BA Music is a specialized undergraduate course of 3 years for students who are seeking an undergraduate degree in Music. BA Music has got several specialized course components like vocal music, instrumental music and various dance forms. History of Music, Music Theory and Music Interpretation are some of the major subjects that are included in this course.
Check the full list of Top Music Colleges in India here.
Students who have successfully completed their higher secondary degree from a recognized board of education are eligible for the BA Music course. Some institutions only accept students having a minimum of 50% in their higher secondary level. Students must have Music as their elective subject in their 10+2 qualifying exam.
The curriculum is made in such a way so that the students get the knowledge of fundamentals of music and dance. The course prepares the students with good teamwork, self-management and technical skills so that they can excel in future.
Check here top BA Music Colleges in India.
Admission to this course will be done based on the candidate's performance in the Class 12 examination. However, there are some colleges which offer admission to BA Music programs based on the candidate's performance in entrance exams. Those who don’t want to pursue a higher degree, they can apply for various jobs that are relevant to music, dancing, etc. Job roles such as Disc Jockey, Art Director, Concert Promoter, Film Music Director, Music Critic, Advertising Specialist, Studio Musician, Music Teacher etc. are some of the common career options. The average fee charged by colleges offering this BA course ranges from INR 2,000 to INR 5,00,000 per annum. It can vary depending upon the college the student has chosen.
The average BA Music salary that one can expect after completing the course ranges from INR 4,00,000 to 10,00,000 per annum depending on the job roles.
On completion of this program, students can choose to study further in this field to gain an in-depth knowledge of the subject and pursue a master degree course i.e. MA Music and afterwards PhD Music.
Check the list of Top PhD Music Colleges in India.
The course highlights for BA Music have been put in a table below. All the important information regarding this course has been mentioned below.
| Course Level | Undergraduate |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Examination type | Semester |
| Eligibility | Passed Class 12 from a recognized board |
| Admission Process | Merit-Based |
| Course Fee | INR 2,000 to INR 5, 00,000 per annum |
| Average Salary | INR 4,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 per annum |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Commission of Fine Arts, National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Institute of Museum and Library Services etc. |
| Job Positions | Film Music Director/Editor, Music Critic, Advertising Specialist, Studio Musician, Music Teacher, Recording Technician, Artist and Music Journalist among others. |
The course of BA in Music provides basic knowledge about the various fundamentals of music and dance forms related to it. Following are the key points that a student will get to learn in this course:
- The students get to know about various classifications of music that are involved.
- The students are trained with all the knowledge of music so that they can excel in a musical career. History of music, composing of music, music interpretation, knowledge about ragas, and taal everything is taught to them during this course of three years.
- Development of good teamwork skills, technical skills, exposing the students to different cultures of music is some of the key activities that are included in this course.
- Students will get to develop an awareness of professional ethics in the art world, understanding of different perspectives and cultures, and understanding of music in community projects.
- The students are prepared to become - Music Therapists, Performers, Music Composers/ Conductors etc.
Why Study BA Music?
There are many benefits of pursuing a BA degree in Music. Some of them are:
- Students gain an in-depth knowledge of the fundamentals of music, communication skills, and technical skills which are needed to excel as a musician in future.
- BA in Music provides foundation education in music composition and various classifications that are in music.
- Placements usually occur in the Department of Cultural Affairs, Entertainment Companies, Music Companies, Performing Arts Centers, Music and Film Studios, etc.
- Handsome salary packages are offered to BA Music degree holders with the average salary of INR 4,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 per annum.
- A large number of employment opportunities are available to students in this field.
- It will further open new doors of thriving career opportunities.
What is the BA Music Admission Process?
Students get admission to the Bachelor of Arts in Music course on the basis of their performance in the Class 12 examination. Most of the colleges release a cut off percentage for the admission process. Students who are able to fulfill the cut off percentage in their 10+2 score are most likely to get the admission.
Although some colleges prefer to give admission based on the entrance exam. For that, the students need to qualify the entrance exam and have the cut off percentage in their 10+2 examination also. The application form will be available on the official website of the college or university, students can download it.
Entrance Exam Based Admission
The guide to apply for entrance exam based admission is as follows.
- Registration: Registration dates are announced days before by the institute. An account needs to be created with basic details like email-id, phone number, etc.
- Fill up details: Fill up the application form with all necessary details with care. Care must be taken to ensure all details are accurate and correct.
- Submit documents: Scan and upload all required documents like mark sheets. Documents need to be uploaded in a specific format only, as specified by the institute’s application portal.
- Application fee: A minimal application fee is to be paid online during the submission of the application form. Payment can be done by all online payment modes.
- Download admit card: Admit cards are released once all applicants are judged for eligibility. The admit card must be downloaded and printed out to be used on the day of the examination.
- Examination: Prepare for the exam as per the syllabus and past papers. Appear for the examination on the date announced.
- Results: Results are announced after a couple of weeks of the exam day. If a candidate is successful in qualifying the entrance examinations, they can move on to the next round.
- Counseling and admission: Counselling is held for students who have cleared the entrance examinations. The student can now take admission in the BA Music course.
What is the Eligibility Criteria for BA Music?
The eligibility criteria for pursuing BA Music is as follows:
- Candidates must have passed Class 12 or equivalent from a recognized board.
- Students must have Music as their elective subject in Class 12.
Which are the top BA Music Entrance Exams?
There are some college-specific entrance exams for admission to the BA Music program. Some entrance exams are national level. Students can get the details of those exams from the respective college websites. Some of the entrance exams are:
- BHU Performing Arts Entrance Exam – This is an entrance exam conducted by BHU, which the students need to give in order to get admission to BHU.
- Bangalore University Entrance Exam – This is an entrance exam conducted by Bangalore University, which the students need to give in order to get admission to an arts degree course.
- Annamalai University Entrance Exam - This is an entrance exam conducted by Annamalai University, which the students need to give in order to get admission.
- Indian Institute of Fine Arts Entrance Exam – This is a national level exam conducted by Indian Institute of Art and Design.
The dates of application and examination for the above-mentioned examinations are mentioned in the table below.
| Exam Name | Application Period | Exam Date |
|---|---|---|
| CUET | February 2023 – 4th week of March 2023 |
May 21 – 31, 2023 Reserved date: June 1 –7, 2023 |
| NPAT | December 01, 2022 – May 21, 2023 | January 04, 2023 – May 31, 2023 |
| TISS BAT | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| IPU CET | March 2023 – April 2023 | April 2023 |
| JNUEE | To be Announced | To be Announced |
How to Prepare for BA Music Entrance Exams?
To help candidates prepare better and efficiently for the entrance examinations, the following pointers can be referred to.
- Students must have a clear idea about the syllabus and the pattern of the exam.
- Students can prepare well for these exams if they follow a timetable and give at least 2-3 hours a day for the preparation.
- Before the exam try to solve as many mock tests and previous year papers as you can. This will help boost the confidence level before the exam.
- Since the exams are time-based, the more the students will practice giving mock tests based on time, the faster they will get before the exam.
- Some exams have negative markings also, so students must be careful while attending the questions. They must attend only those questions which they are sure about.
How to get Admission in a Good BA Music College?
To secure admission into a top-ranking BA Music college, a number of factors come into play. Some of the following tips will be helpful in that regard.
- Since most of the top BA Music colleges have a requirement based on the 10+2 marks, the students must focus and prepare well for the exam so that they will be able to score good marks and clear the eligibility criteria.
- Although most of the colleges have kept the 10+2 marks as the eligibility, still some colleges might ask for further entrance exams and interviews. So students must prepare accordingly.
- Students must keep track of all the important dates of the entrance exams, counseling, and other admission related procedure dates so that they don’t miss any opportunities.
- Take a look at the daily news and affairs of the world regularly. Keeping up to date with the news will help in preparation for the exam and counseling round but also act as a break from studying.
What is the BA Music Syllabus?
The course consists of six semesters and the subjects taught are divided into these six semesters. The year-wise syllabus of BA Music course is provided in the table given below:
| Year I | Year II | Year III |
|---|---|---|
| Appreciation of Music | Concert Singing | Laws of Acoustics |
| Bada Khayal and Chhota Khayal | Different Gharanas and their history | Musical Sound, Wave Motion, Frequency, Pitch, and Volume |
| A brief history of Bharat Natya Shastra and Sangeet Ratnakar | Evolution of Notation system | Music & Literature |
| Classification of Music | Forms of Light Music | Place of Music in Fine Arts |
| Concepts of Ragas and Tala in Indian Music | History of Indian Music | Role of Music in Multimedia |
| Classification of Ragas | Importance of Music Festivals/Seminars/Conferences | Taal Study |
| - | - | Vocal and Instrumental Music |
Which are the Best BA Music Colleges?
The top 10 BA colleges
| Parameters | BA Music | BA Music (Vocal) |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification | Bachelor of Arts in Music | Bachelor of Arts in Music Vocal |
| Course Overview | Bachelor of Arts Music prepares students by training them with various techniques and skills involved in music. The course also focuses on improving communication skills and technical skills. The course deals with teaching about music composing, music interpretations, history of music, etc. | Bachelor of Arts Music (Vocal) prepares students with music notation, scales, notes, chords, and all other tools that are involved in vocal music. |
| Duration | 3 years | 3 years |
| Admission Criteria | Merit-Based | Merit-Based |
| Eligibility Criteria | Class 12 or equivalent from a recognized board | Class 12 or equivalent from a recognized board |
| Average Annual Fees | INR 20,000 to INR 5,00,000 | INR 15,000 to INR 1,00,000 |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 4,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 per annum | INR 3,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 |
| Colleges | Miranda House, New Delhi, Ramjas College, New Delhi, IP College for Women, New Delhi, Ranchi University, Ranchi etc. | Aggarwal College, Alankar Mahila PG Mahavidyalaya, Agra College. |
| College Name | City | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Miranda House, New Delhi | Merit-Based | INR 12,160 |
| Ramjas College, New Delhi | Merit-Based | INR 9,712 |
| IP College for Women, New Delhi | Merit-Based | INR 6,663 |
| Calicut University, Calicut | Merit-Based | INR 1,127 |
| BVDU, Pune | Entrance-Based | INR 16,000 |
| Kanoria PG Mahila Mahavidyalaya | Merit-Based | INR 3,667 |
| Ranchi University, Ranchi | Merit-Based | INR 2,370 |
| Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi Vishwavidyalaya (ABVHV) | Merit-Based | INR 7,633 |
| Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith (MGKVP) | Merit-Based | INR 2,055 |
Source: College Websites
BA Music College Comparison
To help decide between BA colleges to take admission in, the top three in the Music category have been compared below
.
Source: College Websites
BA Music Distance Learning
| College Name | MIRANDA HOUSE | RAMJAS COLLEGE | INDRAPRASTHA COLLEGE FOR WOMEN - [IP] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | MIRANDA HOUSE, New Delhi is a college for women affiliated by Delhi University. It was ranked as the best college in India by NIRF in 2019. It provides undergraduate and postgraduate courses. | RAMJAS COLLEGE is one of the oldest and premiermost colleges in Delhi. The college offers 18 undergraduate and 18 postgraduate courses. | INDRAPRASTHA COLLEGE FOR WOMEN [IP] is a constituent college of Delhi University. Also, it is the first college for girls across India. The colleges provide Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs for all the streams- Arts, Commerce, and Science. |
| The Week Ranking | 4 | 11 | NA |
| Average Annual Fees | INR 12,160 | INR 9,712 | INR 6,663 |
| Average Placement Package | INR 65,000 | INR 77,800 | INR 87,000 |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Commission of Fine Arts, National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, NJ Department of Education, Office of International Education, Travel and Tourism Department, Indian Idol, Bollywood, AIR, Smithsonian Institution, etc. | ||
- Sometimes, due to several reasons, one cannot pursue the desired course in regular learning mode, in such cases distance learning mode comes to their rescue. Students can pursue a BA Music course through distance mode as well. Before taking admission, Students must check for the validity of the course and the college in distance or correspondence mode.
- In order to be eligible for this course through correspondence mode students need to pass the higher secondary examinations from a recognized board with Music as a compulsory subject.
- The minimum duration required to complete this course from distance mode is 3 year and the maximum duration of the same is 5 years.
- Admission to BA Music course through correspondence mode is merit-based.
- The average fee for the course ranges from INR 10,000 to INR 0,000 annually.
Given below are some colleges which offer this course through distance mode.
| College Name | Admission Process | Average Course Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi | Merit-Based | INR 13,600 |
| Institute of Distance Education, Madras University, Chennai | Merit-Based | INR 10,800 |
BA Music vs BA Music (Vocal)
The course comparison between BA Music (Vocal) and BA Music is as follows.
Check out the top BA Music (Vocal) colleges in India.
Source: College Websites
What are the Job Prospects and Career Options after BA Music?
After completing BA Music, students will get plenty of opportunities in various job sectors.
- Various job profiles such as Film Music Director/Editor, Music Critic, Advertising Specialist, Studio Musician, Music Teacher, Recording Technician, etc. are available for the BA Music students.
- Jobs are available in the Music industry. Some of the top recruiting agencies are the NJ Department of Education, Office of International Education, Travel and Tourism Department, Indian Idol, Bollywood.
Some of the most common job profiles that a BA Music student can opt for are provided in the table given below, along with job description and salary package.
| Job Position | Job Description | Average Annual Salary Package in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Music Director | Music Directors lead bands for example Orchestras and Choirs. They select music to perform, manage performances, and work with artists to ensure that they perform well. They lead practices and performances. | INR 9,90,535 |
| Professor | Professors teach students a wide range of subjects at the post-secondary level. They deliver scholarly articles, perform research and instruct in the discipline. | INR 9,13,657 |
| Artist/Performer | They perform music for live crowds and recordings. They work for orchestras, symphonies, tunes, bands, and different sorts of music groups. They may work on playing instruments or sing to enhance their technique. | INR 9,30,680 |
| Composer | A composer usually composes and coordinates unique music used across different sorts of media platforms. The scores written need to be technically correct in order to create flawless performances by choruses, themes, musicians, or instrumental teams. | INR 6,72,240 |
| Audio Technician | An Audio Technician is in charge of setting up sound and recording gear, making alterations and testing the hardware and helping with recordings or sound generation. They work frequently in recording studios and show settings, however, may likewise work in TV, film or radio. | INR 3,67,287 |
Source: College Websites
What are the Future Scope after BA Music?
The graduates can prefer to do jobs after completion of BA Music or can go for higher studies. The most popular choices of education post completing this course are as follows.
- MA Music: If one wishes to continue in the same field of education, the first program of choice is a MA Music. It is a two-year postgraduate course and the eligibility criteria include having a Bachelor’s degree in Music.
Check out the Top MA Music Colleges in India.
- PGD in Music: Many Music graduates choose to go for a PG Diploma program in Music.
- Competitive examinations: Another route that graduates can opt to go for is to prepare for competitive examinations such as SSC, IBPS etc. Examinations that are meant for job opportunities in Government sector organizations are most popular. Jobs are secure with assured high pay and regular increments.
BA Music FAQs
Some of the most frequently asked questions related to BA Music course are provided below:
Ques. BA Music or BA Music (Vocal). Which is better?
Ans. Both of these courses are quite similar but the students who want to get an in-depth knowledge of all sorts of musical fields can opt for BA Music whereas students who are looking to enhance their knowledge on only vocal music, can opt for BA Music (Vocal).
Ques. Can a BA Music program be pursued online?
Ans. No, since this is a practical based course, so you can’t pursue this course in online mode.
Ques. What are the job opportunities that a student can get with a BA Music degree?
Ans. Some of the most common job opportunities that one can get on completion of this degree include Advertising Specialist, Studio Musician, Music Teacher, Composer etc.
Ques. Is there any entrance exam for admission to this course?
Ans. Most of the colleges select students based on their performance in Class 12. However, some colleges might have entrance exams and further interviews in their selection process. Some of them are:
- Bangalore University Entrance Exam
- BMI University Lucknow Entrance Exam
- Annamalai University Entrance Exam
- Indian Institute of Fine Arts Entrance Exam
- Mahatma Gandhi University Entrance Exam
Ques. What is the duration of the BA Music course?
Ans. The duration of this course is 3 years.
Ques. What is the basic eligibility criteria to be eligible to pursue this course?
Ans. The students must have Music as an elective subject in their 10+2, and must have secured an aggregate of at least 50% marks in Class 12.
Ques. In which job sector will the students get recruited after completion of this course?
Ans. The most likely job sectors are - Advertising Agencies, Entertainment Companies, Music and Film Studios, Music Industry, etc.
Ques. What are the common subjects that are taught in the course?
Ans. Appreciation of Music, Brief history of Bharat Natya Shastra and Sangeet Ratnakar, Classification of Music, Classification of Ragas, Forms of Light Music, History of Indian Music. are some of the subjects that you get to study while pursuing this course.
Ques. Are exams conducted annually while pursuing this program?
Ans. Generally, the course has semester type exams.
Ques. What is the average course fee that candidates need to pay while seeking admission to this course in Indian Colleges/ Universities?
Ans. The average course fee ranges between INR 2,000 and INR 5,00,000.
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