• Several schools in North Carolina offer students music education bundled with liberal arts study.oboe image by rosa zaragoza from Fotolia.com
  
  Whether students are eager to be located in North Carolina's mountains, piedmont or coastal plains, there are higher education instruction in each with dedicated schools of music. Many programs offer well-rounded educations so students can both hone performance skills and be prepared to enter the job market. At least three of the state's college-level music schools are part of the University of North Carolina system. In-state students receive special tuition benefits at these public schools.
  
  

East Carolina University School of Music

• Part of ECU's College of Fine Arts and Communication, the School of Music serves a small population of less than 350 students out of a total of more than 25,000. Degrees in music education, music therapy, theory and performance are offered on the bachelor of music level. Master of music degrees are offered for music education, including therapy, music theory and performance. Music majors focusing on voice and instrumental performance must audition at the end of each term and meet certain requirements for proficiency.
  
  East Carolina University School of Music
  102 A.J. Fletcher Music Center
  Greenville, NC 27858
  252-328-6851
  ecu.edu
  
  

University of North Carolina School of the Arts School of Music

• The UNCSA School of Music serves high school, undergraduate college, and graduate students. To be accepted into the school, students must provide transcripts and references, repertoire lists and resumes of their music history, and they also have to audition in person or by recording. According to CollegeBoard.com, 45 percent of applicants are admitted to the university's programs and there are less than 1,000 students enrolled at the college level. The bachelor of music degree includes completion of a liberal arts program, but the college arts diploma includes no coursework outside of musical study. The master of music program requires performance mastery and completion of a research paper.
  
  University of North Carolina School of the Arts
  1533 S. Main St.
  Winston-Salem, NC 27127
  336-770-3399
  uncsa.edu
  
  (See References 3)
  
  

Western Carolina University School of Music

• Western Carolina's School of Music offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. Undergraduates can choose from the following degrees: bachelor of music, bachelor of arts in music, or bachelor of science in music education. Graduate students can aim for master of music, master of arts in education and master of arts in teaching degrees. Undergraduates and performance-study graduate students must complete a live audition to enter the program. Admission to the School of Music is contingent on acceptance into Western Carolina University, so students must apply to both. Western Carolina has a total enrollment of less than 10,000 students.
  
  Western Carolina University School of Music
  253 Coulter Building
  Western Carolina University
  Cullowhee, NC 28723
  828-227-7242
  wcu.edu
  
  (See References 4)