Western music evolved from early Christian church music, much of it in the form of free-flowing religious chants. These intentional limitation allowed composers great flexibility in structuring compositions of considerable length and complexity. During the second half of the nineteenth century, a number of Western composers, such as Chopin, Wagner, and Debussy, among others, became disenchanted with the basic tonal system and experimented with various new sounds and combinations. In the early twentieth century, Igor Stravinsky created successful musical works that largely abandoned traditional approaches to rhythm and meter and the Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg devised serial composition an entirely new and atonal system of music. Throughout much of the world, the word music means Western pop music.
Western composers continue to write music for art's sake, but their audience is limited.
With a generally apathetic listening public, the incentives for creating new music of serious artistic merit rest with the composers themselves, educational and arts institutions, and a limited number of patrons. There are a variety of paths to take to obtain a degree in music. Depending upon the program in which you enroll, you can get a bachelor of arts in music, a bachelor of fine arts, a bachelor of music, a bachelor of arts in education, a bachelor of science, or a bachelor of music in music education. Regardless of the specific major area, the first two years of college study emphasize not only performance but also the composition and analysis of music throughout the range of Western literature. Other courses include conducting, arranging, and ensemble work and a concentration in the particular performance medium chosen.