School of Music

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http://www.music.utk.edu

Angela Batey, Interim Director
Barbara Murphy, Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies

The mission of the School of Music is to provide the highest quality instruction in the musical arts and to cultivate creative activity and research in the areas of composition, education, musicology, pedagogy,  performance, and theory. As part of its mission, the school enriches the musical and educational lives of its students, the university community and citizens of Tennessee.

Progression Requirements

All new music students (freshman and transfer) must perform an audition in applied music and take a theory examination. In addition, students planning to major in music education or musicology need to interview with a faculty member in the respective area. No student officially progresses to major in music until the audition has been passed, the theory placement examination has been taken, and, if applicable, the interview is complete. The results of the audition and theory exam will determine the student’s placement in applied music and theory. The audition, theory exam, and interview should be completed during a visit to the university prior to final arrival to begin classes. Applicants are urged to contact the School of Music to schedule appointments for satisfying the requirements as early as possible, but certainly no later than the summer orientation period.

Students entering any one of the four emphases in music education must complete the same audition procedures as those of performance majors. At the end of the second year or after having completed the required courses, students will participate in an interview with an appointed Admissions Board. Upon receiving positive recommendation from this board, students are admitted to the Teacher Education Program and permitted to take required upper-division education courses.

Students who pursue the music education curriculum are subject to all rules and regulations of the Teacher Education Program in the College of Education, Heath, and Human Sciences, notwithstanding the fact that their degree will be awarded from the College of Arts and Sciences.

General Requirements

Students in the School of Music are required to consult the School of Music Undergraduate Handbook, available in the School of Music Office, for departmental policies and procedures pertaining to music degrees.

Minimum Performance Standards

Potential performance and music education majors not meeting minimum performance standards, but showing potential will be allowed to register for MUSC 101  in order to attain the desired level. Such students are normally expected to demonstrate sufficient progress by the end of the first academic year to perform on a level commensurate with a freshman student accepted without reservation by the school. The addition of the extra semesters of study usually results in lengthening the period needed to satisfy requirements for advanced standing (300 level).

Ensembles

Ensemble participation during each semester of residence is required of all students studying applied music. Students are required to participate in ensembles appropriate to their specific degree program. Ensemble requirements vary among the concentrations and are listed in the School of Music Undergraduate Handbook, which is available in the Music Office. Enrollment in all ensembles is by audition or consent of instructor.

Applied Music

Applied study is classified as principal or secondary. Students studying their principle (major) instrument register for credit appropriate to their program (1-3 credit hours). Students studying a secondary instrument register for 1 hour of credit. Study at the principal level receives one hour of private instruction per week or a one-hour class lesson plus a half-hour private lesson. Determination of the mode of instruction rests with the department. Study at the secondary level receives one-half hour private instruction per week or its equivalent in class instruction. Applied music courses do not permit non-credit registration nor may students elect non-conventional grading.

Solo Class

All music majors are required to register for MUSC 200  every fall and spring they are enrolled in applied music with the exception of the semester in which they are student teaching. The requirements for this course are the attendance of scheduled concerts, recitals, master classes, repertoire, and solo classes, and to perform at least once each semester as partial fulfillment of applied music credit requirement.

Applied Music Fees

$150 per credit hour (1 credit hour = $150, 2 credit hours = $300, 3 credit hours = $450). Computer registration and applied music fee payment must be verified in the School of Music office no later than the end of the second day of classes of the fall and spring semesters and the first day of the summer terms in order to be accepted for applied music study.

Keyboard Skills Proficiency Examination

Proficiency in keyboard skills is required of all music majors and is usually acquired in the four-semester series of MUKB 110 , MUKB 120 , MUKB 210 , MUKB 220 . Students who already possess keyboard skills may pass a  proficiency examination in lieu of these courses.

Recital Attendance Policy

The faculty of the School of Music believes that exposure to a variety of live musical performances is an important part of the education of students studying music at the university level. As a result, the faculty has put in place a recital attendance requirement for undergraduate music students. Regular recital attendance helps students become acquainted with accepted norms of recital presentation, furnishes them with opportunities to get to know and respect the talents of other students and faculty in the School of Music, and helps them establish the habit of attending musical performances after graduation. Specific recital attendance requirements are listed in the School of Music Undergraduate Handbook.

Bachelor of Music Degree

The School of Music offers curricula leading to the Bachelor of Music degree with concentrations in music theory/composition, music education, and applied music (brass; voice; piano; organ; sacred music-organ or piano; sacred music-voice; piano pedagogy; strings; woodwind and percussion instruments; studio music and jazz). This study prepares students for graduate music study or for positions in music for which a professional music degree is required.

School of Music Honors Program

The School of Music offers an honors program for exceptional undergraduate students. Students wanting to enter the music departmental honors program must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5, a music GPA of 3.5, and a recommendation from a faculty member. The recommendation is sent to the student’s major area (e.g., voice, jazz, education, musicology, theory) to be approved. Once the area approves the student for entrance to the honors program, a letter will be sent to the School of Music’s Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies admitting the student to the music departmental honors program.

Course work: Students in the honors program must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 and a music GPA of 3.5, and take 12 hours of honors course work: 3 hours of honors by contract course work in any area of music, 6 hours of honors by contract course work in the major area, and 3 hours of a senior project. The senior project (MUSC 497 ) may take the form of an additional recital (such as a chamber recital) for performance majors, a recital paper, a curriculum proposal, or a research paper suitable for publication or presentation at a conference.

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