Music and Music Education Majors

Salve Music Students

Salve Regina University's music and music education programs foster understanding and appreciation of a wide variety of music through courses in music history and theory, individual instruction in voice or instruments and performing ensembles.

I made amazing connections in the teaching profession and among professional musicians. Salve allowed me to meet countless professionals who gave me opportunities and helped me grow, and I am sure that the network I began to develop through Salve will only continue to grow.

Luke Bayne '24, music educator

Music students can train in many different styles and areas to help them find their own musical voice and path. Explore pop, rock, jazz, choral and classical, along with songwriting, performance, teaching and more.

If you're a music education student, we prepare you to teach at any level in a public or private school. You'll be well equipped to apply for Rhode Island teacher certification in grades pre-K through 12.

A music education delivers lifelong benefits. Through ensemble performance, you’ll learn about community, cooperation, synergy, teamwork and resource management as you develop your problem-solving abilities. Individual lessons build student-mentor relationships. Studying music theory and history helps you develop analytical skills, a deeper appreciation of the world and an understanding of your own sphere of existence by understanding the cultural role music plays.

What Sets Salve Apart

Combining our mercy mission with the Catholic liberal arts tradition, our programs inspire students to pursue their passion for music while working to make the world a better place.

City of Salzburg in Austria

During our short-term study abroad experience in the Austrian cities of Vienna and Salzberg, students walk in the footsteps of Mozart, Hayden and Beethoven.

Immerse Yourself

Celebrate your talents and develop your skills by joining ensembles, groups, bands and/or orchestra. Performances run the gamut from formal concerts with soloists and orchestras to informal performances at campus events, in a wide range of musical styles.

Christmas band concert

Realize Your Artistic Potential

We offer individual instruction in voice and many instruments from beginning to advanced levels, for course credit, taught by instructors who are active performers themselves.

Learn more about music lessons
Flut and piano lesson

Get Out Into the World

Take advantage of our 200+ study abroad programs. You can also find internships in sound recording, composition, studio teaching or conducting, or in programs associated with the internationally renowned Newport Jazz Festival.

See Study Abroad Options
hopefully oxford

Alumni Making Waves

Simone Cardoso

Simone Cardoso '17

Recording artist

Simone Cardoso headed for Los Angeles after graduation and debuted her first EP "S-95" in 2019. Since then, she has released a number of singles and music videos and has opened for national recording artists including Peachtree Rascals and UMI. Her musical style is reminiscent of late ‘90s/early 2000’s pop with heavy R&B influence. She aims to create music that makes an impact and serves a greater purpose for the audiences and communities for which she performs. Her debut album will release in 2025.

Noah Denzer

Noah Denzer '18

Composer, educator and multi-instrumentalist

Noah Denzer serves as the ensemble director at St. George’s School in Middletown, composer for theater at St. Michaels Country Day School in Newport and as a private instructor of guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, violin, viola, cello and voice. After graduating from Salve, he earned his master’s degree in composition from the University of Rhode Island.

Georgia Feroce

Georgia Feroce '13

Performing artist, writer and musician

Georgia Feroce majored in business and minored in music at Salve. She notes that it was here that she found her way back to the piano and guitar after putting her passion for music aside in high school. Feroce began performing at the open mics hosted on campus and became known for singing the national anthem before many of Salve's sporting events. She was an EEO specialist and counselor at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport for several years before departing for Los Angeles, her home for a decade, where she is a performing artist, writer and musician.

Find Your People

"As a biochemistry major, I still wanted to pursue my love for music and performance throughout college," said Amanda Greco '24. "My time as the soprano 1 section leader of Pitches With Attitude will be the most memorable part. Making music with this group of talented women gave me breaks from schoolwork and lifelong best friends. We share a special bond as we performed in shows on and off campus, traveled for album recordings and enjoyed nights in together."

Amanda Greco

Career Preparation From Day One

The Salve Compass, a program that runs through all four years, connects college to career, ensuring every student has the skills and knowledge to succeed in the job market. With a focus on hands-on, real-world experiences, it will empower you to explore, define and pursue your academic and professional goals.

Explore the Salve Compass Program
Male student is holding his work paper and sharing with two female students while another student is in background adding comments to paper on wall Click to play the video

Inspiring Speakers and Performers

Internationally acclaimed musician Jon Batiste was our 2017 Commencement speaker and performed "Amazing Grace" for our graduating class. "Understanding what you've been taught, the values that have been instilled in you in your four years here, I think you are well prepared to step out there and take the stage," he told the graduates.

Jon Batiste Click to play the video

Music Ensembles

Choral Ensembles

In University Chorus, Madrigals, Mixtapes (coed a cappella) and Pitches With Attitude (women's a cappella), you can develop your vocal skills across a range of musical styles. Performances may be formal concerts with soloists and orchestras, casual shows at events or anything in between. Some ensembles offer opportunities to travel, with past trips to Ireland, Italy, Montreal, Quebec City, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

You can register for vocal ensembles for credit or get involved as an extracurricular activity by becoming a member of the Salve Music Ensembles Club. Then you can audition for spots singing solo and in small groups at select concerts. Auditions are required for all but University Chorus, which is open to all in the Salve community.

Instrumental Ensembles

You can register for credit in several ensembles. All of them are student-centered, expanded by members of the local music community to offer complete instrumentation and mentoring opportunities.

The Newport County Orchestra is a standard symphony orchestra, while the Newport Community Symphonic Band explores academic, pop and classical band music. Both perform at the Casino Theatre and other venues around the Newport area and in Salve’s Ochre Court.

The jazz ensemble explores swing, funk, modern jazz, fusion and rock, while the percussion ensemble explores the range of literature written for ensembles featuring percussion instruments. Other ensembles, based on student availability, include a string quartet, jazz combo and woodwind ensemble. We also consider various mixed ensembles depending on student and faculty availability.

Career Paths in Music and Music Education

With an emphasis on music and a solid basis in the liberal arts, our music programs build skills and attributes that give you a competitive advantage out in the world.

Our alumni are active in teaching music, the music business, recording, private studio teaching and performance. They have pursued advanced degrees at Boston University, Concordia University, Lesley University, University of Bridgeport, University of Rhode Island, University of Southern California and other top institutions.

Here are some of the roles our alumni hold now:

  • Campus minister, Saint Patrick Academy
  • Ensemble director and music teacher, St. George’s School
  • Music teacher, Thompson Middle School
  • Music teacher, Rogers High School
  • Music therapist, Connecticut Hospice
  • Voice technician, McClosky Institute of Voice

Degree Options

Bachelor of Arts in music

Our program includes courses in music history and theory, individual instruction in voice or instruments and participation in performing ensembles. Required music courses, especially music lessons, should be started as early as possible, preferably in the first year. You must audition to major in music and be accepted into the department by a faculty member.

With only 38 credits required for the major, you'll have plenty of opportunities to double major or minor in areas like biology, chemistry, creative writing and publishing, mathematics, philosophy, political science, psychology or theatre arts. 

See course requirements and degree plan.

Bachelor of Arts and Science in music education

Our music education program prepares you to apply for Rhode Island teacher certification in grades preK-12. You must audition to major in music education and be accepted into the department by a faculty member.

See course requirements and degree plan.

Minor in music

See course requirements.

Meet Our Music and Music Education Faculty

Our programs are a collaboration between students and faculty in pursuit of the aesthetic pleasure that only this art form can bring to our lives, making all that we encounter more meaningful.​

See all Music, Theatre and Dance faculty
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