City University of New York – CUNY
The City University of New York is the nation’s leading urban public university. The University comprises 25 institutions: 11 senior colleges, seven community colleges, William E. Macaulay Honors College, CUNY Graduate Center, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, CUNY School of Law, CUNY School of Professional Studies and CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy. The University serves more than 243,000 degree-seeking students each year.
CUNY offers education to all New York City residents. And although the tuition is no longer free for all New York City residents, the tuition remains the lowest in the country. A year of education at a senior college is less than 7k, and a year at a community college is less than 4k.
CUNY’s conservatory, The Aaron Copland School of Music - Queens College, located in Queens, New York, is arguably the highest quality music education for the lowest cost in the United States.
Though part of the world’s largest urban university, Aaron Copland School of Music offers an intimate college experience with a low student-to-teacher ratio in all classes. The program is located on an eighty-eight-acre campus offering the classic college feel while being just a stone’s throw from the excitement of New York City. The modern facility is equipped with ample rehearsal space, a Steinway piano in every classroom and rehearsal studio, recording studios, one of the most comprehensive music libraries in the NY area, and four performance spaces — including the visually and acoustically stunning LeFrak Concert Hall.
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Undergraduate Music Programs
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BA (Bachelor of Arts): General Music Program
The Bachelor of Arts in Music is an academic music program designed for a student who plans to become a composer, conductor, college music teacher, theorist, musicologist, arranger, music librarian, or critic. This program provides a solid, structured musical education and a foundation for more advanced career studies. The program is traditional and classically based but may be helpful for those pursuing careers in the music business, arts management, and music publishing.
BMus in Music Education
The Bachelor of Music with Music Education prepares students for New York State Initial Teacher Certification in Music PreK-12. This program (coordinated with the School of Education) provides a solid, structured musical education and a firm foundation in music pedagogy for students preparing to teach in public or private schools. Students complete the college liberal arts studies, the primary music curriculum, and education and music education classes.
BMus (Bachelor of Music): Performance Program
Admission to this professional performance program is by competitive audition for qualified instrumentalists and singers. The program is equal to the training available in a conservatory course. It includes private instruction in the primary instrument, ensemble requirements, a senior recital, the required music curriculum, and a modified academic sequence.
Five-Year/ Bachelor of Music Performance Degree with Initial Certificate in Music Education Program
This program is for students who have been accepted into the Bachelor of Music program but also wish to pursue teacher certification. Students follow the standard Bachelor of Music curriculum for the first two years, including the college liberal arts requirements. Then, beginning in their junior year, they add the music education sequence and education courses required for certification. Typically this will need at least one additional year of study to meet all requirements, including student teaching. The fifth-year will be completed as part of the advanced certificate program following the student's Bachelor of Music degree graduation. This program will automatically admit students to the advanced certificate program upon their Bachelor of Music graduation.