School of Music

Kory L. Katseanes, Director
C-550 HFAC, (801) 422-8903
www.music.byu.edu/

College of Fine Arts and Communications Advisement Center
D-444 HFAC, (801) 422-3777
www.cfac.byu.edu/

Admission to Degree Program

Enrollment in the School of Music's degree programs is limited. Prospective majors must pass an audition and aural skills exam. Please consult the General Information section below and visit the college advisement center for details.

The Discipline

The School of Music respects and celebrates the historic position of music at the heart of a liberal education and the gospel. From ancient times, music has proven its power to enlighten the understanding, strengthen the spirit, and shape character. With this power music civilizes and invigorates any society in which it is cultivated.

In the School of Music the student learns self-discipline through rigorous practice in pursuit of accurate and passionate performance. The student also learns cooperation and mutual sensitivity through ensemble work. In the study of music theory and history, the student comes to hear and appreciate the grammar and syntax of various musical languages, to distinguish nuances of style, and to grasp the ways in which styles intertwine with ideas.

Students learn in a variety of situations: private lessons, small seminars, multimedia labs, and large lectures. These are offered with a holistic approach that embraces academic rigor, intuitive insight, physical grace, and spiritual eloquence.

Career Opportunities

The School of Music leads its students toward careers in performance, studio teaching, music education, creating and managing music projects for the media, 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 University Core for details. For a complete listing of courses that meet university core requirements, see the current class schedule.)
• At least 30 credit hours must be earned in residence on the BYU campus in Provo as an admitted day student
• A minimum of 120 credit hours
• A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0
• Be in good standing with the Honor Code Office

Undergraduate Programs and Degrees

Majors
BA in Music
BM in Jazz Studies
BM in Media Music Studies
BM in Music Composition
BM in Music Education
Emphases:
K-12 Choral
K-12 Instrumental
Elementary Music Specialist
BM in Music Performance
Emphases:
Brass
Combined Piano and Organ
Organ
Percussion
Piano
String
Vocal
Woodwind
BM in Sound Recording Technology
Minor
Music

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

Graduate Programs and Degrees

MA in Music
MM in Music

For more information see the BYU 2012–2013 Graduate Catalog.

General Information

1. Admission applications to the School of Music must be received by January 15 (for vocalists, December 1).

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, DVD, or VHS videotape for consideration; these recordings 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) 422-8903.

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] 422-6147 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. (Students who receive a score of 4 or 5 on the aural part of the AP music exam are exempt from this test.)

4. All students who do not have a keyboard emphasis (piano or organ) must complete the piano proficiency requirement by the end of the sophomore year. Students can fulfill this requirement by (1) taking one or both of Music 221, 222, or by (2) taking the Piano Proficiency Exam. (Call the School of Music for more details.)

5. Upon acceptance as a music major, each student must meet with their academic advisor 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, 250R, 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 individual degree programs as described below. Ensemble requirements are filled through a mixture of assigned "Category 1: Approved Large Ensembles" (Music 311R [University Chorale] if placed by audition, 312R [Men's Chorus], 313R [Women's Chorus], 314R [Concert Choir], 315R [University Singers], 325R [Symphonic Band], 326R [Wind Symphony], 337R [Symphony Orchestra], and 338R [Philharmonic Orchestra]) and "Category 2: Other Ensembles Approved for the Major," as allowed in each degree program. Only one approved large ensemble per semester may count toward this requirement, and this ensemble assignment is determined by the student's major instrumental teacher or by choral audition, not by the student. The total ensemble requirement should be completed in consecutive semesters of enrollment beginning the freshman year. Students may not enroll in more than two conducted or directed ensembles per semester.

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 in 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).

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 online by the School of Music.