Contemporary Music and Media

• Our faculty members are practicing contemporary composers, producers and performers
• Study at the nation’s ONLY comprehensive, professional school of music within a women’s liberal arts college
• Our remarkably low 7:1 student/teacher ratio ensures ongoing personal interaction with faculty.
• Take unique interdisciplinary courses and honors classes

Create Your Own Ensemble

At Converse, you can create your own ensemble centered on your interests. You’ll earn class credit while developing relationships with fellow student musicians who’ll be your musical network for life. Any genre will be open for ensemble creation. You might choose electronic music, rock, hip-hop, jazz, a cappella – the sky’s the limit!

The Annual Pajama Concert

One of Converse’s beloved traditions is the annual Pajama Concert featuring Converse composers and friends. Student and faculty composers, performers and friends wear their favorite jammies for an evening of original music written and performed by Converse’s own. Many styles of music are represented from classical to electronica to singer/songwriter.

Our Bachelor of Musical Arts (BMA) in Contemporary Music/Media Applications blends musical creativity with digital media. It it our goal to prepare you to become an expert in the use of easy-access technological devices and programs that are the lifeblood of today’s music, such as laptops and inexpensive music editing software.

Your coursework will combine music technology and theory/composition into a single degree.  You will receive training and hands-on experience in creating contemporary music with digital media. By graduation you will have a portfolio of original musical works created during your studies. You will also learn to be an entrepreneur, through coursework in the business of music.

Sample Courses

• Electronic Music for Video and Performance
• Recording and Sound Reinforcement
• Composing with Electronic Media
• Music and Social Change in the 1960s
• Principles of Harmony
• Piano Class
• Music History

For full course requirements, see the academic catalog.

What are common careers in Contemporary Music and Media?

• Performer
• Composer
• Film and video game scoring
• Commercial Music
• Producer
• Studio Manager

What are Contemporary Music and Media alumnae doing?

Our Petrie School of Music alumnae are professional performers, composers and educators in the field of music. This is a brand new degree at Converse—we are waiting to put your name here as an alumna with a career in Contemporary Music and Media!