Bachelor of Music in Performance, Winds & Percussion

Application Deadline for Fall 2025 - December 1, 2024

Designed for brass, woodwind, and percussion players who wish to prepare for a professional performance and teaching career. Those who wish to teach in elementary or secondary schools should pursue a curriculum within the Department of Music Education. Applicants must show evidence of unusually strong ability, training, and repertoire. Piano study is recommended.

Curriculum

The Bachelor of Music in Performance: Winds & Percussion requires a minimum of 121 credits: 75% of coursework is within SMTD and 25% is within the liberal arts. SMTD coursework to include:

  • Private lessons
  • Music Theory
  • Musicology
  • Ensemble Participation
  • Piano

Silent Advisor

Degree requirements and term-by-term layout for current students.

Faculty


Daniel Gilbert

Chair of Winds and Percussion and Professor of Music
Clarinet

David Jackson

Professor of Music
Brass Chamber Music Coordinator, Trombone

Doug Perkins

Associate Professor of Music, Director of Percussion
Percussion

Performance Opportunities

From large ensembles in celebrated concert halls to chamber groups in intimate recital spaces, performance opportunities across all disciplines abound, with nearly 900 student performances each academic year. Whether your focus is on early, classical, or contemporary music, whether your passion is for jazz, electronic, or world music, there is an ensemble—or in many cases, multiple ensembles—to suit your interests.

Bands

Bands & Wind Ensembles

With several large ensembles to choose from, wind and percussion students can explore a range of opportunities for immersive performance experiences.

Orchestras

Orchestras

SMTD orchestras offer numerous concerts each season, performing notable works in the symphonic repertoire as well as abundant newly commissioned works.

Chamber Music

Chamber Music

The thriving chamber music scene at SMTD offers students nearly limitless options to perform, innovate, and collaborate in small, self-driven, and diverse ensembles.

Early Music Ensembles

Early Music Ensembles

Students interested in historically oriented performance have opportunities to explore music from across the centuries, performed on authentic period instruments and high-quality replicas.

Solo & Studio Recitals

Solo & Studio Recitals

Across all disciplines, students perform and study with their peers in studio classes and perform for the public in solo student recitals and studio recitals.

Jazz Ensembles

Jazz Ensembles

With large and small jazz ensembles exploring a range of styles, SMTD offers abundant opportunities for students – music majors and non-majors alike – to perform.

Questions?