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
*Information for Fall 2020 is tentative, and will change over the summer. Most activities will be moved to online format. Audition information will be posted as it is available.
Please note that many auditions happen after move in on Sept 26-27, but prior to the first day of instruction on October 1.
NEW MAJORS MEETING
This is required of new majors, highly recommended for all continuing majors and those considering the major. Tuesday, Sept 29, TBD.
Undergraduate Theory and Musicianship Placement Exam
Music Theory Tues Sept. 29 TBD
Musicianship Tues Sept. 29 TBD
Please notify the department if you do not intend to take this exam. All new BM students and all Transfer students are required to take this exam. It is recommended that all entering Freshman BA students take the exam.
This exam will be offered during the pre-instruction week of Fall quarter only. The exam presumes prior training in music theory and musicianship. Students will be placed in Music 11, 5A, B or C, and Music 4A, B or C. Students unfamiliar with music theory should take MUS 11, Fundamentals of Music and do not need to take the exam. BM majors with no theory experience may want to consider taking Music 11 in the Summer prior to entrance. This exam may not be repeated. For more information about classes that you should take in your first quarter, see this section.
Download the Study Guide.
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
Please audition using the link below for openings or additional placements. Placement tests are required for direct admission into MUS 31BorC and Secondary Piano, Music 31X and 32A-F. MUS 31X-32.
Sign up for an audition: TBD - will be posted here when available.
A second audition is required for intermediate and advanced piano, Music 33/133, sign up for this AFTER the above audition. A sign up list will be posted outside of Music 0305.
Piano Proficiency Placement Test, Wed Sept 30 10a-1p TBD
Piano Auditions for MUS 33, Thurs Sept 30 10a-1:30p TBD
Voice
MUS20, Elementary Voice: auditions will be held on Tuesday, September 24 from 5pm-8pm in Music 2310. Click HERE to sign-up! Please fill out both the Audition Sheet and the Schedule sheet and bring them with you to the audition. We ask that you prepare a classical style song for the audition (acapella; without piano accompaniment). If you do not have something suitable in your repertoire, please prepare the Star-Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, or My Country ‘Tis of Thee.
To audition for Voice Lessons with Faculty (MUS25), sign up outside Music 2236 starting Monday, September 28.
Audition for MUS25 voice lessons* Thurs Sept 26 10 am – 1 pm TBD
Mandatory Voice Area Meeting* Thurs Oct. 1 3pm – 4 pm TBD
*required for all voice majors and students in voice faculty studios
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.
Choral
Chamber Choir/Women’s Chorus: sign up for auditions at Sign up Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/
Gospel Choir
Audition required. Please contact the director, Pastor Victor Bell, at VBell97405@aol.com to schedule an audition. Please come prepared with a popular song (preferably in English).
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 (even BM majors, 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:
-
TBD
Practice Room Keys & Lockers
Lockers & Room Key informaiton for Fall 20 coming soon. The following is from past years:
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.
Music 3B, Writing About 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 start 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