Academic Standards

The Department of Performing Arts, Music Division, has been a fully accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music since 1933. Undergraduate degree programs include the Bachelor of Music (concentrations in Music Education, Performance or Theory/Composition) and the Bachelor of Arts in Music. The Department also offers the Master of Music degree in Performance or Music Education. Specific course requirements for these degrees and for the Music minor can be found in the UTC Catalog.

Admission, Audition, and Placement

Students admitted to the university intending to major in Music are classified initially as Pre-Music majors. They must perform a live audition on their primary applied instrument or voice and complete either a Music Theory Diagnostic Examination (freshmen) or Sophomore Theory Proficiency Examination (transfers) in order to be eligible for admission into the Bachelor of Artsor Bachelor of Music degree programs.

Entering students will perform their audition on the spring audition dates or on the Friday before classes begin each semester. Current UTC students may audition on semester-end performance juries. The Music Theory Diagnostic Exam is a placement test indicating whether the student is prepared for college-level music theory. This exam is administered on spring audition dates, at summer Orientation sessions and on the Friday before classes begin in the fall semester. Students transferring to UTC as juniors must take the Sophomore Theory Proficiency Examination and audition for upper-level applied study (3000- or 4000-level) if pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree.

The Music Division will notify students of the results of the audition and diagnostic exam.  Students who are successful in both areas will be admitted as Music majors and the Registrar will be officially notified. Students who meet with partial success must remain Pre-Music majors. Deficiencies in applied performance must be addressed through appropriate applied study at the 1000- or 2000-level. They must later re-audition for admission to the major.  Students who do not achieve the required minimum score on the Theory Diagnostic Exam must complete a Theory Fundamentals course with a grade of C or better before they will be admitted as a Music major.

Advisement

 All Music faculty members are available for consultation and advice. However, music majors must consult with the academic advisor for their degree program prior to each registration period, and when a change in schedule or course of study is desired. Look in the side-nav under your specific degree program (which is under the join us link) for typical courses of study. 

Ensemble Requirements

All music majors are required to participate in a major ensemble during each semester of residence. B.M. and B.A. students must accumulate a minimum of eight credit hours; B.M. Music Education students must accumulate a minimum of seven credit hours. Requirements vary among degree programs.

Majors whose primary performing medium is piano or guitar must participate in large and/or small ensembles for a minimum of eight semesters. A minimum of four semesters must be with a large ensemble. Advanced piano students are encouraged to undertake accompanying responsibilities to fulfill some ensemble requirements. Such assignments will be made by the Department Head, in consultation with the piano professor. In these cases, ensemble credit will be earned via enrollment in MUS 2011, Piano Ensemble.

B.M., Music Education majors:

Instrumental music education majors whose certification area is instrumental music education must enroll in an instrumental organization appropriate to their primary applied area (Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Orchestra). Students seeking a career as a band director must enroll in the Marching Band each fall semester.  

Music education majors whose certification area is vocal-general music must enroll in an appropriate choral organization (Choral Union or Chamber Singers) for a minimum of seven semesters.

B.M. Performance, Theory/Composition and B.A. majors:

Majors whose primary performing medium is a band or orchestra instrument or voice will participate in an appropriate large ensemble (Marching Band, Concert Band, University Orchestra, Chattanooga Singers, Chamber Singers, or Opera Workshop) for a minimum of eight semesters.

Continuation Standards

In order to assure the professional competence of Bachelor of Music graduates, students must demonstrate their mastery of both the theoretical and applied aspects of music at the midpoint of their degree programs. Successful completion of these standards is prerequisite to enrollment in upper-division music courses.

B.M., Performance:

1. 2.0 GPA in all music courses.
2. Pass the standardized theory exam as pre-requisite to upper-division music courses, with the following exceptions: 3110, 3150, 3160, 3170, 3320.
3. Audition for admission to 4000 level before Division Jury in the semester during which student is registered for his/her eighth hour of 2000-level study. See the Division Jury section on pages 10-11 for further details regarding this audition.
4. Written evaluation by applied faculty of aptitude for a career in music performance submitted to the Head and the Chair of Division Jury prior to the audition.

B.M., Theory/Composition:

1. 2.0 GPA in all music courses.
2. Pass the standardized theory exam as pre-requisite to upper-division music courses, with the following exceptions: 3110, 3150, 3160, 3170, 3320.
3. Audition on primary instrument for admission to 3000 level before applied faculty in semester juries at the end of the fourth semester of 2000-level study.
4. Written evaluation by theory faculty of aptitude for a career in theory/composition submitted to the Head and the semester jury panel prior to the audition.

B.M., Music Education*:

1. For graduation, 2.0 GPA in music courses and 2.0 GPA in College of Education and Applied Professional Studies courses. For Licensure, 2.5 GPA cumulative, 2.5 GPA at UTC, 2.5 GPA in education courses with no grade lower than a C, and 2.5 GPA in content area coursework with no grade lower than a C.
2. Audition on primary instrument for admission to 3000 level before applied faculty in semester juries at the end of the fourth semester of 200-level study.
3. Pass the standardized theory exam as pre-requisite to upper-division music courses, with the following exceptions: 3110, 3150, 3160, 3170, 3320.
4. Pass the piano proficiency exam as prerequisite to Music 3210.
5. Evaluation by faculty of aptitude for a career in music education via the entrance interview for TEP.

*Note: these requirements are in addition to those mandated by the College of Education.

Seniors interested in entering the graduate program in music at UTC and who have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 are eligible to register for graduate courses. The appropriate advisor should be consulted.

Piano Study Requirements (non-keyboard music majors)

Keyboard Competencies for Non-Keyboard Music Majors

Keyboard competencies for non-keyboard music majors.

Senior Educational Experience

All music majors must complete a Senior Educational Experience.

All Senior Education Experiences must be completed by the last day of the semester exam period. Documentation demonstrating completion must be submitted to the advisor by that date.

Professional Conduct

Music students are expected to exhibit professional conduct at all times, and to help preserve and maintain the resources of the department. Failure to do so will result in the revocation of privileges, cancellation of scholarships and may result in suspension from the degree program.

Music majors are to attend all assigned classes and rehearsals, arriving promptly and prepared. Specific attendance policies are developed by each instructor and ensemble director and students are expected to abide by them.

Students may not use the name “UTC” in public performances unless granted permission by the Department Head.

Voice Audition Requirements and Placement Standards

Click here for detailed information about applied instruction placement and audition requirements for vocal study.

Musicianship Skills for Transfer Students (completed Theory I and II)

1. Demonstrate competence with standard diatonic and non-diatonic harmonies
2. Demonstrate acceptable melodic analysis and harmonization using diatonic and non-diatonic tones and harmonies
3. Demonstrate comprehension of standard musical forms through aural and visual analysis; including popular song, art song, simple binary, rounded binary, and ternary forms
4. Locate and identify modulations, including pivot chord and phrase modulations
5. Demonstrate an understanding of melodic construction, including melodic motives, phrases, and cadences

Piano Skills Expectations for Transfer Students

1. All major scales and white key harmonic minor, two octaves, hands separate, with correct fingerings, played at a steady tempo
2. Strong rhythmic sense
3. Harmonization of melodies with basic harmonies, as in playing from "lead sheets"
4. Melodic improvisation over given diatonic chord progressions (I, IV, V) in major and minor keys up to three sharps or two flats
5. Sight reading of short, level-appropriate examples
6. Basic score reading in two and three staves with a mixture of clefs
7. Transposition,
8. Identification and playing diatonic chords, applied dominant chords, commonly borrowed chords
9. Singing while playing a simple melody (e.g., "Happy Birthday")
10. Aural identification of commonly used cadences and basic forms
11. Demonstrate an understanding of legato pedaling