The School of Music reflects the Wisconsin Idea of practical service to the state and its residents. The music program emphasizing training for public school music teachers. The School gained acclaimed distinction with the creation of the first musical artist position at any American university. To attend the School of Music is to join a community of engaged and engaging musicians, scholars and teachers. Since its beginning in 1895, the UW-Madison School of Music has lived out a commitment to a rigorous, student-centered musical education. Our faculty and staff provide models of academic and artistic leadership, and our students reap the benefits of a dynamic public university and the limitless intellectual and artistic opportunities provided by Madison itself. As one of the largest departments within the College of Letters & Science, the School of Music offers flexible programs with innovative and global approaches to music study. Our teaching, research and performances reflect the University’s progressive history of creating change through innovation and exploration. Our public programming, diverse student ensembles, artists in residence and prestigious faculty ensembles demonstrate how the School of Music embraces The Wisconsin Idea, the University’s ethos of sharing what we do with the broadest audience possible. Areas of study include Brass, Composition, Conducting, Ethnomusicology & Musicology, Jazz, Keyboard, Music Education, Music Theory, Percussion, Strings, Guitar, & Harp, Voice & Opera and Woodwinds.