The Western Illinois University School of Music serves to:
Train student musicians in the fine art of musical performance through applied lessons and solo and ensemble performance experiences. Help students understand the structures and contexts of music throughout history and in the present, to enhance their appreciation and performance of diverse musical styles. Prepare graduates who possess the aural, analytical, conceptual, technological, and performance skills needed to be successful in the fields of education, therapy, performance, composition, and industry, or as students in an advanced degree program. Help music students develop the tools of self-discipline, creative expression, analysis, problem-solving, and communication for success in their chosen life's work, in or out of the field of music. Provide basic music courses and ensemble experiences that will assist the general university students who desire to be articulate, responsive, and knowledgeable citizens, consumers, and patrons of the arts. Share the joy of musical expression with the general student, university, community, and regional populations through concerts and recitals. Serve as a resource center for the elementary and secondary music programs and music teachers in Illinois and bordering states. Provide opportunities for pre-college music study for community/regional service and for on-campus pedagogical laboratory experience opportunities. Maintain a faculty of musician-teachers who, through dedication to excellence, sound pedagogy, and effective communication skills, present models that inspire students to achieve their full potential. The School of Music at Western Illinois University is committed to a dual mission within the university:
Helping each undergraduate and graduate music major and music minor to be the best musician s/he can be through course work, applied study, solo and ensemble performance, practical experience, and a variety of listening opportunities; and serving, along with other departments in the College of Fine Arts and Communication, as a cultural center for the university, the community, and the region; including a strong commitment to providing opportunities for non-major university students to develop awareness and understanding of music in a variety of cultural contexts.
