MASTER OF MUSIC (MM)
IN PERFORMANCE
Performers Wanted
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Transform your artistic future with a Master of Music (MM) in Performance at Boston University
Join Boston University’s MM in Performance program and join a community of academically and artistically extraordinary musicians within a major research university. On-campus and full-time.
THE ESSENTIALS
2-year full-time
Professional
studio facilities
3:1 student-to-faculty ratio
Program Highlights
Shape Your Future in Music
If you’re committed to achieving the highest artistic and professional standards in performance, the MM in Performance at BU School of Music is for you. With expert faculty, including 20 members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, you’ll be part of a community of exceptional musicians at a top research university in one of America’s great music capitals—Boston. You’ll benefit from an outstanding 3:1 student-to-faculty ratio and nearly endless cultural opportunities.
You can pursue the Performance program in areas such as Voice, Strings, Keyboard (piano, collaborative piano, organ), Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
A Musician’s Dream: The BU Student Experience at Carnegie Hall
Want to learn more?
Get more InfoPROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Practice. Perform. Thrive.
As a Master of Music in Performance student at Boston University, you’ll have access to world-class facilities that support your growth as a musician. From cutting-edge practice rooms to iconic performance venues like Tsai Performance Center and Symphony Hall, every resource is designed to elevate your artistry and prepare you for professional success.
Practice Rooms
Students enjoy access to 119 cutting-edge practice rooms, more than any other music school in Boston. These spaces are designed with state-of-the-art soundproofing and environmental controls, ensuring a professional and comfortable setting for practice. Whether you’re fine-tuning your technique or preparing for performances, these rooms offer a quiet and focused environment to support your artistic growth.
Venues + Facilities
Tsai Performance Center
Situated in the College of Arts & Sciences building, the 515-seat Tsai Performance Center radiates simple warmth and elegance. It features fully supported sound and lighting systems to meet the demands of the most complex events.
The stage at Tsai is a familiar, comforting, yet exciting place for our BU Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Chamber Orchestra students who regularly perform at Tsai. And each spring, the BU Opera Institute puts on a production here, too.
Symphony Hall
As a Master of Music in Performance student at Boston University, you’ll benefit from a close connection to Symphony Hall, home to the world-renowned Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). You’ll have the chance to attend performances at this iconic venue, drawing inspiration from one of the world’s greatest orchestras.
With 20 BSO musicians among your faculty, you’ll learn directly from experts who bring their experiences from Symphony Hall into your lessons, offering you valuable insights into professional-level performance.
Symphony Hall is where the BU College of Fine Arts Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Symphonic Chorus perform once a year during the spring term.
Learning Outcomes
After finishing your MM of Music in Performance, you’ll have command of:
- Artistic judgment and skills for navigating the professional world.
- Performance techniques and skills in your area of concentration.
- Knowledge and skill in related fields such as music history and literature, musicology and ethnomusicology, and pedagogy.
- Skills in verbal and written communication of musical ideas and concepts.
Funding Options
BU’s MM of Music in Performance offers various funding options to help you manage tuition and associated costs:
Lower Tuition Rates for CFA Students: The program benefits from reduced tuition rates compared to standard BU tuition, as part of the university’s support for the College of Fine Arts, including the School of Music.
Scholarships and Financial Aid: Merit-based scholarships are available to MM students. Additional financial aid options may include federal student aid and other resources tailored to graduate students.
Work Opportunities: Students can explore paid opportunities through BU’s resources, such as internships for credit or collaboration on faculty-led projects. Teaching Assistantships in numerous undergraduate courses are available, as well as graduate assistantships in a number of offices and departments throughout the school.
Are you passionate about performing?
As a Performance major at Boston University, you’ll receive one-on-one instruction tailored to your specific instrument and artistic goals. No matter what your major, you’ll work closely with an expert faculty member for personalized guidance.
Performance Majors
- Voice
- Strings
- Brass
- Keyboard
- Woodwinds
- Percussion
You’ll receive individual instruction in one-hour lessons. BU takes your preferences into account when assigning studio placements, ensuring you receive instruction that aligns with your learning style and aspirations.
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
A world-class performer, an even greater professor.
Assistant Professor Rob Patterson is a passionate educator and sought after performer, having served on the faculty at University of Virginia, where he was featured in recital and as soloist with the Charlottesville Symphony. As a former Strathmore Music Center Artist in Residence, Rob presented a series of solo recitals, masterclasses, educational concerts, and a recital at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Hailing from Cincinnati, OH, Mr. Patterson earned degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music and the University of Southern California.
“We’re in such a vibrant city with close access and ties to the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The School of Music is in the same building as the School of Theater and School of Visual Arts, all of which are housed in one of the country’s leading research universities.”
—Assistant Professor, Clarinet
