Frequently Asked Questions

How do I become a music major?

Majors are declared in consultation with the student’s College advisor and with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Music. Note that the decision must be formalized with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in order for the student to be officially be considered a music major. Completing a music major requires eleven course credits and participation in a performance organization approved by the Department of Music for at least three quarters. For a full description of the requirements to attain the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music, please refer to Music Major Program Requirements.

When should I declare a music major?

Students usually declare a major at the end of their second year or the beginning of their third year of study; the deadline for declaring a major is spring quarter of a student’s third year. However, in the case of music, the required sequences of introductory and advanced courses typically take three years to complete. Therefore, it is highly advisable for a student to declare a music major at the end of the first or beginning of the second year.

Can I double-major in music?

Yes, although there is no official “double major” designation at UChicago. No matter how many majors one has, the University will grant only one bachelor’s degree per student. In addition, most or all free electives are then used to pursue the second major, and many programs of study do not allow students to use one BA thesis for two majors. One way to take advantage of interdisciplinary study at the University is to pursue a minor.

Can I minor in music?

Yes. Minors permit students to use free electives with intellectual effectiveness; that is, to take a cohesive set of courses in a single subject area. The deadline to declare a minor is the end of spring quarter of a student’s third year. Declaring a minor is also done in consultation with the student’s College advisor and with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Music. Completing a music minor requires seven course credits and participation for at least three quarters in a performance organization approved by the Department of Music. For a full description of the requirements for a minor in music, please refer to Music Minor Requirements.

Can I get a music degree with honors?

Yes. Many students choose to attain departmental honors status by writing a large-scale BA paper or composition; such projects are developed through close relationships with one or more faculty members.

Can I earn a degree in performance?

No. The Department of Music only confers a Bachelor of Arts in Music through the College, and does not offer a Bachelor of Music in performance. Thus students are not able, for example, to earn a degree in clarinet performance—but it is possible to receive high-level training and experience on any instrument or as a singer. Learn more about the Department of Music’s performance opportunities.

Can I take music courses if I am not a music major or minor?

Yes. Students pursuing other majors are welcome in music classes. Please note, however, that certain music classes have prerequisites, and these must be completed before enrolling in more advanced classes.

What kinds of music courses are offered, and what topics do they cover?

There are three categories of undergraduate courses: those that fulfill general education requirements in the Humanities or Social Sciences, those for students interested in music but not necessarily planning to make it their major, and those that are a part of the required curriculum for the music major. General Education classes provide introductions to the history of Western music (MUSI 10100), to World music (MUSI 10200), to the basics of music composition (MUSI 10300), and to the analysis and criticism of music (MUSI 10400). Other classes explore harmony and voice leading, topics in music history and popular music, computer music, and other topics depending upon the specialties of visiting faculty members. Advanced undergraduates can register for certain graduate courses and seminars with the consent of the instructor and approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies. A full listing of courses is available in the College Catalog.

Which music courses fulfill Common Core requirements?

Students seeking to meet the general education requirement in dramatic, musical, and visual arts with music courses can choose from among the following: Introduction to Western Music (MUSI 10100), Introduction to World Music (MUSI 10200), Introduction to Music: Materials and Design (MUSI 10300), or Introduction to Music Analysis and Criticism (MUSI 10400). Students seeking to meet the general education requirement in civilization studies may select the two-quarter sequence Music in Western Civilization (MUSI 12100 - 12200). More information can be found here and in the College Catalog. Additional questions about core curriculum classes should be addressed to the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Who teaches the music classes?

Most music courses are taught by professors in the Department of Music. Faculty represent the highest level of current scholarship, including: opera, aesthetics, criticism, tonal and atonal theory, jazz, blues, film and pop music; internationally recognized composers with interests in the performance and analysis of contemporary music, and world leaders in ethnomusicology, including musical cultures of Europe, America, and South Asia. Visiting faculty members, including post-doctoral fellows, occasionally offer special classes encompassing particular areas of expertise. A portion of core curriculum classes are taught by advanced graduate students in the Department.

Can I take composition lessons?

Yes. Once you have met the prerequisites of the program, you can enroll in one-on-one lessons with a faculty composer for credit. Students interested in composition should work with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to determine an appropriate series of courses to meet the student’s skills and needs.

When will I take Comprehensive Exams, and what exams are required?

Comprehensive exams are taken at the beginning of the third year of Scholastic Residence. Details of required exams can be found on in the Graduate Curriculum.

What are the language exam requirements? 

Students in the History or Ethnomusicology programs must pass three languages; students in Theory, two; and students in Composition, one. Language examinations require the student to translate about 400 words of a passage of medium difficulty from source materials or musicological literature. More information can be found in the language exam section of the Graduate Curriculum.

What Practicum exams will I have to take, and when?

Practicum examinations in basic musicianship skills and advanced musicianship skills are required for all PhD tracks. Composers and theorists must complete six musicianship examinations, including three basic skills and three advanced skills; ethnomusicologists and musicologists must complete four, including two basic skills and two advanced skills. Details of the exams can be found here, and copies of exams from previous years are available for students to reference in the Main Office. Practicum exams must be completed before admission to candidacy.

What if I already have an MA degree?

Students who enter the program with an MA in Music (or equivalent degree) from a different institution may, in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies, opt for one of two tracks. Under Track 1, the standard number of required courses will be reduced as outlined in each program description below, and the Comprehensive Examinations will be taken in the summer before the second year. Under Track 2, students will complete the standard two-year curriculum for their area of study and take the Comprehensive Examinations in the summer before their third year. Further information can be found in the Graduate Curriculum.

Find additional information in the Music Graduate Student Handbook.

What kinds of resources are available for research in the city?

The famed Newberry Library, housing a superb collection of manuscripts and early printed books is located on Chicago’s north side. This world-renowned research collection holds 1.5 million published volumes and 5 million manuscripts in the humanities (chiefly in history, literature, music, and philosophy, with special strengths in European, American, and Latin American history and culture). The collection is one of the finest in North America for Medieval and Renaissance music history and theory. There are also many locally affiliated resources that students at Chicago can take advantage of through the University Library, including Northwestern University and many local seminaries. Additionally, Chicago students enjoy privileges at peer institutions around the country through the RLG Shares program.

What library and listening facilities are available?

The Music Collection, housed in the Joseph Regenstein Memorial Library, comprises over 110,000 books and scores and 32,000 audio and video recordings. Its traditional strength has been in books about music history and scholarly editions of music. In recent years, greater emphasis has been placed on collecting materials for the study of non-western music and music theory, as well as scores of recent music. The founding of the Chicago Jazz Archive as part of the Library in 1976 prompted the development of a strong collection of books on jazz and the sociology of popular music. Most of the collection, including the Recordings Collection and most of the library’s listening and viewing equipment, can be found on the third floor of Regenstein Library. Music reference staff are available weekdays 9:00 AM–5:00 PM in the third-floor office cluster. More information on both library and online music resources that are available to University of Chicago students can be found on the Music Collection page.

What is the Computer Music Studio and can I use the equipment?

The Computer Music Studio is a research and production resource available only to graduate and undergraduate students who are enrolled in, or have completed, appropriate coursework. The Studio supports hardware and software synthesis, digital audio recording, editing and signal processing, and score development, signal analysis and music calligraphy.

Where can I find housing?

UChicagoGRAD maintains an extensive site of housing resources for graduate students.

What resources are available for international students?

The University of Chicago welcomes international students in all fields across the University. There are many organizations on campus designed to assist international students, including the International House, offering accommodations and many events and programs for international students; the Office of International Affairs, which can assist students with immigration-related issues, and is a good resource for questions about settling into Chicago and the University as an international scholar; and the International Students Association, a student-run group that holds events and offers support.

What kinds of opportunities are there for music students in the summer?

The Department of Music does not hold classes in the summer, but it does offer opportunities for advanced undergraduate students. Students may apply for grants from the Wadmond Fund to travel for research, typically in preparation for a senior essay or composition. Applications are invited in the Spring by the Chair of the Department.

Do I have to be a music major or music minor to participate in the performance program?

No. Membership in the Performance Ensembles is open to all University of Chicago students, both undergraduate and graduate, regardless of major or academic concentration.

Do I earn degree credit for my participation in the performance program?

Musicians in the Performance Program are able to register their participation on a zero-credit, pass-fail basis. Music majors and minors may apply for retroactive credit toward their degree requirements. More information is available on the Registration & Credit for Performance page.

How do I get into a performance ensemble?

Most of the ensembles hold auditions at the beginning of the academic year, once students have arrived on campus. Several of the special repertory ensembles do not require a formal audition for membership, since most students do not have prior experience with the particular instruments and/or performing traditions. Visit the auditions page for more information.

Are the auditions highly competitive?

The degree of competitiveness varies depending on the ensemble and on the particular pool of auditionees. Students may express their preference for a particular ensemble, but they are placed in an ensemble in accordance with audition results and ensemble needs. In the case of limited seating within an ensemble or section, preference for membership is given to registered University of Chicago students, both undergraduate and graduate. The majority of students who audition are placed in the Performance Program.

How often do the ensembles rehearse?

Most ensembles rehearse once a week. Several ensembles have periodic sectional rehearsals as well, plus an additional rehearsal the week before a concert. Browse each ensemble and program page for more information, including rehearsal dates and times.

May I participate in more than one ensemble?

Yes. Rehearsal schedules and concert dates are all arranged to allow instrumentalists and singers to participate in more than one ensemble. The Department of Music encourages students to explore the full range of performance opportunities on campus during the course of their College or graduate school career.

Do I have to participate in a performance ensemble all year long?

Musicians are both encouraged and expected to participate in the performance ensemble(s) all year long. If a student is studying abroad for a quarter, or has other extenuating circumstances, then he or she can take a leave of absence from the ensemble and re-join later in the year.

Does the Music Department have a marching band?

No, and at present there are no plans for one.

Do I have to have my own instrument?

Generally, yes. The Department of Music does own some large band and orchestra instruments that are available for student use: a number of string basses, two concert harps, several bassoons plus a contrabassoon, a bass clarinet, a tenor and baritone saxophone, as well as several school piccolos. University instruments are issued to the most qualified players who request them, and who plan to participate actively in a Department of Music Performance Ensemble. The Department also owns a number of specialty instruments available to qualified members of the Early Music Ensemble, Middle East Music Ensemble, and South Asian Music Ensemble.

For standard orchestra and band instruments, there are several instrument stores in the area that rent instruments. See repair options, listed below. There are also a number of excellent string instrument shops in the Chicago area, many of which offer a large selection of instruments in a variety of price ranges.

How can I get an instrument locker in Goodspeed or Logan Center for the Arts?

Instrument lockers in the Logan Center for the Arts and Goodspeed Hall can be requested by emailing Lara Madden Hughes, Operations Manager.

Priority for locker assignments in both locations is granted to students who are active in the Department of Music Performance Program. Lockers are to be used for the storage of instruments, and not for coats, books, or sheet music.

Where can I get my instrument repaired?

String repairs are best handled by the A440 Violin Shop on the near north side of Chicago, which also sells strings, bows, rosin, mutes, etc. Repairs to woodwind and brass instruments can generally be accomplished by Quinlan & Fabish, which has a representative who comes to campus once a week for pick-up and delivery. Reeds and accessories are most easily purchased through a reliable online source.

For serious or complicated instrument repairs, ask Barbara Schubert, Director of Performance Programs.

Where can I obtain sheet music?

A range of printed music for solo instruments and ensembles is available in Regenstein Library. The music holdings are located in the third floor stacks, and are available for browsing as well as check-out.

Standard repertory sheet music as well as public domain orchestral parts can be downloaded free of charge from IMSLP. Chamber music and solo literature can be purchased from many online vendors, including Performers Music, Sheet Music Plus, and Luck’s Music Library. You can find sheet music for a variety of popular songs and arrangements of classical music for various instrumentations on musicnotes.com.

About the Department