Mount Mercy's music department is committed to providing a comprehensive music background that ensures students will be grounded in all areas of music including applied music, music history, music theory, ensemble music, and music appreciation. The department offerings are open to music majors, minors, and many courses are open to students from all disciplines.

In music theory, students will learn the fundamentals of music theory, progress to the study of advanced harmony, and investigate formal structures and conceptual techniques. The theory sequence encourages individual creativity through extensive writing exercises, ranging from simple melody harmonization to the composition of larger original. This includes becoming familiar with the major genres and styles of music, including key composers from medieval times to modern day.

The two semester music history sequence provides a comprehensive study of music from the Middle Ages to the present. These courses address aural listening skills as well as traditional study of music from an historical perspective.

One of the most important objectives of Mount Mercy's music program is to provide opportunities for individual and group performances in the Mount Mercy Choir, Women's Choir, Jazz Connection, Band, and Handbells. All ensembles are open to students without audition. The University Band participates on campus as a pep band for athletic events, as well as a concert band. The University Choir typically goes on a spring break performance and service tour to locations such as New Orleans, LA, New York, and Denver, CO. The University Handbells is an ensemble that participates in concerts on campus, and for events in Campus Ministry. The music department also offers a fully equipped teaching performance facility, which includes Stello Performance Hall.

Vocal and Instrumental Music scholarships are available for up to $3,000 per year on a renewable basis. Private lessons for vocal, piano, and instruments are open to students from all majors.