Career Opportunities

The School of Music leads its students toward careers in performance, studio teaching, music education, media music production, recording and sound technology, arts management, music journalism, composition, music therapy, and other music-related professions. Because the music curriculum is rigorous, it is also an excellent pre-professional course of study for those interested in fields as diverse as law, business, library science, or medicine. Whatever degrees one obtains, however, an education in music pertains not only to earning a living through the art but also using the art to enhance one's satisfaction and joy in living.

Graduation Requirements

To receive a BYU bachelor's degree a student must complete, in addition to all requirements for a specific major, the following university requirements:

• The university core, consisting of requirements in general and religious education. (See the University Core section of this catalog for details. For a complete listing of courses that meet university core requirements, see the current class schedule.)
• A minimum of 30 credit hours in residence
• A minimum of 120 credit hours
• A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0

Undergraduate Programs and Degrees

Students should see their college advisement center for help or information concerning the undergraduate programs.

Graduate Programs and Degrees

For more information see the BYU 2006–2007 Graduate Catalog.

General Information

1. Admission applications to the School of Music must be received by January 15.

2. All entering students (including transfer students) must pass a performance audition on their major instrument (or voice). Live auditions are held on the last Saturday of January. Students who cannot attend the live audition must submit an audio or VHS videotape for consideration; these tapes must be received by January 15. See the School of Music office (C-550 HFAC) for further details regarding the audition process and requirements, or call (801) 422-3083.

3. All entering students must also pass an aural skills examination. They may take this examination in one of three ways: (1) in a group, at admissions auditions on the last Saturday of January; (2) individually, at the BYU Testing Center (call (801) 422-6129 to schedule times), or (3) individually by proctor at other locations (call the School of Music office to arrange). Students may take the exam as many times as desired to improve their score.

4. All entering students must take a piano diagnostic examination to determine their keyboard skills. The exam, which is administered individually, may be taken at admissions auditions in January or during fall semester New Student Orientation. If deficiencies are found, students can fulfill the piano proficiency requirement either by (1) taking one or both of Music 221, 222 as indicated by the diagnostic examination, or, in a few cases, by (2) retaking the diagnostic examination after skills have improved. Piano and organ performance majors fulfill this requirement by taking Music 264, 265. The piano proficiency requirement must be passed by the end of the sophomore year. (Call the School of Music office for more details.)

5. Upon acceptance as a music major, each student must establish a file in the college advisement center.

6. Students who pass either part of the AP Music Test with at least a score of 4 should check with the college advisement center before registering for core courses.

7. All major performance instruction must be in the same instrument (or voice).

8. All students registered in Music 161, 260R, 360R, or 460R must complete an examination before a faculty jury on their major instrument (or voice) near the end of each semester of performance study. (With the approval of the faculty, students may elect to substitute a juried public recital for a jury examination.) Students wanting to enter Music 360R or 460R (normally after the sophomore year) must first be granted approval to do so by a faculty jury.

9. All students must fulfill the ensemble requirements of their degree programs (as described below). Students may not, however, enroll in more than two conducted or directed ensembles per semester. (Chamber music and jazz combos are coached, not directed, and therefore are exempt from this limitation.) Large ensemble requirements may be filled by enrolling in the following as appropriate for the instrument or voice: Music 312R, 313R, 314R, 315R, 317R, 325R, 326R, 337R, or 338R. In addition, the following may count, with restrictions: Music 343R for guitarists only; 331R, 332R, 333R, 334R for rhythm section players only; or Music 344R for keyboardists only.

10. All transfer students must have their previous university work in music evaluated by the appropriate BYU School of Music faculty members to determine what credits will be accepted in the transfer (see the college advisement center for referrals). We subscribe to the policy of the National Association of Schools of Music and carry no obligation to accept upper-division music credits from other member schools.

11. If any course the School of Music is failed twice, the student is dropped from the major.

12. Students temporarily leaving the School of Music or private studio instruction (for a mission, Study Abroad, etc.) for one or more semesters before their major requirement is completed are required to file a deferment form with the School of Music office (C-550 HFAC). Failure to do so may result in the loss of any music scholarship as well as private studio instruction in the semester or two following the student's return to BYU.

13. It is expected that School of Music students attend at least eight concerts and two School of Music–sponsored lectures each semester, in the process seeking greater exposure to a more diverse variety of music literature and thought. For more information see the "Undergraduate Handbook" published by the School of Music.