A. You must fill out a Butler School of Music Application for Internal Transfer and pass an audition. These forms can be obtained from the Music Student Office (MRH 3.836) or by e-mailing uga@mail.music.utexas.edu. If you pass your audition, you will receive notification of that. However, the final approval for your major change will not happen until your grades for your current semester have been reported. You can only change your major code during an advising or registration time. If you have questions about this process, please contact us at “uga@mail.music.utexas.edu”

A. Yes! All of our Butler School of Music ensembles are open to any currently enrolled UT student who can pass the ensemble audition. These auditions are separate from the auditions for admission to the Butler School of Music and usually take place the first week of classes of the Fall semester. (Longhorn Band auditions take place during the spring and summer). For information on ensemble auditions, please contact either the Band Office at 512-471-4093 lhbinfo@mail.music.utexas.edu, or the Ensembles Office at 512-471-0806 or choirs@mail.music.utexas.edu.

Some other music classes, as well as private instruction are available to non-music majors who are enrolled at UT. Come to the Music Student Office (MRH 3.836) to get instructions on how to register for these classes. For more information, please call the Student Office at 512-471-0508.

A. If you are currently attending a Texas school, you can use the UT automated transfer equivalency calculator online at www.utexas.edu/student/admissions/ate/ to see how your transferred courses will at UT.

We can send you an outline of the degree requirements for your preferred major if you send us your e-mail address. Once you receive the degree plan, you can look up the course descriptions at www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/catalogs/.

Upon entering the Bulter School of Music, every transfer student will be asked to fill out a music theory and music history questionaire which will help our faculty determine which UT course the students are prepared to take. Up to one or two ensembles may transfer and apply toward your degree here. You won’t know how much credit you will receive for your instrument lessons (if you’ve had any) until you’ve studied one semester here and have given a jury.

Transferring into music is not a clear-cut process. If you are currently a music major, continue with the music classes you are taking. If you are not a current music major, it is suggested that you wait to begin taking music classes until you transfer to UT. Taking general academic requirements (math, science, English, etc) prior to your arrival at UT is a more productive use of your time.

A. It is possible. However, there are several things you need to know before you make the decision to “take-on” 2 majors simultaneously.

1. In order to declare a 2nd major at UT Austin, you must have 30 hrs. in residence at UT, not including AP, dual credit or transfer hours. Most students declare their 2nd major after being at UT for 1 yr. This does not mean that you cannot take classes during that first year that will eventually count towards your 2nd degree. But you cannot officially declare your 2nd major until after you have completed 30 hrs. We usually recommend that students start out in music, since many of our music major classes are restricted. There are 2 majors that are an exception to this 30 hr. rule. If you are admitted to Liberal Arts Plan II Honors Program or Business Honors, then you can declare 2 majors from the beginning.

2. Keep in mind that if you decide to do a double major, you will be very busy. Music is a very time-consuming degree, as are many other degrees here at UT Austin. We highly discourage students from pursuing simultaneous degrees in conjunction with a Music Performance or Music Studies degree. The music degree plan that lends itself the most easily to double-majoring is the Bachelor of Arts in Music. This is due to the larger number of elective hours that are built into that degree.

3. If you are a currently enrolled student at UT Austin and you decide to add music as a 2nd major, you will need to apply to and audition for the Butler School of Music during your 1st year. Please drop by our office, MRH 3.836 or e-mail us at uga@mail.music.utexas.edu during the Fall semester of your freshman year to start the process.

A. In addition to passing an audition, composition majors must also submit a portfolio of their completed compositions by December 15. The portfolio should consists of three to five original compositions, preferably for different combinations of instruments and /or voices. Scores may be handwritten or prepared with music notation software. The scores should be accompanied by recorded performances. If live performances are unavailable, synthesized performances are acceptable. All of our degree plans, including music composition, include performance lessons. The expectations of the UT School of Music for composition majors is that they be able to play well enough in at least 1 instrument that they can pass an audition and successfully complete 6 semesters of lessons in their instrument.

A. We currently offer a Bachelor of Arts degree with concentrations in Music Business and Recording Technology. The 2 new Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Business and Sound Recording have been approved and should be in place for Fall 2009. For more information on these degrees, please e-mail us at uga@mail.music.utexas.edu.

A. A minor is determined by your major college and you should see an adviser in that college first. Generally, a minor requires a given number of credit hours, a portion of which must be upper division. Instrument lessons and ensembles are open to all students by audition; academic music courses (theory, history, etc.) require permission of the instructor. A minor in music should be planned carefully, as there are few upper division courses available to non-majors.

A. Music scholarships are available only to music majors.

A. Many of the same things people do with other degrees. Unlike our parents’ generation, a college degree is no longer a ticket to a job after graduation. Herein lies the difference between the philosophy of education and “job training”. A Music Studies degree with teacher certification is the only professional music degree UT offers, in the sense that upon graduation your chances of landing a position as a music teacher are very high. However, UT music graduates have gone on to careers as professional musicians, teachers, academics, computer programmers, marketing execs, doctors, and…you name it, they’ve probably done it. UT is fortunate in having the only Career Office in the country entirely devoted to helping Fine Arts students prepare for the working world. You might be interested in viewing the Fine Arts Career Office’s website:
http://www.utexas.edu/cofa/career/index.html

A. Probably not. Most students who apply as music majors have many years of experience in their instrument (or voice) and in ensemble performance during their middle and high school years. It is not impossible to apply and pass an audition as a music major without this background, but it is very rare. It would probably be best for you to gain experience and training privately before attempting to audition as a music major.

A. Not unless you can pass an audition in some other instrument. Our guitar program is for classical or jazz guitar. We admit students in jazz guitar who have extensive jazz playing experience. Even the jazz guitar program requires an element of classical playing and students should be prepared to audition both in classical and jazz for their audition.

A. Yes. Applying to UT Austin as a music major is a 2-part process. In addition to completing the Texas Common Application, you must also complete the Butler School of Music application and arrange for an audition. You may find the application and instructions for applying as a music major by going to our website and clicking on admissions.