Skip to content

Next Steps: New students

 

Undergraduate Students

1) Before classes begin
  • Set up UMail and Campus Information Services (CIS) accounts
  • Register for University of Utah orientation
  • If applicable, attend International Student Orientation
  • Get Student ID card
  • Audition for an ensemble
  • Sign up for Practice Rooms
  • Every student applying to the School of Music must take the First-Year Theory Diagnostic Assessment.  It is highly recommended that students do so in the McKay Music Library on the day of their audition.  Students who do not pass this exam are not eligible to enroll in either Theory I (MUSC 1110) or Aural Skills I (MUSC 1130). As a result, they may either take the online summer theory-rudiments class (MUSC 110) or enroll in the in-class version (MUSC 1100) in the fall. Successful completion of either of these classes will enable students to enroll in Theory I and Aural Skills I.
2) Register

Attend Orientation, where a CFA Academic Advisor will help you register for classes. All incoming students are required to attend orientation.  At Orientation, the CFA Advising team advises students about registration and degree programs.

  • Complete the private lesson application, then register for lessons when you receive the class number through your UMail.
  • Register for courses
  • Piano Proficiency Requirement: All music students must pass the Piano Proficiency Examination. The exam is administered at the beginning of each semester. All students should be enrolled for Keyboard (MUSC 1150, 1160, 2150, and 2160) each semester until this requirement is fulfilled or until the piano proficiency exam is passed. Private piano study may not be substituted for Class Piano or the Piano Proficiency Exam. For BM Jazz Composition or Jazz Performance majors whose primary instrument is piano, please refer to the Jazz Piano Placement Requirements for Jazz Piano Majors document for information on placement out of MUSC 2181 and 2182.

Graduate Students

1) Before Orientation
2) Take appropriate placement exams.

All incoming graduate students must take a placement exam in music theory and music history.

The Graduate Advisory Exam in Music Theory will be administered online for the 2023-2024 academic year. Complete details about the logon process will be sent out via email at the beginning of August; in the meantime, students should continue to review both diatonic & chromatic harmony as well as musical form. Please note that communicating or disseminating any information about the exam itself constitutes academic misconduct - see University Policy 6-400: Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities - and subject to any penalties stated therein. 

Test Degree Date Time Room
Music History MM/MA/DMA/PhD Thursday, August 17, 2023 9:30 AM-12:30 PM 302
Music Theory

MM/MA/DMA/PhD

Opens Monday, August 14, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Closes Thursday, August 17, 2023 at 11:59 PM

n/a Online
Diction DMA Vocal Perf TBA TBA TBA
Placement Exam Study Guides
  1. History Study Guide and Practice Exam
  2. Graduate Theory Placement Study Guide
  3. Theory Study Examples
3) Attend required graduate student orientation

Friday, August 18, 2023 from 10:00-11:00 AM in Dumke Recital Hall, room 400 in David Gardner Hall.

*TA training will take place for all new and current TAs immediately after from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM in Dumke Recital Hall.

4) Register

STEP 1) Meet with your area head to determine courses for registration

STEP 2) Obtain results from placement exams

STEP 3) Fill out special registration forms, if applicable (private lesson, individual coaching, recital, research courses and thesis hours applications) and obtain appropriate signature(s) as specified on form

STEP 4) Register for courses


Transfer Students

1) Before classes begin
Music Theory Transfer Placement Exam Study Guides
  1. Sophomores: Freshman Practice Capstone Examination
  2. Juniors: Sophomore Practice Capstone Examination

3) Register

STEP 1) Attend Orientation, where a CFA Academic Advisor will help you register for classes. All incoming students are required to attend orientation.  At Orientation, the CFA Advising team advises students about registration and degree programs.

STEP 2) Fill out private lesson application

STEP 3) Register for courses

  • Piano Proficiency Requirement: All music students must pass the Piano Proficiency Examination. The exam is administered at the beginning of each semester. All students should be enrolled for Keyboard (MUSC 1150, 1160, 2150, and 2160) each semester until this requirement is fulfilled or until the piano proficiency exam is passed. Private piano study may not be substituted for Class Piano or the Piano Proficiency Exam. For BM Jazz Composition or Jazz Performance majors whose primary instrument is piano, please refer to the Jazz Piano Placement Requirements for Jazz Piano Majors document for information on placement out of MUSC 2181 and 2182.
Last Updated: 5/30/24