Major, minor or simply perform for pleasure
Music plays a key role in the liberal arts program at Eckerd College. Eckerd music students go on to work as teachers, church musicians, sound engineers and performers – we even have four well-known opera singers. But we also have doctors, investment advisors, physics teachers and tax attorneys among our graduates.
Our Artistic Achievement Awards defray the cost of tuition for incoming students and we often waive lesson fees for students who are active in our ensembles. So whatever your major, you’re welcome in our classes, private lessons and ensembles. Because music belongs to us all.
Only@Eckerd
Open ensembles
Concert Choir, Concert Band, String Orchestra, Jazz Combo, Rock Lab, and Steel Drum Band are open to all students and require only a placement audition.
Compatible schedules
Music pairs nicely with management, computer science, communications, psychology, marine science and many other majors. You’ll find few schedule conflicts between our required music courses/practices and other classes.
Composers & producers wanted
We offer courses and tutorials in music theory and composition, song writing, and production. Combine art forms in Interdisciplinary Arts courses, including Sound Design!
In Their Own Words
“The music faculty at Eckerd will do everything they can to give you the tools you need to make your dreams a reality. I could not have succeeded in landing a job at a major recording studio without their musical knowledge and support, and I will be forever grateful to them for everything they did for me during my time there.”
—David Steren ’15 AKA Dropkick
Electronic Music Artist, former recording tech, Clear Track Studios
Beyond the Classroom
Experienced wind players can join the Concert Band; string musicians, the String Orchestra; skilled improvisers, the Jazz Combo; popular music enthusiasts, Rock Lab or Steel Drum Band; a cappella singers, the student-led Tritones.
One recent student began by conducting portions of concerts in his first year, working up to conducting a professional orchestra his senior year. Ask your advisor to help plan an independent study that suits you.
Choose from 300+ destinations every year, including the London Study Centre with its world-class theatre scene. Members of the Concert Choir have also toured Britain, Italy, China and Spain.
Study Abroad Pics on FlickrAll students are asked to take at least one designated Reflective Service Learning course, which includes at least 20 hours of service, before graduation, either on campus or internationally. Music students give back in the way they love–by giving concerts at places like the local Westminster Suncoast retirement community here in Florida.
Service Pics on Flickr Sign up for more about Eckerd and our music program
Popular classes
Musical Ecology of New Orleans
Dip into the jazz, blues, R & B, funk and hip-hop of New Orleans. This class examines the effects of coastal geography and urban ecology on the music of the area.
World Music
Studies global music for ritual, work, play and introspection, with a focus on West Africa, Southern India and Indonesia.
Facilities
Roberts Music Center features:
- Practice rooms with Kawai pianos
- Grand pianos, including two 9-foot Steinways in the recital hall
- Two electronic music labs on campus
- Extensive streaming collections as well as a large collection of scores, books and videos in the Armacost Library
- Two Dutch-built Flentrop tracker organs
Outcomes
What can I do with a music degree?
- Arranger or Composer
- Arts Manager
- Church Musician
- Conductor
- Instrument Builder
- Music Librarian
- Music Production Technician
- Music Teacher
- Music Therapist
- Opera Singer
- Recording Engineer
- Software Designer
Where our music majors go to graduate school
- Berklee School of Music
- Binghamton University, SUNY
- Florida State University
- St. Andrew’s University
- USF School of Pharmacy
Where our music majors go to work
- Arthur Zankel Music Center
- Baltimore Studios
- Beer Milkshake Podcast
- Bremen School District
- Clear Track Studios
- DEFY Media
- Ernst & Young
- Fusion Media Network
- Self employed singer-songwriter, filmmaker and improv comic
