FAQs for Incoming Students
What courses do I sign up for my first semester? Every music major must take Theory I, Aural Skills I, Keyboard Harmony I and Individual Instruction on your major instrument in the fall semester of the freshman year. Check your area of study on the corresponding webpage for additional courses depending on your degree plans. At the bottom of the page you can download the degree requirements for your major. This form also indicates what classes are recommended that you take your first two semesters. It is wise to follow the class recommendations! Because many of the music classes are sequential, doing other than what is recommended may prolong your time in school.
When are auditions for ensembles? Auditions are held the first week of the fall semester. Contact the faculty conductor of the ensemble you are interested in to request audition materials over the summer.
How do I sign up for private lessons? You can sign up for private lessons on BANNER. Please note that there is an additional fee for lessons. There are three different types of lessons listed in the course listing. Consult the list below to see what type of lesson you should sign up for.
NON MUSIC MAJOR: Non-Major private instruction.
MUSIC MAJOR PRIMARY INSTRUMENT: Music Major Private Instruction, major instrument.
MUSIC MAJOR OTHER INSTRUMENT: Music Major Private Inst., secondary instrument.
After signing up on banner, go to the music website: music.usu.edu, click on Current Students, and there is an Application for Private Instruction form. Your submission of this form will enable us to schedule you a teacher and a time that will work for you.
How do I know when my lesson will be? Lessons are listed in the course catalog as ARR. This means that you ARRANGE your time with the teacher based on available times in both your and your teacher's schedules. Fill out the Private Instruction Application on the music website: music.usu.edu, (click on Current Students). Your teacher will contact you in the first week of classes to let you know your time.
Can I sign up to take two credits of lessons? Yes. You can sign up for two-credit lessons on BANNER. Looking at your schedule, you can see the number of credits you are signed up for. It should be in blue writing. If you click on it, you can change the number of credits to one or two. Be aware that if you are signed up for 2ND instrument or NON-MAJOR lessons, two credits of lessons means that your lesson will be an hour instead of a half-hour and, therefore, the fee is double.
I was accepted to your program, but taking a leave of absence this fall for two years. Do I need to do anything to hold my spot or my scholarship for when I get back? Make sure you fill out a Leave of Absence Form. You can fill this out on-line at the Registrar's Website: www.usu.edu/registrar, or go to the registrar's office on campus: TSC 246. Filling out this form will enable your scholarship to be held until you return. Also consider filling out a Release of Student Information form on the Registrar's website. This will enable your parents or guardian to access your information while you are gone. This can greatly facilitate registration and is especially helpful if you will be returning right before or slightly after the semester has already begun. In addition to the Leave of Absence Form, you need to let the head of your applied area know (band, choir, music therapy, orchestra) and your major professor know. Not doing so may result in the cancellation of your scholarship.
When do I need to be back in school? What would happen if I got here a couple of weeks after the semester starts? The school semester begins the end of August. If you are the recipient of a band scholarship, you must be in attendance at Marching Band Camp, which begins a week before the start of the Fall Semester. In order to ensure success in your classes, it is important you start attending classes from the first day, if possible; however, it is possible to add classes through the third week of the semester (with a faculty signature). If you won't be returning until the fourth week of classes or later, consider starting school the following semester after you return.
I got a housing scholarship from the band program. What dorms can I live in? Mountain View Tower, Valley View Tower, or Richards Hall. Be aware that acceptance of housing scholarships are not compulsory for cash or tuition waver awards.
I'm not sure I'm ready to jump into college music theory my first year. Is there anything I can do to prepare over the summer? Consider purchasing your textbook early. You can find and order your textbooks on the USU bookstore website: bookstore.usu.edu. You can also ask your private instructor or high school music teacher for help. Important skills you can practice over the summer to make your college theory experience a lot easier are scales, key signatures, and intervals (Major, minor, augmented, and diminished). Visit some ear training websites, such as www.good-ear.com to help you with interval recognition and other aural skills. Also, be aware that freshman music majors at USU come from many different backgrounds and additional help is available for struggling theory students. If you're ready to jump into the material right away, consider taking MUSC 1100, Fundamentals of Music, online during the summer. You can register for this class on BANNER, or by going to the distance education website at distance.usu.edu: click on current students.
I'm a transfer student, and I've heard that I need to take a theory test before I sign up for courses. What should I do? If you are transferring from another college or university in Utah, and you have completed the music theory/aural skills sequence with a C- or better, you are exempt from being required to take music theory/aural skills at USU. If you have completed only part of the music theory/aural skills sequence, you are required to take placement exams the first week of the semester to determine what classes to sign up for. If you have a scholarship and need to maintain a certain number of credits in order to retain your scholarship, just sign up for music theory I and aural skills I. You can change it later after you have taken the placement exams.
I took AP Music in High School. What class does that count for? While college music theory may seem easy at first if you've taken AP Music Theory, the learning curve is steep. USU doesn't accept AP Music Theory in place of music major theory (Theory I), nor do we accept the International Baccalaureate Music Exam. AP and IB Music DO count as a general Breadth Creative Arts credit (BCA).
I'm thinking of taking ensembles and lessons and getting my generals out of the way before I start with the music classes. Is this a good idea? This will make your workload easier, but it will also delay your progress in the major and will result in delaying graduation beyond four years. The Music Major course of study is designed such that students take a few general classes each semester while taking classes for their major so that they can complete all university and major requirements in four years. Many music classes are only offered one semester a year and are sequential: you must take certain classes before you can take other classes; therefore, the music major sequence takes four years, even if you have all of your generals done. Students are encouraged to start the music class sequence their first semester at USU.
I missed the February scholarship/entrance auditions, but I still want to come to USU and major in music. What should I do? Talk to the faculty over your area of interest to find out if there are more available openings in the major. If not, you may be admitted to the university as a Pre-Music major, take music classes and private lessons, audition for music ensembles and audition for the program the next year.
Marching Band, Symphonic Band and Wind Orchestra look like they all meet during the same time; which one do I sign up for? These three ensembles share the same time slot, but there is only one band rehearsal per day, so it is possible to participate in Marching Band, Symphonic Band AND Wind Orchestra. In fact, to qualify for a band scholarship, you must participate in the marching band and at least one of our large ensembles.
I was awarded a music scholarship, but I can't tell if it's just for one year or for four years. Which is it? Music scholarships are contingent on your continued participation in music ensembles and your continued improvement as a player. When you audition as an incoming freshman, your scholarship is for one year only. Your scholarship is renewed/updated each year, based on your progress and demonstrated commitment to the program.
I am not going to be a music major, but would still like to participate in ensembles. What opportunities are there for me? The Music Department has many outstanding ensembles that students of any major may participate in. Auditions for most ensembles are the first week of school, Fall Semester. Please click on the Ensembles link to your left for specific information. Also, we offer private instruction for non-music majors on many instruments. These courses are listed under MUSC in your course catalogue.