BFA

4-Year Program

The Music BFA program offers a broad and rigorous general musical education alongside highly individualized lesson instruction and mentoring. All undergraduate students engage in intensive shared training in musical techniques and concepts spanning classical, jazz, popular, electronic, and experimental styles, and both Western and non-Western musical cultures. They will graduate with experience in creating original work, ensemble performance, music notation and theory, professional development, and artistic metiers outside of music.

    About the Specialization

    The BFA curriculum features a network of courses that offer core theory and skills studies, songwriting, arranging, rock and pop history, recording, producing and individual lessons. Students are highly encouraged to add classes in non-Western music, experimental composition and music technology in order to broaden the creative and technical reach of their individual musical voices.

    From the beginning and throughout their residency, students build and develop a cumulative portfolio of creative work in close collaboration with their mentor. This portfolio is periodically reviewed. In order to obtain the degree, this portfolio must be evaluated and approved by faculty in the student’s final year.

    Full Curriculum

    View Curriculum Requirements 

    The Undergraduate Experience

    CalArts is committed to providing a broad program of general education designed to enable students to consider aesthetic questions within larger socio-cultural, ethical and political contexts.

    Learn more about the General Education curriculum

    Interdisciplinary Opportunities

    In addition to CalArts' rich and diverse community and naturally collaborative atmosphere, the Institute provides several programs of study that can be pursued concurrently with a student's chosen metier.

    Music Theory Minor

    The Minor is intended for undergraduate students who wish to receive advanced training and accreditation in Music Theory as a supplement to their major.

    Music Theory Minor

    Digital Arts Minor

    The Minor is designed to help undergraduate students grasp the knowledge to build, engineer and design innovative custom systems.

    Digital Arts Minor

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