Students who love to sing may want to pursue a degree in vocal arts or vocal performance. These are offered by music colleges, as well as some larger universities.
Keep reading to discover the top five colleges for singing and voice performance in the United States.
Top Singing and Voice Colleges
There are several music colleges around the United States that offer programs in vocal art or vocal performance. We've listed our top choices below in alphabetical order.
1. Indiana University
Indiana University is a public research university in Bloomington, Indiana. Through its Jacobs School of Music, it offers several voice programs.
Students can earn a Bachelor of Music in voice performance. This program requires performance study and keyboard proficiency.
It includes courses such as:
- History and Literature of Music
- Lyric English Diction
- Lyric Italian Diction
- Song Literature
Additionally, a Bachelor of Music Education in choral teaching is available for students who want to become music teachers or choir directors.
At the graduate level, students can earn a Master of Music in voice performance. This program requires students to participate in a major ensemble and take courses in music history and literature.
A Doctor of Music in music literature and performance with a voice concentration is also available, as well as a handful of certificates and diplomas in voice performance and vocology.
2. Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, often referred to as just Juilliard, is a world-renowned private performing arts school in New York City. It offers several programs in the vocal arts that are tailored to the needs of the 21st-century singer.
Undergraduate students can earn a Bachelor of Music in vocal arts.
This is a four-year program that offers courses such as:
- Acting for Singers
- Ear Training
- Opera Studies
- Voice
At the graduate level, a two-year Master of Music program, with required residency, is offered. It includes voice courses, a vocal seminar, and opera studies.
Students can continue on to earn a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in the vocal arts. This program focuses on music and voice research, analysis, and study.
Juilliard also offers undergraduate and graduate diplomas in vocal arts, including an artist diploma in opera studies.
3. Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in the Chicago metropolitan area. It's one of the top universities in the nation and offers a voice and opera program through its Bienen School of Music.
Students can start with the Bachelor of Music in voice and opera. This program includes core music courses, as well as voice and opera performance courses.
These include:
- Applied Voice for Music Majors
- Repertoire Studies
- Undergraduate Opera Workshop
- Vocal Pedagogy for Undergraduates
Graduate degrees include a Master of Music in voice and opera performance. This is a two-year program that builds off the concepts taught in the undergraduate degree.
A Doctor of Musical Arts in voice and opera is also available. This program requires 18 credits of music study, as well as a voice recital.
4. Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, simply called Rice University, is a private research university in Houston, Texas. Its Shepherd School of Music offers degrees in vocal performance.
The Bachelor of Music in vocal performance is a four-year program for students wanting to become professional musicians or who want to study at the graduate level.
It includes courses such as:
- Italian Dictation
- Music for Media
- Vocal Repertoire
- Voice for Majors
Students who want to study at the graduate level can earn their Master of Music in vocal performance. This is a 48-credit program that includes academic coursework and performance requirements.
A Doctor of Musical Arts degree in vocal performance is also available. It includes core DMA courses, opera studies courses, and performance requirements.
5. University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private research university in Los Angeles. It offers vocal arts programs through its Thornton School of Music.
The Bachelor of Music in vocal arts includes both core music studies and courses specifically for the major. These include:
- Acting for Singers
- Foundations of Vocology
- Popular Music Performance
- Word and Music in Opera
A two-year Master of Music in vocal arts is also available. It includes intensive voice courses, core music courses, and a capstone graduate recital.
Students can also earn their Doctor of Musical Arts degree in vocal arts. This program requires 65 credits beyond the bachelor's degree. Students are required to attend at least four major public appearances.
Additionally, students can earn a graduate certificate in vocal arts performance, a minor in musical studies, or a minor in musical theater.
FAQs About Singing and Voice Colleges
Below, you'll find the answers to frequently asked questions about singing and voice colleges.
What Can I Do with a Vocal Degree?
Students with vocal or singing degrees may pursue careers in performance, or they can opt to teach or coach others in the vocal arts.
Do I Need to Audition to Get into a Vocal Program?
Nearly all vocal programs require an audition. In fact, you may need to audition twice: once to get into the music school, and again to make it into the vocal arts program.
How Long Are Vocal Programs?
The length of your vocal program depends on what level of degree you're earning. Bachelor's degrees usually take four years, and master's usually take two. Doctoral degrees can vary.
Find Top Singing and Voice Colleges
There are many excellent schools that offer vocal majors. Check out the ones listed above to find the right fit for you today.
