by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Brass Instruments involves the study of Brass Instruments. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Master A Brass Instrument And Performing Art As Solo, Ensemble, And/or Accompanist Performers. Includes Instruction In Playing And Personal Style Development. Examples: [Trumpet], [Horn], [Trombone], [Euphonium/baritone], [Tuba]. Read on to learn the important information every brass instruments major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering brass instruments programs.
Nationwide, brass instruments is a popular field of study, with 109 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Brass Instruments Schools ranking analyzes these 16 schools to determine the best overall colleges for brass instruments students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of brass instruments programs later in this article.
Programs in Brass Instruments build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations brass instruments graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a brass instruments program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a brass instruments major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several brass instruments degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 49 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 59 |
People currently working in careers related to brass instruments tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 49.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 30.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in brass instruments careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in brass instruments opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to brass instruments.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to brass instruments.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Musicians and Singers | 44,568 | 7.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of brass instruments graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $29,248 |
| 4 years | $35,586 |
| 5 years | $40,828 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for brass instruments graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers brass instruments grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Musicians and Singers | $96,571 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 16 different brass instruments programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased brass instruments school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in brass instruments, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Music, General | 10,690 |
| Music Performance, General | 7,193 |
| Music Technology | 1,938 |
| Music Theory and Composition | 1,336 |
| Music, Other | 1,141 |
| Voice and Opera | 668 |
| Stringed Instruments | 589 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 534 |
| Jazz/Jazz Studies | 523 |
| Music Pedagogy | 385 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
