School of Music

For more information about degree offerings by the faculty of the School of Music, visit the School of Music webpage.

The School of Music, the School of Art, Design and Art History , and the Department of Theatre  form the Division of Fine and Performing Arts, which offers programs that lead to professional careers in the arts and to the appreciation of the fine and performing arts. The mission of the School of Music is to provide its students with a professional musical education that is consistent with the aims of a comprehensive university and relevant to a continually changing global and technological environment, to enrich the University’s curriculum with course offerings and ensemble experiences available to all students, and to enhance campus and community life with quality concerts, recitals, and other programs and performances.

The School of Music offers both liberal arts and professional degree programs. The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)  degree is offered in general music studies. In cooperation with the School of Art, Design and Art History , the Department of Theatre  and the Department of Media Studies , the Bachelor of Arts degree is also offered with a major in arts management .

The Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degree is offered with majors in instrumental performance , vocal performance  and music composition .

The University of Tulsa is not accepting applications or matriculating new undergraduate students into the bachelor’s program in instrumental performance, vocal performance, piano performance, or composition beyond the Fall 2019 term. Students who have matriculated into the bachelor’s program may not declare instrumental performance, vocal performance, piano performance, or composition as a major after the Spring 2020 term.

The Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.) is offered in instrumental  and vocal  music.

A student may elect course offerings in jazz literature and techniques in any of the degree programs offered by the School of Music.

B.A. majors in music may elect a film scoring minor . B.A. Music and B.M. Composition majors may elect a film scoring emphasis .

The University of Tulsa is not accepting students into the minor in film scoring program beyond the spring 2020 term.

Admission to the Music Major

Students who wish to major in music in pursuit of the B.A., the B.M., or the B.M.E. degrees must first audition. The audition serves two purposes. It determines both 1) eligibility for admission to the music major, and 2) qualification for music grants-in-aid for both prospective music majors and non-majors who wish to participate in music performance groups. At the time of audition, a committee of faculty members determines whether a candidate qualifies for acceptance into the music major. Students who qualify to major in music through successful audition are notified in writing of both their admission to the major and their financial award. Students who do not intend to major in music, but who qualify for grant-in-aid, are notified in writing of both their financial award and the performance expectations associated with that award.

Both prospective music majors and currently enrolled students seeking to add the music major must perform an audition. If a student is taking lessons in the School of Music, the end-of-semester jury may constitute the required audition.

In the event that a student does not qualify for acceptance, a member of faculty of the School of Music will discuss other degree plans to be considered, or any steps that could be made towards admission to the music major at a later date.

Entrance Auditions Overview

Auditions for students entering as freshman are held in late January and early February of each academic year. Specific audition dates may be obtained by contacting the School of Music office. Students audition for faculty members in their specific performance areas. For instance, pianists audition for the piano faculty; and clarinetists audition for the woodwind faculty. Each audition concludes with an informal interview that gives the faculty members an opportunity to learn about the student’s interests and goals.

Students are strongly encouraged to audition in person on the posted audition dates. Alternative audition dates and times are arranged only if conflicts with posted dates are unavoidable. Audition appointments may be requested by sending an email to musicauditions@utulsa.edu or to a faculty member in the student’s performance area. Audition appointments may also be made by calling the School of Music at 918-631-2262.

The faculty in each instrumental and vocal area has specified music that is appropriate for auditions. To view this repertoire, please refer to the audition information on the School of Music website.

Accreditation

The School of Music of The University of Tulsa is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). The following degrees are listed by NASM: Bachelor of Arts in Music, Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Music in Performance, and Bachelor of Music in Composition.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

1. Develop technical skills requisite for artistic self-expression in at least one major performance area. Students must acquire an understanding of repertory in their major performance area, the ability to read at sight, rehearsal and conducting skills necessary to work as a leader, keyboard competency and collaborative competence and knowledge of repertory through regular and varied ensemble experiences. (Performance)
2. Develop an understanding of compositional processes, an ability to work conceptually with musical structures, and the ability to defend musical judgements. Demonstrate the ability to hear, identify and work conceptually with rhythm, melody, and harmony. (Musicianship Skills, Theory, Ear Training and Analysis)
3. Create and present original or derivative music, including jazz-specific course offerings and ensembles that focus on harmonization. (Composition/Improvisation)
4. Acquire knowledge of music literature and style periods from Greek Classicism to the contemporary era, and include components of World Music. (History and Repertory)
5. Demonstrate synthesis of musical and other skills acquired over the course of undergraduate study including junior and senior recitals and student teaching. (Synthesis)

Special Regulations and Information

• All students enrolled in applied music study, both music majors and non-majors, are assessed a fee of $100.00 per credit hour. See the Tuition and Fees  section of this Bulletin.
• Except for first-semester students, music majors are required to take final examinations in their principal instrument or voice before a jury of applied faculty members. B.M. Performance music majors are required to present a half-hour recital in the junior year and a one-hour recital in the senior year. Any student presenting a recital must be enrolled in applied music with the appropriate studio teacher during the semester in which the recital is to be presented.
• Lessons missed through student carelessness will only be made up at the discretion of the instructor.
• Students pursuing the B.M.E. degree are required to pass functional piano and guitar proficiency examinations before enrolling in student teaching.
• The School of Music offers delayed proficiency credit for those students who wish to demonstrate proficiency in music theory and/or ear training apart from approved transfer coursework or AP credit. Students seeking such credit for music theory and/or ear training courses must 1) be on record with the College of Arts and Sciences as having declared a music major or minor; 2) submit a petition for proficiency credit in writing to the Director of the School of Music; and 3) successfully pass, with a grade of C or better, the course subsequent to the course for which proficiency credit is sought. For example, a student must first pass MUS 1023  in order to earn proficiency credit for MUS 1013 ; a student must first pass MUS 2013  in order to earn credit for MUS 1013  and MUS 1023 . Such credit is restricted to six hours of music theory (MUS 1013  and MUS 1023 ) and two hours of ear training (MUS 1011  and MUS 1021 ).
• Students who earn a 4 or 5 on the AP Music Theory Exam earn credit for the first year of music theory and ear training (MUS 1013 , MUS 1011 , MUS 1023 , and MUS 1021 .) The School of Music does not accept IB credit for music theory or ear training requirements.
• All B.A. and B.M. students must enroll in MUS 4973 Senior Seminar , during the first semester of their senior year and complete a senior project under the supervision of a full-time music faculty advisor. Students are required to submit a formal written proposal for their senior project by April 15th of the semester before they are enrolled in Senior Seminar.
• All music majors are required to complete eight semesters of recital attendance (MUS 1000 , MUS 2000 , MUS 3000 , MUS 4000 ).

Applied Music Lessons

All students should check carefully with their advisors each semester to make sure they are enrolled in the proper section of applied music. Normally students pursuing the B.A., the B.M. with a major in composition or the B.M.E. degree enroll for one credit hour each semester in their major applied instrument/voice.

A B.M. candidate in music performance enrolls for two hours credit in the major applied instrument/voice for the first four semesters and three hours credit for the last four semesters.

Non-majors may enroll in applied music lessons if space is available in the applied studio, if they are participants in School of Music ensembles, and by audition or permission of the applied instructor. Non-majors and students taking a secondary instrument may enroll for only one credit hour.

Ensembles, Accompanying, and Masterclasses

To encourage music ensemble participation by both music majors and non-majors, ensure accurate student transcript records, and avoid exceeding the 18-credit-hour-per semester restriction, all music ensemble classes are offered in double sections: a 0-credit section and a 1-credit section. Enrollment in an ensemble for 0-credit is subject to the following conditions:

• All enrollees will be graded, with the grade appearing on the student’s transcript.
• Only full-time students are eligible for 0-credit sections.
• Music majors and minors must complete the required number of ensemble credit hours as specified in their degree programs. Music majors and non-majors must also enroll for credit (0-credit or 1-credit) for all additional ensembles they choose to participate in or are assigned to perform in to fulfill the obligations of their scholarship or grant-in-aid awards.

Programs

• Bachelor of Arts in Music
• Bachelor of Arts in Music, Film Scoring
• Bachelor of Music Education, Instrumental
• Bachelor of Music Education, Vocal
• Bachelor of Music in Composition
• Bachelor of Music in Composition, Film Scoring
• Bachelor of Music in Performance, Instrumental
• Bachelor of Music in Performance, Piano
• Bachelor of Music in Performance, Vocal

• Film Scoring Minor
• Music Minor

Courses

• MUS 4213 Advanced Composition VI
• MUS 4223 Pedagogy and Performance Repertoire I and II
• MUS 4233 Pedagogy and Performance Repertoire II
• MUS 4273 Opera Literature
• MUS 4293 Piano Pedagogy
• MUS 4343 Piano Literature II
• MUS 4363 Music in the Secondary Schools
• MUS 4393 Jazz Pedagogy
• MUS 4400 Senior Applied Completion
• MUS 4403 Vocal Pedagogy
• MUS 4413 Vocal Literature
• MUS 4420 Compositional Recital Preparation
• MUS 4430 Compositional Recital Preparation
• MUS 4473 Analysis of Contemporary Music
• MUS 4500 Piano Proficiency Completion
• MUS 4802 Woodwind Instrument Methods
• MUS 4812 String Instrument Methods
• MUS 4822 Brass Instrument Methods
• MUS 4832 Percussion Instrument Methods
• MUS 4973 Senior Seminar
• MUS 4991-3 Independent Study