Study Music Abroad in Italy Programs

As the birthplace of opera and classical composers like Verdi and Puccini, a Study Music Abroad in Italy Program is likely to be memorable. Studying music is more than just learning notes. If you are majoring in music, you know that inspiration is a key component. Immersing yourself in a new culture might offer you the opportunity to broaden your way of thinking about music, or give you a new cultural perspective, while you earn valuable undergrad credrits.. Whether you are interested in electives or you study music as your undergraduate major, Italy warrants consideration, and there are several main cities to choose from.

Why Consider Study Music Abroad in Italy Program?

Today’s performer often seeks international acclaim. A Music Study Abroad program may be a great way to get a sense of music history, or have your finger on the pulse of the foreign music scene. Italy itself has a strong music culture – folk, classical, opera, progressive jazz, electric dance music all have a strong presence in this dynamic and cultural country. If expanding your sense of music appreciation is important to you, a recent survey in US News reports that 'one of the top destinations for study abroad programs is Italy.'[i] Here are a few reasons why a Study Music Abroad in Italy Program might be a great option:

FUN FACT: sonate; from Latin and Italian: sonare, "to sound"[ii]

Opera

Due biglietti per l’opera. La Scala opera house in Milan is also renowned as one of the best in the world. Teatro San Carlo in Naples is second fiddle. When in Rome, listen to the legendary acoustics in the Teatro dell’Operal di Roma. Opera season is January to December, with a suspension during the extreme heat in summer. Then performances may move outside. FYI Pavarotti grew up in Modena. If you either love opera or don’t know, Italy might be the best place to study this type of music genre since it is integral to their culture.

Musical Instruments and Emphasis

If you play the violin or the piano, these two instruments associated with all things classical music were invented in Italy[iii]. It may give you chills to learn musical skills in a country with so much history. Italy is well known for their innovation in musical scales, harmony and notation.

Music Festivals in Italy

If you choose a Study Music Abroad in Italy summer term program, you may want to get to the annual Puccini Festival held in Torre del Lago, especially if you enjoy open-air festivals. You could also check out the Arena di Verona for outdoor opera concerts or the Music Inside Rimini Festival.

Keep Calm and Compose On

Some of the famous Italian composers: Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741); Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901); Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)

Local Music Scene

One of the potential perks to studying music abroad is that you get to experience the local music scene. Chances are you and your classmates and friends will go out. When in Florence, you may have a glass of local Chianti, and listen to jazz for example. Cafes, clubs, concert halls, there are many venues in different cities to appreciate and take in.

Weekends

Everyone needs time off. If you choose to Study Music Abroad in Italy, your free time can be spent exploring your ‘home city’ or travelling throughout the country.

Made in Italy and Miscellaneous

When you are not humming, you get the chance to practice Italian. Italy (Milan, Florence) is recognized for some pretty top fashion labels (Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi). Food deserves its own category but of course there is that (think fresh pizza in Naples).

Frecciarossa

The high-speed train, called Frecciarossa (red arrow), serves major cities in Italy. Trenitalia, the national railway company of Italy, operates it. Take it to Torino, Milan, Rome and Salerno to name but a few cities.

Find a Music Study Abroad Program in Italy

StudyAbroad.com makes it easy to search for a Study Music Abroad in Italy program. Search by selecting a city, (Florence, Rome, Siena, Milan...) or see what is offered during the term or year when you hope to go. Apart from the music, studying in Italy might prove to be unforgettable. Continued success as you look into studying music in Italy!