The USC School of Music believes that music is an essential part of the human experience. Our mission is to prepare students to become skilled music leaders who enrich their communities and improve lives through the power of music.
Through exceptional instruction, professional preparation and meaningful engagement, we equip graduates to make a lasting impact wherever they live and work.
The School of Music serves approximately 500 music majors and is home to more than 50 distinguished faculty members. Students benefit from rich learning, performance and leadership opportunities in a supportive environment that fosters artistic excellence, creativity and career success.
Areas of Study
- Community Engagement
- Jazz Studies
- Music Composition and Theory
- Music Education
- Music Entrepreneurship
- Music Industry Studies (Live Event Promotion, Record Label Operations and Audio Recording)
- Music Performance
- Music Teaching Artistry
- Musical Theatre
- Piano and Violin/Viola Pedagogy
Fast Facts
- Consistently recognized among the nation’s leading schools of music
- Nationally recognized for excellence in music education, innovative learning centers and community engagement initiatives
- Extensive performance opportunities, including bands, chamber ensembles, choirs, jazz ensembles, opera productions and orchestras
- Left Bank Big Band, USC’s premier jazz ensemble, was selected to compete in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 2026 National Collegiate Jazz Championship
- The Carolina Band won the Division I Grand Prize in Metallica’s 2026 Marching Band Competition in 2026 and will be featured in a EA Sports College Football video
- Experiential learning through Greene Street Records, Live @ The Underground and industry partnerships gives Music Industry Studies students valuable professional experience and connections
- Flexible pathways to combine music studies with USC’s more than 300 academic programs
- SPARK Music Leadership develops the leadership, entrepreneurial and professional skills needed for sustainable careers
- Home to the ASCAP Award-winning Southern Exposure New Music Series, featuring exciting guest artistsÌý
