The Bard Music Program is dedicated to enabling music students to carve out paths that match their talents and passions. Many of our students major in, for instance, violin, or classical voice, or jazz percussion, all of which we fully support; others find themselves attracted to hybrid forms, between disciplines, and we cheer them on.
Curriculum Areas
At the simplest structural level, the Bard College Music Program is divided into the following areas. Each of these areas has its own set of course requirements, typically a mix of performance lessons and ensembles, theory classes, and history classes; visit each individual page for specifics.
Alternative Course Study
In addition, the student whose work does not fall neatly into one category is encouraged to work out an individual course of study with his or her adviser. The student who works in both classical music and jazz, or who composes both acoustically and electronically, or who plays violin and sings in a rock band, is a staple of our department.