All incoming Music or Music Studies majors, please make an appointment with the undergrad advisor over the summer: https://shoreline.ucsb.edu/meetings/1336949/musicundergradadvisor
For students interested in becoming a music major, a personalized meeting is also advised!
Undergraduate Fall Pre-Instructional Activities
Pre-instruction week is September 20-22, classes begin on Thursday, September 23, 2021.
New Majors Meeting & Reception
This is required of new majors, highly recommended for all continuing majors and those considering the major.
Immediately following the Theory and Musicianship Placement Exams
Tuesday, 9/21, 3-4 pm, Music Courtyard
Undergraduate Theory and Musicianship Placement Exam
This is required of new majors, highly recommended for those considering the minor, or those with previous music theory or high-level music training.
Music Majors are already expected, for those who are not declared as a music major, please RSVP at hdinnogen@ucsb.edu.
Music Theory Exam, Tuesday, September 21 at 1pm, Music 1145
Musicianship Exam, immediately following the Theory exam at 2pm, Music 1145
Download the study guide for the Music Theory and Musicianship placement exams.
Info & Auditions:
Lessons
World Music
World Music Instrument lessons (MUS 22D-X and 122D-X) do not require an audition to enroll. Contact the instructor of the course for class meeting times if not listed in the schedule. The department offers instruction in Dastgah, Arabic Maqam, Nay and Oud.
Strings, Winds, Brass and Percussion
Unless outlined in detail here, other auditions for private instruction in strings, winds, brass, and percussion may be arranged with individual faculty members by instrument. See http://www.music.ucsb.edu/people for email contacts.
Piano
Voice
Audition for MUS 20, Voice Lessons, Fall 2021
Pre-Screens for MUS 25, Voice Lessons, Fall 2021
Sign up for your audition time
Do you love to sing? Would you like to learn voice technique, breath control, and how to become a better singer and communicator? Then please sign up for an audition for MUS 20, at the link below.
Auditions are on 09/21/21 (Tuesday) from 5:10-7:00pm & 09/22/21 (Wednesday) from 11:00am-1:00pm in Geiringer Hall (Music Building)
Results of the audition with course placements will be emailed after the audition.
If we think you might be a good fit for MUS 25 - Lessons with a Faculty member, then you’ll be invited for a Callback Audition on 09/23/21 (Thursday) from 11:00-1:00pm in Geiringer Hall. *Please note, if you enroll in MUS 25 you are also required to enroll in Chamber Choir (MUSA36)
If possible, please sign up for spots immediately following or before another person to minimize the empty spaces.
You must also fill out the voice audition form located here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdAwrkHPMWmia8zf73Ae-23Fza8RTZ5-Btzp5AxjWnUovt7dg/viewform?usp=sf_link
Audition requirements:
- Please fill out the audition form (link above, and will be sent via confirmation)
- Choose a song that shows your vocal range as much as possible, the song should be at least 1 minute in length.
- If your song requires accompaniment, it is preferred that you bring a pre-recorded accompaniment track on your phone or a portable electronic device, along with a speaker loud enough that it can be heard. You can find accompaniment tracks on YouTube or an app called Appcompanist (https://www.appcompanist.com/)
- If you can't find an accompaniment track, please bring your sheet music and one of us will do our best to accompany you on the piano (please don't bring a lead sheet or chords- it would need to be printed music written for the piano).
- You can also sing acapella if you prefer
We are not looking for perfection, but an honest showing of who you are at this moment :)
The piece you choose to sing should be one of these genres:
- Classical
- Folk song
- Hymn
- Musical Theater
- Melodic Jazz standard
If you are having trouble finding a piece that falls under these categories, feel free to contact us and we will offer suggestions. We love variety in repertoire and genres, but it should be noted that we personally teach mostly the Western Classical style of vocal technique--not belting or pop music.
Location: Geiringer Hall
Ensembles
Audition information for Music Dept. ensembles may be found at http://www.music.ucsb.edu/ensembles, click on the ensemble you are interested in. Most World Music Ensembles do not require an audition.
All Ensembles can be found in GOLD under the MUSIC A - PERFORMANCE LABORATORIES section for registration. For ensembles that require an audition, approval (aka add) codes will be distributed by the instructor after a successful audition.
Choirs
Audition Required:
NO AUDITION REQUIRED:
Meet Dr. La
Dr. Nicole Lamartine is the newly-appointed Sorensen Director of Choral Music at UCSB. She comes to us from the University of Wyoming where her choirs were known for their eclectic mix of genres and styles and were regularly selected for performances at regional and national conferences. Dr. La is passionate about building UCSB choirs into a culture of excellence, where each student may freely contribute their experiences to our eclectic whole. Read more here.
Jazz Combos/Ensemble
Contact Dr. Jon Nathan at ucsbjazz@gmail.com and attend a first class meeting, TBD
Maurice Faulkner Scholarship Brass Quintet
See https://www.music.ucsb.edu/ensembles/brass-quintet for audition and repertoire requirements.
UCSB Chamber Orchestra
Auditions will take place. All students, including BM majors, are required to audition. You must sign up for an audition, visit https://music.ucsb.edu/ensembles/chamber-orchestra for information.
Wind Ensemble
Auditions are held at the first week of class. Audition Information (PDF)
Important Information
Music Library Tours
Meet at the Music Library, in the Music Building, on the second floor. Scheduled tours are available: Everyday, Sept. 20-24, at 11 AM
Practice Room Keys & Lockers
To arrange for a practice room key or locker, please contact Connor to set up an appointment. Connor will be available for temporary additional hours for key, locker and instrument check out in the Music Building, Room 1251 (the northwest corner of the building, near Storke Tower). Normal key hours throughout the year are M-W from 1:30 - 2:30, but during the first two weeks of each quarter additional hours include: M-F 12:30 - 2:30.
Music Department rooms are ONLY for students enrolled in Music Department ensembles or lessons (no exceptions). A $40 deposit is required, checks or money order (available at the Post Office in the UCen) only, made out to UC Regents is required at the time of your key appointment.
If you need a room to warm up for an audition for a Music Department offered lesson or ensemble, please see the Advising Office in Music 1314 during office hours to see if a space is available during this time only. Once you are accepted into a lesson or ensemble, you will need to arrange for your own key.
First Quarter Recommended Classes For New Majors
Please note that this is a general guide based on all music majors entering new to UCSB. Various degree emphasis, placement exams and transfer courses or other exams (e.g. Language proficiency) may have already fulfilled some of these requirements prior to enrollment at UCSB. Schedule a meeting with the undergraduate advisor for personalized recommendations.
For classes you are unable to add directly, contact Heidi at hdinnogen@ucsb.edu for guidance. For classes you know you need, please provide the course and section time you would like to add to receive the correct approval code.
Music 3C, Structures of Music
Music 4A, Musicianship - You will drop this during the first week of classes if you place at a higher level after taking the placement exam. You will pick up this series wherever you placed. It is advised that you take the 4A-B-C classes concurrently with 5A-B-C.
Music 5A, Music Theory - You will not register for this class until after you take the Music Theory and Musicianship Placement Exams. If you place at a higher level after taking the placement exam, you will register for the appropriate class in the next available quarter it is offered. If you placed into Music 11, Fundamentals of Music, you should register for this class at this time. If Music 11 is full and you are an entering declared Music Major, contact the undergraduate advisor for an add code.
Music 10A, History of Music – If you placed out of the 5 series, you may want to consider the MUS 10 series, although this series is recommended for your sophomore year.
Music 31A, Class Piano - You may drop this the first week of classes if you place at a higher level after taking the class piano audition or switch into a higher level class.
Music 20-33, Individual Instruction - Choose the appropriate course number for your instrument or voice. BM students must register for 3 units, and BA students and composition students must register for 1 unit.
A Performance Ensemble, Music A34-A70AA-ZZ - this may vary; choose from the selection on your requirement sheet or if you are considering a switch from BA to BM, take the requirement for BM.
French, German or Italian. Primarily applicable to voice and piano majors. All students at UCSB will need to complete a language proficiency requirement, which may have been met in high school. If not, these are the languages Music students are advised to study (if not already required for their degree).
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PLACEMENT EXAM (ELPE) Non-native speakers of English, including both international students and Permanent Residents, are required to take both the written and the oral portions:
ELPE TBD TBA