Program overview
Music Performance is essentially about learning how to "perform" music. Whether you study piano, violin, Chinese instruments, bel canto, or pop vocals, the core is to make your playing or singing expressive through systematic technical training and stage practice. Courses include one-on-one lessons (e.g., weekly sessions with your instructor), music theory, sight-singing and ear training, harmony, form analysis, music history, ensemble/choir, and stage performance. A distinct advantage of Chinese universities is that many music conservatories (like the Central Conservatory of Music and Shanghai Conservatory of Music) have exceptionally strong faculty in ethnic music, allowing you to learn traditional Chinese instruments such as pipa, erhu, and guzheng—something hard to find systematically elsewhere. This program suits students who are passionate about music, willing to practice hard, and enjoy stage performance. If you're introverted but love music, you can also pursue teaching or behind-the-scenes roles.