• Music majors prepare for careers as musicians, composers, teachers or historians.Street Musician image by TekinT from Fotolia.com
  
  Music studies combine course work in music history and music theory, as well as performance of one or more instrument. Home to the one of the most renowned orchestras in the country, this Pennsylvania city also is the birthplace of a unique brand of Philadelphia soul music. Today Philadelphia plays host to colleges with competitive music programs. Students can take classes like Jazz Improvisation or Chorus within the inspiring setting of the City of Brotherly Love.
  
  

The University of the Arts

• Philadelphia's University of the Arts offers several undergraduate and graduate programs in music-related disciplines, among them jazz studies in composition and in instrumental performance. The university's bachelor's degree studies in the instrumental performance faction of jazz studies prepares students for careers as performance artists in concert halls and jazz venues through weekly private lessons with renowned teaches. Classes include Jazz Arranging and Recording Technology, among others.
  
  The school also periodically features guests like musician Wynton Marsalis and legendary artist Billy Joel. In addition to the musical theater program, which features a substantial portion of course work in music skills like sight-reading, some of the school's other non-music programs include graphic design, ballet and photography.
  
  The University of the Arts
  320 South Broad Street
  Philadelphia, PA 19102
  800-616-2787
  uarts.edu
  
  

Curtis Institute of Music

• The Curtis Institute of Music is unique in that it provides full tuition scholarships to all students admitted to study at the school. Students are admitted based purely upon the level of artistic promise they demonstrate at an in-person audition. Curtis offers degree studies at a variety of levels---all students can pursue a diploma or Bachelor of Music, while opera students can prepare for the Master of Music, and vocal students can attain a professional studies certificate.
  
  Composition, conducting, keyboard, orchestral instrument and voice are the bachelor's majors offered, with each program having individual requirements. However, general requirements include performance lessons, musical studies, liberal arts course work and even career studies to aid students in marketing themselves upon graduation.
  
  Curtis Institute of Music
  1726 Locust Street
  Philadelphia, PA 19103
  215-893-5252
  curtis.edu
  
  

University of Pennsylvania

• For an Ivy League education in music, the University of Pennsylvania offers a music major through their School of Arts and Sciences. Alternatively, students can choose a general music minor, based in history, theory and anthropology, or a jazz and popular music minor, which features electives in courses like Caribbean Music and Diaspora and Indian Musical Performance.
  
  In addition to required course work, undergraduate music majors must participate in a music group like the University Orchestra or Samba Ensemble for at least four semesters. UPenn also features a small graduate program in music, which includes courses of study in musical composition, music history and theory, as well as anthropology of music.
  
  University of Pennsylvania
  3451 Walnut Street
  Philadelphia, PA 19104
  215-898-5000
  upenn.edu