Music Education

The music programs prepare students to excel in the discipline of music teaching.

Person playing a piano in a room.

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Overview

To ensure that students' education is well-rounded and creatively inspired, Texas State offers a large variety of performing opportunities, including participation in opera productions, choir, orchestra, concert and marching bands, chamber ensembles, award-winning mariachi and salsa ensembles, and other vibrant cultural music groups. 

Somos Musicos ("We are Musicians") expresses with simplicity the solidarity of purpose and cooperation within an extraordinary community of musical artists, scholars and composers: the students and faculty of the School of Music. The unified mission is threefold: to make music together, to develop the self and the art of music, and to contribute value to society.

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  • Somos Musicos ("We are Musicians") expresses with simplicity the solidarity of purpose and cooperation within an extraordinary community of musical artists, scholars and composers: the students and faculty of the School of Music. The unified mission is threefold: to make music together, to develop the self and the art of music, and to contribute value to society.

  • Students will find a variety of career options:

    • authoring or editing music publications
    • composing/arranging music for film, professional ensembles or commercial projects
    • conducting professional ensembles
    • performing with opera companies, symphony orchestras,
    • jazz ensembles or Latin ensembles
    • teaching in public or private schools, colleges and private studios
    • writing professional articles and textbooks

Career Outlook Statistics

Music Directors/Composers

  • 2024 Median Pay: $63,670 per year/$30.61 per hour
  • Work Experience in a Related Occupation: less than 5 years
  • Number of Jobs, 2024: 47,300
  • Job Outlook, 2024-2034: 0% (Little or no change)* Despite limited employment growth, about 4,300 openings for music directors and composers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Musicians and Singers

  • 2024 Median Pay: $42.45 per hour
  • Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
  • Number of Jobs, 2024: 169,800
  • Job Outlook, 2024-2034: 1% (Slower than average)* Despite limited employment growth, about 19,400 openings for musicians and singers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

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Tuition Breakdown**

Total Tuition: $18,021
Per Credit Hour: $501

**Estimated cost, which does not include the cost of BookSmart.
Tuition will increase slightly to $502 per credit hour, effective fall 2026.