A healthy Musician is a great musician

Remaining healthy is vital to your success as a student. We strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with the Musician's Health pamphlet

Music Student Handbook

Download the music student handbook for all information. You may print a copy for your use. This handbook includes degree information, audition information, and so much more. Download the Music Student Handbook today.

Meet with an advisor today

UVU School of the arts has a great team of academic advisors to make sure you are prepared for your college journey. Students are encouraged to meet with an advisor often to make sure they are on track for graduation. The Music advisors can help you register for classes and are able to answer any questions you may have about being a music major.

Find your Academic Advisor

Scholarships

Applications for UVU’s 2022-23 General Scholarship (https://www.uvu.edu/financialaid/scholarships/) are due March 1. Scholarship auditions for the 2023–24 academic year will be held on January 28, February 18, and February 25, 2023. Music majors and non-majors alike are eligible for a variety of scholarships, ranging from quarter to full tuition. Live auditions are recommended, as they provide students with the opportunity to meet and perform for the faculty. Students also have the option to submit a recorded audition prior to March 1. Students who miss these audition dates may request an alternate audition date, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis according to faculty availability. Students auditioning for both music major entrance and scholarship consideration must follow the scholarship audition repertoire requirements, and complete their application/audition prior to March 1. Vocal students are required to bring an accompanist to the live audition. Other students are encouraged, but not required, to bring an accompanist. Students who perform a scholarship audition after March 1, will be placed on a waiting list and considered as scholarship openings become available.

Scholarship Application Process

scholarship Audition Repertoire requirements

Entrance Auditions

Entrance auditions are required for students wishing to pursue a degree in music. Auditions for the 2023–24 academic year will be held on January 28, February 18, and February 25, 2023. Live auditions are recommended, as they provide students with the opportunity to meet and perform for the faculty. Students also have the option to submit a recorded audition prior to March 1. Students who miss these audition dates may request an alternate audition date, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis according to faculty availability. Students auditioning for both music major entrance and scholarship consideration must follow the scholarship audition repertoire requirements, and complete their application/audition prior to March 1. Vocal students are required to bring an accompanist to the live audition. Other students are encouraged, but not required, to bring an accompanist.

Prospective UVU Student Entrance Audition Application

Entrance Audition Repertoire requirements

Theory Placement

All students enrolled in MUSC 1110, Music Theory I, and music majors  who self-select into MUSC 1100, Music Fundamentals are required to take an online music theory placement test prior to the first day of semester classes. The results of this test may indicate a need for further theory training before entrance into Music Theory I. In such cases, students should register for MUSC 1100, Fundamentals of Music (offered Fall, Spring and Summer semesters). Students who register for Fundamentals of Music during Fall semester may remain on track with the required course sequences by taking Music Theory I, and Aural Skills I during Spring semester; followed by Music Theory II and Aural Skills II during Summer semester. Please contact the department for the link to this semester’s placement exam.

Private Lessons

UVU students may study privately with faculty who are highly qualified teachers and performers. Lesson options are as follows:

  • MUSC 145R Private Lessons I, twelve 30-minute lessons (beginning through advanced instruction), $270 fee
  • MUSC 245R Private Lessons II, twelve 60-minute lessons, $443 fee
  • MUSC 250R, 450R, and 455R Private Lessons for Music Majors, twelve 60-minute lessons, including weekly performance classes and end-of-semester juries, $443 fee. Requires entrance audition and concurrent enrollment with MUSC 251R and 451R Performance Class.
  • MUSC 360R Commercial Music Private Lessons, twelve 30-minute private lessons. $270 Fee

Keyboard Proficiency

UVU Keyboard Proficiency Exam Website Information

Music majors are required to pass keyboard proficiency examinations in preparation for their Sophomore review. Students who complete Group Piano I, II, III, and IV with a ‘B’ or higher will fulfill exam requirements. Students who have attained a requisite level of competency in piano may be exempted from group piano coursework through a demonstration of exam requirements.

All Keyboard Proficiency Exams are submitted online.

Please download the Proficiency Exam Packet and watch the tutorial video associated with your exam. Email Hilary.Demske@uvu.edu to register and receive any unknown material (such as sight-reading and the harmonization/transposition exercise). There is a 24-hour window to complete all exams.

Group Piano I Exam:

(Please note that all scales, arpeggios and chord progressions need to be memorized).

  1. Play all Major Scales and Arpeggios, 2 octaves hands together with memorized, correct fingering. No metronome requirement.
  2. Play the following chord progression memorized in all Major and minor keys, hands together:  I-IV-I-V7-I.
  3. Harmonize a simple RH melody at sight using the following LH triads:  I, IV, V7.  Play at least one chord in an inversion.
  4. Transpose the same RH melody into another key (half step or whole step higher/lower) using the I, IV, and V7 chords.
  5. Sight-read a simple piece hands together.

 

Exam Packet: Group Piano I

Tutorial Video: Group Piano I

Group Piano II Exam

(Please note that all scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, and piece need to be memorized).

  1. Play all Major and harmonic minor Scales and Arpeggios, 2 octaves hands together memorized with correct fingering. No metronome requirement.
  2. Play the following chord progression memorized in all Major and minor keys, hands together:  I-vi-IV-ii-V7-I.
  3. Harmonize a simple RH melody at sight using the following LH triads:  I, ii, IV, V7, vi.  Play inversions for multiple chords.
  4. Transpose the same RH melody into any key (Major or minor) using the I, ii, IV, and V7, and vi chords.
  5. Sight-read an intermediate piece hands together.
  6. Prepare a memorized piece at least one page in length.

 

Exam Packet: Group Piano II

Tutorial Video: Group Piano II

Group Piano III Exam

(Please note that all scales, arpeggios, seventh chords, and modulations need to be memorized).

  1. Play all Major scales and Arpeggios, 4 octaves hands memorized together with correct fingering.
    • Scales at minimum of MM=76, sixteenth note subdivision
    • Arpeggios at minimum of MM=63, triplet subdivision
  2. Sing a simple RH melody at sight using solfege while playing a two-handed accompaniment.
  3. Play seventh chords starting from any pitch:  M7, Mm7, m7, Half-dim 7, Dim 7.
  4. Sight-read a simple piece using alto and tenor clefs.
  5. Perform the following common chord modulations starting from any Major key:
    • Tonic-Dominant key modulation (example: C Major to G Major) 
    • Tonic-Relative minor modulation (example: G Major to E minor)
  6. Sight-read an intermediate piece hands together.

 

Exam Packet: Group Piano III

Tutorial Video: Group Piano III

Group Piano IV Exam

(Please note that all scales, arpeggios, modal scales, and connecting bridge modulation need to be memorized).

  1. Play all Major and harmonic minor scales and arpeggios memorized, 4 octaves hands together with correct fingering.
    • Scales at minimum of MM=76, sixteenth note subdivision
    • Arpeggios at minimum of MM=63, triplet subdivision
  2. Play the following modal scales, 1 octave hands together from any pitch:  Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Phrygian, Dorian. No metronome requirement.
  3. Prepare a popular RH melody chord chart using an appropriate LH accompaniment. Improvise a new RH melody using the same LH chords from your selection.
  4. Sight-read a four-part hymn.
  5. Sight-read and then transpose a simple piece with a connecting bridge modulation between any two keys (Major or minor).

 

Exam Packet: Group Piano IV

Tutorial Video: Group Piano IV

Sophomore Review

All music majors must pass a Sophomore Review before entering into upper-division private instruction.

Sophomore Review requirements include:

  • Meeting with music advisor to review graduation plan
  • Passing grade for three semesters of CEMU 0010 Concert Attendance.
  • Completion of the following with a grade C or higher:
  • MUSC 1110 Music Theory I
  • MUSC 1120 Music Theory II
  • MUSC 1130 Aural Skills I
  • MUSC 1140 Aural Skills II
  • MUSC 2110 Music Theory III
  • MUSC 2125 Music Theory IV
  • MUSC 2130 Aural Skills III
  • MUSC 2140 Aural Skills IV
  • Ensembles (4 semesters on one instrument or voice)
  • Completion of the following with a grade B or higher:
  • MUSC 250R Private Lessons for Music Majors (4 semesters on one instrument or voice), passing of fourth-semester jury and sophomore review performance proficiencies
  • MUSC 251R Performance Class (4 semesters on one instrument or voice)
  • Piano Proficiency must be demonstrated. Students may waive coursework by demonstrating sufficient proficiencies on the group piano exams (information at http://www.uvu.edu/music/students/#proficiency).
  • Piano proficiency may also be demonstrated by passing group piano classes: MUSC 1150 Group Piano I, MUSC 1160, Group Piano II, MUSC 2150 Group Piano III, and MUSC 2160, Group Piano IV (commercial majors take MUSC 2170 and MUSC 2180 Jazz and Contemporary Keyboard Skills I and II in lieu of MUSC 2150 and MUSC 2160).
  • Music education interview (music education majors only)
  • Submission of a résumé (guidelines are located in Appendix)

Four semesters of music-major lessons and ensembles must be completed on one instrument or voice. Students who switch instruments will be required to take lessons and ensembles until four semesters on one instrument have been achieved. Students who major in more than one instrument run the risk of insufficient progress on both instruments. It is strongly advised, therefore, that students focus on one primary instrument. Jury evaluations are important indicators of strengths and deficiencies in student performance. If significant deficiencies still exist at a fourth-semester jury, jury members may deny passage. In such cases, the student will be advised on the particular aspects of deficiency and given strategies for improvement. The student will be given the opportunity to repeat the jury examination after one additional semester of private instruction. A second denial of passage will result in non-advancement to upper division private instruction (MUSC 450R, 455R). In the event of a tied vote by the jury panel, the Area Coordinator will determine the final outcome.  

Sophomore Review Form  

Sophomore Review Performance Proficiencies Repertoire requirements

Junior/Senior Student Recital

Download the student recital packet below.

Student Recital Packet