students taking private lessons for credit. Students pursuing a major or a minor in music must meet specific recital requirements.
The Concerto/Aria Competition is held annually during the fall term. Interested students are recommended by faculty; the winners present a work in its entirety with the Symphony Orchestra.
Chamber Ensembles, including quartets, a percussion group, instrument choirs, and other ensembles, are formed each semester, either for credit or as independent student-run ensembles. For-credit ensembles are advised by and meet regularly with School of Music faculty.
