Students accepted to the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University will work with their academic advisor to tailor a curriculum and degree program to fit their music performance and career goals.

The philosophy behind the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings is that success in the music profession requires skills beyond the major.  Therefore, the recommended major for students in the McDuffie Center is a B. A. in music.  While Center students will receive rigorous instrumental training and music study, they will be able to select from a wide range of extra-musical academic specializations. Among a broad base of liberal arts courses, three required areas will focus on the practical application of the arts in contemporary society including:  New Media – a computer skills course in website creation and management as well as creative use of media in promotion and marketing; English – a communications course in public speaking and writing; and Business – a specialized course in business management for the musician.  All three courses assist students in working toward the goal of individualized arts management.

The student has the option of considering other music degrees such as the Bachelor of Music Education or the Bachelor of Music Performance, but should the student follow the recommended B.A. in music, opportunity exists to take additional music courses from the BM and/or BME degrees as electives within the B.A. course of study.

The uniqueness of the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings is the versatility it gives students who want conservatory-quality music training along with a well-rounded, high-quality college education that will serve them well throughout their life.