What Sets Our Program Apart?
Innovative Curriculum. Creative Environment. Caring Community.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
If you want to succeed, you need the right tools. Millersville University stands apart as an innovative leader—and an obvious choice—to build your solid foundation for a successful career in music.
The Winter Visual and Performing Arts Center
Millersville University’s Winter Visual and Performing Arts Center is a premiere performing arts center for arts learning in the 21st century, including:
- Biemesderfer Concert Hall: a completely tunable room featuring motorized banners and curtains that absorb sound. The Concert Hall has the greatest range of reverberation and sound control of all the performance spaces in the Winter Visual and Performing Arts Center. The Hall is named after Elva Biemesderfer who was a profound supporter of the arts and was known for her beautiful soprano voice. It holds 290 seats.
- Clair Performance Hall: The Clair Performance Hall is the largest performance space in the Winter Visual and Performing Arts Center. The hall seats 650 and is a traditional proscenium stage.
- Piano Lab: As the only one of its kind in the United States , the lab houses 40 Yamaha Clavinova digital pianos , which are connected to each other so that students can listen to each other, the instructor can isolate one piano, or modify what the students are hearing. All Clavinova’s are equipped with a computer, enabling students to work with ProTools and Logic.
- Disklavier: The Yamaha DCFX Disklavier’s RemoteLive technology enables a pianist to perform in one location and have his or her keystrokes and pedal movements transmitted live, in real time, to other networked Disklavier pianos anywhere in the world.
- Steinman Foundation Recording Suite: Containing state-of-the-art equipment and acoustically adjustable surfaces, students learn how to record performances, edit, and master tracks. Students set up mics, amps and record musicians using ProTools and Logic from a live performance and are also able to utilize isolation booths. The studio can also record concerts patched in from our acoustically sound performance halls.
Millersville University’s Ware Center in downtown Lancaster fosters entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation. Students with an interest in the Music Industry forge new alliances and create new opportunities as they use the city as a laboratory for ideas and an “incubator” for creative work. Downtown performances and lectures are accommodated in a rich acoustical and engaging environment. Masterclasses, some in conjunction with renowned visiting artists, are housed in this venue as well.
Nationally Ranked Program
When it comes to offering a solid value and a return on investment, it’s no wonder that more students are seizing the opportunity of a better education at Millersville!
- U.S. News & World Report ranked Millersville University in the top 100 Best Regional Universities in the North and in the top 25 Best Regional Public Schools in the North in 2014. The report reviews the quality of education and recognizes academically rigorous liberal arts curriculum, class size, and student-to-faculty ratio, among others.
- AffordableCollegesOnline.org has ranked Millersville as a top college in Pennsylvania for return on investment.
- BestColleges.com has named Millersville University one of the safest college campuses in America.
- National Council on Teacher Quality has listed Millersville University in the top 20% for teacher education.
- StudyInternational.com cited Millersville University as one of the best institutions for student experience and lifestyle on the East Coast.
Innovative Curriculum
We are creating tomorrow’s musicians, educators, and entrepreneurs with one of the most innovative curriculums.
Bachelor of Science in Music Education
- We offer an education centered on the Kodály Concept of Music, which has been proven to be an effective means for developing musicianship skills. Two of the leading International Experts on this system are on our faculty.
- Textbooks written by our faculty are in use at Eastman School of Music, Westminster Choir College, New England Conservatory, New York University, Indiana University Bloomington, and Ithaca, as well as throughout Great Britain, Australia, Canada, and are currently being translated into Chinese.
- Students have a unique opportunity to obtain additional knowledge from the encouraged Entrepreneurial Minor that will allow them to bring an entrepreneurial perspective to the field of Music Education.
Bachelor of SCIENCE IN MUSIC INDUSTRY - PRODUCTION OR MANAGEMENT EMPHASIS
- Students receive a degree that encompasses music business, recording and performance.
- Project-based classes blend standard learning with hands-on experiences both in and out of the classroom.
- Learn to fully operate ProTools and Logic in our state-of-the-art recording studio, as well as operate other digital audio workstations in our one-of-a-kind Yamaha piano lab.
- Classes focus on commercial, popular, and arts administration studies.
- Develop business skills in contract negation, interpretation of copyright law, licensing agreements, concert promotion, grant proposal writing, event planning, fundraising, strategic planning, marketing, promotion, and professional communication.
Bachelor of Arts in Music
- Students learn how to identify and apply related concepts in the curriculum, including historical, theoretical, pedagogical, and practical.
- Develop critical thinking and writing skills and competency in working with musical technology.
- Knowledge of music history with both written and oral communication is fostered and students are expected to attain a high level of performance on their major instruments.
Creative Environment
The Tell School of Music at Millersville offers opportunities to work with professionals in the field, utilize state-of-the-art facilities and resources, and obtain personalized instruction.
in partnership with the Tell School of Music.
- Music for Everyone (MFE) has partnered with the Department of Music to present a concert series within the School District of Lancaster (SDoL). Our small groups and ensembles have entered the halls of the schools to bring quality music programs inspiring young students to begin studying an instrument.
- MFE funds the "MFE Scholars" program. Each year three MU Music Ed majors are equipped with a $2,500 scholarship and in exchange are paired with a music teacher in the SDoL and follow their direction and provide mentorship to young students while they receive mentorship and resources from the SDoL teacher.
in partnership with the Tell School of Music.
- Our students have the opportunity to work with professionals within OperaLancaster and perform in Main Stage and Community Opera Series, and Summer Lemonade Concerts.
- OperaLancaster is the only company in the region - outside of Philadelphia - to present fully staged productions of opera and musical dramas.
in partnership with the Tell School of Music.
- Each year Millersville University's Chorale has the opportunity to perform with the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra at the Fulton Opera House and collaborate with professional musicians and conductors.
- Millersville University music students receive professional master classes with world-renowned musicians through their partnership with the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra.
Lancaster International Piano Festival
in partnership with the Tell School of Music.
- Music Students from Millersville receive the opportunity to partner with the Lancaster International Piano Festival (LIPF) to participate in master classes with guest artists from around the world and teach group piano lessons to students of all ages.
- Lancaster International Piano Festival (LIPF) is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to the performance and teaching of classical music at the highest standard.
Guest Artists/Lecturers
- Classical Artists/Lecturers:
- Commercial and Jazz Artists/Lecturers:
Caring Community
With in-the-field learning opportunities and a collaborative, supporting community, our students build solid mentorship and leadership skills.
Music Exploration and Mentoring Program
- The Tell School of Music offers the Music Exploration and Mentoring Program (MEMP), a unique program designed by students for new students. This program creates meaningful connections and accessibility to resources for freshman music students who need support in entering and adjusting to college.
- Mentorship is provided by upperclassmen to first, second-, and even third-year students! Music faculty choose responsible, organized, and experienced upper-class students to serve as guides. Given the nature of their work and their frequent training, Peer Mentors also benefit by developing strong leadership, listening, and communication skills, making them highly sought-after candidates in the workplace.
in partnership with the Tell School of Music.
- Music for Everyone (MFE) has partnered with the Tell School of Music to provide music mentorship to young students throughout Lancaster City and through programs in the School District of Lancaster.
- Millersville University Percussion Ensemble brought the first Percussion Parade to the streets of Lancaster City (Sept 2013) with the assistance of MFE during Music Friday! This encouraged the residents and children in downtown Lancaster to participate by using hand drums, homemade shakers, and other percussive instruments.
in partnership with the Tell School of Music.
- Scaling Walls A Note at a Time (S.W.A.N.), in partnership with the Tell School of Music, is committed to enriching the lives of children whose parent(s) have a history of incarceration by providing free private music lessons, ensemble training, performance opportunities, and varied mentorship programs.
- As children are taught how to play an instrument and perform as an ensemble, they will be given a positive group identity, opportunities to serve, to perform as a team, and to impact others for good. This is priceless and powerful!
Dedicated Faculty
Above our cutting-edge resources and facilities—what truly makes the Tell School of Music stand out—is our dedicated, diverse, and supportive faculty.
Our faculty has published books that are used by leading universities and music schools throughout the United States, Canada, England, and Australia to teach other students and train future music educators. Schools such as the Eastman School of Music, Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, New England Conservatory of Music, New York University, Georgetown University, Vassar College, and Yale.
Our nationally and internationally renowned faculty is also in demand as guest artists throughout the country, which gives our students a competitive edge with their future careers in music.
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Contact Info
Winter Visual and Performing Arts Center
Tell School of Music
Millersville University
P.O. Box 1002
Millersville, PA 17551-0302
Main Office: (717) 871-4700Recruitment: (717) 871 - 4701