Your musicianship, your direction. Advance your artistry through performance or pursue an emphasis tailored to your goals.
The NIU School of Music combines the advantages of a conservatory program with the resources and experiences offered by a major university. You’ll receive a strong artistic, intellectual and practical foundation for a professional career in music. Our diverse programming provides opportunities to focus on jazz, contemporary and new music, as well as a number of world music ensembles and traditional Western music.
You’ll receive personalized attention from our dedicated faculty, who are nationally and internationally recognized. Your classroom and other scholarly experiences will feature broad cultural and academic perspectives, which are essential to your development as a versatile musician.
32 credit hours
In person
Full-time
Start in the fall or spring
Average mid-career salary for alumni:
Top job titles for alumni:
Top employers for alumni:
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While we make music, we connect in another level that I find truly special. Making music with other people is truly the highlight of my day. I have seen growth in myself as a person and musician, as well as other people.
When I was growing up, I was starting to learn music. Piano was my first major, and then I added cello as my second major. Now I would like to become an Suzuki teacher or have some other job relating to music.
You can apply if you have a Bachelor of Music degree (with some exceptions). You’ll apply through the Graduate School, complete a supplementary School of Music application and register for an audition.
Application deadlines:
There are various funding opportunities for graduate students, including tuition waivers and graduate assistantships. We encourage you to apply for both opportunities.
To be granted priority consideration, complete the following by your audition or interview date:
We’ll contact you in late March or early April about the status of your tuition waiver or graduate assistantship.
The Master of Music degree is a 32-semester-hour program consisting of 13 semester hours of core requirements plus 19 semester hours taken within the specialization in performance or an individualized specialization.
Applicants are admitted to this specialization only upon the recommendation of a committee of the performance faculty after an audition and review of application documents. Candidates should be prepared to perform a full-length program of the undergraduate senior recital caliber or higher for their audition. Where distance precludes an in-person audition, a CD or DVD of a full recital program may be submitted.
Typical individualized specializations where the program concentrates entirely on music include composition, world music, jazz studies and recording arts. Applicants are admitted to this specialization only upon the recommendation of a committee of the music faculty after an in-depth examination for competence in music and/or other applicable fields, and a review of application documents.
New for fall 2026: Through our partnership with the College of Business, students can apply up to 9 credit hours from the School of Music toward a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
You’ll have opportunities to gain both business expertise and music industry insight while customizing your career path.
Contact our music admissions coordinator for details.
The Performer's Certificate is a post-master's certificate program. It enables advanced students to attain greater mastery of their chosen fields than they can achieve in formal study through the master's degree level. This 24-semester-hour program includes private instruction, research related to performance and performance experience designed to develop fully-independent professional musicians.
You’ll work closely with our world-renowned faculty, including talented performers, composers and more. They know what it takes to succeed in the music industry and are committed to facilitating engaging learning experiences in and outside the classroom.
Music Building
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - noon
1 - 4:30 p.m.
815-753-1551
music@niu.edu
Austyn V. Menk
Music Admissions Coordinator
815-753-6306
avmenk@niu.edu