UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music to offer bachelor of music

Undergraduate music performance students at UCLA will now have the opportunity to receive a bachelor of music degree, replacing a concentration in performance that was offered under the previous bachelor of arts degree in music. The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music implemented the change, which is effective immediately, to align the degree type with the professional-level training music performance majors receive through their intensive individual studio lessons, chamber music and large ensemble experiences, combined with their coursework in music theory, music history and musicianship. Current students may choose to receive the new bachelor of music degree or a bachelor of arts with a concentration in music performance. All incoming students will receive bachelor of music degrees. "I'm thrilled that our degree offerings now reflect the comprehensive professional training our students receive," said Eileen Strempel, inaugural dean of the school of music. "We're proud to offer a degree that captures the broad-based learning of our school. It's designed for exceptional emerging-artist students who think, create and experience music within the inspirational cauldrons of Los Angeles and UCLA." Currently the school has nearly 150 music performance students.