The foremost goal of the School of Music is the discovery, preservation, and transmission of the practice and knowledge of music, as well as the role of music in culture and history. We expand the frontiers of artistic enterprise and cultural knowledge through research, scholarship, and creative production, in our publications, performances, and teaching.

Through our instructional offerings, we provide opportunities for all students at the University of Washington to explore the role of music in the cultural nature of the world: past, present, and future. We teach students to think creatively and critically, to engage in discussions and debates with understanding and respect. Our instructional mission is complex at the undergraduate and graduate levels, where the faculty provides professional training to musical performers as well as to academic scholars. Ultimately, our goal is to instill the standards and ideals of excellence in both the artistic and scholarly endeavors of our students. We value our multi-faceted roles as guides and mentors to new generations of musical artists, teachers, scholars, and listeners of the highest caliber.

As a cultural leader in this technologically flourishing state, we are committed to furthering and transmitting technological advances through our research and instruction.

Because of its prominence in public performance, the School of Music has a unique external visibility. We strive to play a vital role in the cultural life of the university, region, and beyond through the performance, creation, and study of music and culture. To that end, we maintain strong links with professional arts organizations regionally as well as nationally.

The opportunities offered and skills developed within the School of Music form the foundation of a lifetime of cultural expression and understanding for our students and our public.