How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree in this particular study of music?

Question

I recently just transfered to a 4-year university. I spent 3 years in community college and will be studying Concentration in Instrumental Performance. How many years, give or take, would you expect me to get this degree? Any music majors or grads please let me know. Thank you!

Answer 1

The Bachelor of Music in Performance will require a few course sequences that are going to make your path pretty long if you didn't take them at the community college.  Most community colleges don't teach these.  There are a lot of courses that follow each other in long sequences.

Music Theory - 4 consecutive semesters

Sight Singing/Ear Training - 4 consecutive semesters

Ensemble - 8 semesters

Applied Music - 8 semesters

Music History - at least 2 semesters

The real time taker is applied music because you can't take one level until you pass the preceding.  That means if you have no applied music to transfer then it will take you 4 years to get a bachelor's in music.

The best plan if you find yourself in this position is to take an additional major while you're doing the music.  Watch out for max hours for financial aid purposes - most programs have a limit at about 160-180 hours.