If you've got the music in you, Central College offers multiple opportunities to develop musicianship through coursework, lessons, ensembles and a wide array of concerts. Our music major gives you the foundation for performance, scholarship, music business, church music and other professions. Our music education students can earn licensure to teach instrumental or vocal music in elementary and secondary schools — and build valuable mentoring relationships with local teachers. In addition, music students have access to courses in arts administration, entrepreneurship and not-for-profit management.
Music majors at Central gain a firm grounding in the theory, history and practice of Western art music, augmented by study of jazz, contemporary commercial music and various non-Western traditions. In addition, music education majors gain hours of hands-on experience in elementary and secondary schools through Central’s highly respected teaching licensure program.
Both music and music education majors are strongly encouraged to take advantage of Central’s study abroad programs, some of which have excellent opportunities for music study and participation.
Learn more about health and safety for musicians:
Learn more about Music and Music Education in the course catalog.
Central has 11 music ensembles accessible to all students regardless of major. Many of the groups tour domestically and internationally. View full information about ensembles here.
Central offers music awards of up to $5,000 for music majors and up to $2,000 for students who participate in music ensembles. Awards are renewable for four years. Auditions for music awards are held in February, or earlier by arrangement with the admission office. More information on music awards here.
The Cox-Snow Music Center features a 200-seat recital hall and a rehearsal hall as well as classrooms, faculty studios, practice rooms and a keyboard lab. Newly-renovated Douwstra Auditorium houses a 9-ft. Fazioli concert grand piano, and the Chapel houses a double-manual Flemish harpsichord, Kawai RX-6 piano and a Brunzema tracker-action organ. The Roe Center features the Fine Arts MIDI computer lab incorporating the latest in music notation software and sequencing programs.
Students are encouraged to study abroad with one of Central’s international programs to enhance their development as global citizens or with partner programs in Chicago, Washington, D.C. or New York City. Learn more about Central’s study abroad programs.
Central invites the public to share in celebrating the completion of renovations to historic Douwstra Auditorium.
Central College’s Mills Gallery is hosting “Rising Waters,” an exhibition of 13 vibrant, intricate woven sculptures and collages by Boston artist Nathalie Miebach.
The Douwstra Auditorium stage was named in honor of James ’66 and Beatrice Minium Hoekstra ’64.
Want to find out more about Music and Music Education at Central? Contact us to learn more about this major and our other strong academic programs. Visit campus to observe classes and experience The Central Difference firsthand.
Central College
812 University St.
Pella, Iowa 50219
1-877-462-3687
