The SUNY Fredonia School of Music is an internationally recognized undergraduate and graduate program in a comprehensive, liberal arts and sciences university of the State University of New York. We provide the foundations of outstanding musicianship for all music majors and enrich the cultural life of the campus and community. Our mission is to provide the resources and the guidance necessary to motivate our students to seek excellence in their individual careers in music education, performance, composition, music theatre, music therapy and sound recording. In an environment oriented to the individual, we endeavor to create musicians who will assume vigorous roles as leaders and participants in significant musical experiences.

An audition is required for admission to a Music program. Although accepted students are admitted directly into a Music major curriculum, many first-year students are uncertain about the specific major in Music they wish to pursue. Therefore, all first-year students have essentially the same course work. In the first semester, all freshmen meet once each week in Music Freshman Seminar, a 1-credit hour course that explores the music program, presents professional options after graduation, and introduces world music. Guests include faculty, alumni, and other professional musicians who talk about their lives and jobs. During the second semester, after they have had opportunities to attend general orientation sessions, speak privately about their musical aspirations with advisors, have their abilities assessed by their teachers, and experience the demands made of Music majors, freshman Music students must review the declaration of a major.