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Undergraduate Frequently Asked Questions
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A. 1. Complete the online Butler School of Music application as a ‘Current UT Student’ to request an audition.
2. Submit three Letters of Recommendation.
3. Perform and pass your audition.
You will receive notification of your audition results after the final BSoM audition date. If you pass your audition, the final approval for your major change will not be given until your grades for the current semester have been reported and we find that you are not in violation of The University’s Guidelines for Internal Transfer (page 45). 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.
Please continue to meet with your own advisor until you are officially coded as a music major. Transferring into music is not a clear-cut process. We suggest that you wait to begin taking music classes until you are accepted into the Butler School of Music, unless you are interested in non-major instrument lessons or ensembles (see FAQ #2). Taking general academic requirements (math, science, English, etc) and working towards your current degree are more productive uses of your time.
Please do NOT visit, call, or email the Music Student Office or BSoM Admissions and ask to see a music advisor for information regarding registration for music courses and other music degree requirements if you are a non-music major. Please make an appointment with your own advisor, or wait until you have received an official acceptance letter from the Butler School of Music, to discuss degree requirements.
A. Yes! All of our Butler School of Music ensembles are open to any currently enrolled UT student who can pass the ensemble audition. Ensemble auditions are separate from the admission auditions for the Butler School of Music. Ensemble auditions usually take place the during 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 visit our Ensembles webpage. If you sill have questions, please contact either the Band Office, or the Ensembles Office.
For information on more music classes available to non-majors, please go to the online UT Catalog. It will tell you which classes are restricted. Non-majors, with permission of the instructor, can even take some classes that are restricted to music majors. For questions about non-major classes and the process for receiving approval, please first visit the Non-Music Majors webpage. If you still have questions, please call our music student office at 512/471-0508.
A. If you currently attend a Texas school, you can use the UT automated transfer equivalency calculator to see how your courses will transfer to UT. The BSoM will only evaluate your transcripts for transfer music courses once you have been accepted to the BSoM and UT.
You may view an outline of the degree requirements for your preferred major on our Degrees webpage. You can look up the course descriptions in the online Catalog. You may be able to judge for yourself which classes will transfer to UT.
Upon entering the Butler School of Music, every transfer student will be asked to fill out a music theory and music history questionnaire, 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 at UT. 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 at UT and have given a jury.
Transferring into music is not a clear-cut process. If you are currently a music major, continue with your music classes. If you are not a current music major, we suggest 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” two majors simultaneously.
1. We have many students who choose to double major. In order to declare a second major at UT Austin, you must have 30 hours in residence at UT, not including AP, dual credit or transfer hours. Most students declare their second major after being at UT for one year. This does not mean that you cannot take classes during that first year that will eventually count towards your second degree. You just cannot officially declare your second major until after you have completed 30 hours. We usually recommend that students start out in music, since many of our music major classes are restricted. There are two degrees that are an exception to this 30-hour rule. If are admitted to Liberal Arts Plan II Honors Program or Business Honors, then you can declare two majors from the beginning.
2. Keep in mind that if you decide to 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 Bachelor of Music in Performance or a Bachelor of Music in 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 second major, you will need to apply to and audition for the Butler School of Music during your first year. Please refer to FAQ #1 during the Fall semester of your freshman year to start the process.
A. In addition to passing an audition, composition applicants must also submit a portfolio of original compositions by December 15. The portfolio should consist 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 Butler School of Music for composition majors is that they be able to play well enough in at least one instrument that they can pass an audition and successfully complete six semesters of lessons on their instrument.
A. Recording Technology and Music Business are now offered as Bachelor of Music degrees. These programs are designed for musicians who are interested in entering the worlds of audio recording and music business. Specific requirements for acceptance into the Music Business and Recording Technology degrees include a response to two essay questions (available on page 12 of the audition requirements ) and an audition. Additionally, the Recording Technology degree requires previous coursework in physics and calculus (the degree plan has a engineering requirement and we want students to be successful). Please visit the degree plans page for more information.
A. The Butler School of Music, like most other units of The University of Texas at Austin, does not offer any self-contained minors. If your degree plan includes a minor, then you may use music as a minor. In most cases, a Bachelor of Arts degree will include a minor, while the Bachelor of Science and similar degrees will not. If you are still not sure, consult with an advisor in your major college and department.
The Butler School of Music application and audition are only for students intending to MAJOR in music. The BSoM application and admission audition are NOT necessary for a music minor.
Most minors at UT require 12 to 15 credit hours, with 6 lower-division hours allowed. Due to the structure of the music programs, it is not possible to minor in ensemble participation. It is possible, but HIGHLY unlikely, to be able to minor in a specific instrument. Some degree plans allow performance lessons and ensembles to count for part of all of the lower-division requirements of a music minor, some do not. Check with you own advisor to determine whether you college and department will allow ensemble credit and performance lessons to count toward you minor.
Ensembles are open to all University students by audition at the beginning of the school year. Please visit the individual Ensemble's webpage for information on audition requirements and dates.
Lessons and academic music courses (theory, history, etc.) require the permission of the instructor. Please visit the Non-Music Majors webpage for more information.
Lower-division courses most frequently used toward a music minor include:
MUS 302L. Introduction to Western Music
MUS 303M. Introduction to Traditional Musics in World Cultures
MUS 606A. The Elements of Music
MUS 307. Topics in Popular Music
Topic 1: Music of African Americans
Topic 2: History of Rock Music
Topic 3: Jazz Appreciation
Upper-division courses most frequently used toward a music minor include:
MUS 329E. Introduction to Electronic Media
MUS 329F. Projects in Electronic Media
MUS 329G. Intermediate Electronic Composition
MUS 329J. Introduction to Computer Music
MUS 329M. Intermediate Computer Music
MUS 334. The Music of the Americas
MUS 337. Music for Radio and Television
MUS 338. Masterpieces of Music
MUS 342. Area Studies in Ethnomusicology
MUS 354. Musical Development of Children
MUS 376G. Special Topics in Music Literature
For information on more music classes available to non-majors, please go to the online UT Catalog. It will tell you which classes are restricted. Non-majors, with permission of the instructor, can even take some classes that are restricted to music majors. For questions about non-major classes and the process for receiving approval, please first visit the Non-Music Majors webpage, If you still have questions, please call our music student office at 512/471-0508.
A. Scholarships from the Butler School of Music are competitive music scholarships based primarily on the entrance audition. All music-major applicants are considered for scholarship; no additional application is required.
For scholarship aid outside of the Butler School of Music please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and the Ex-Student's Association (deadline is December 1). Both entities have information on a wide selection of scholarship or loan and grant monies available.
Transfer Students Currently on Scholarship
If you are on scholarship at your current school you must obtain a letter of release from that school before you can apply for a scholarship at The University of Texas at Austin. This is a National Association of Schools of Music rule and must be followed.
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 website.
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 once admitted to the Butler School of Music.
A. Yes. Applying to UT Austin as a music major is a two-part process. In addition to completing the Texas Common application, you must also complete the Butler School of Music application and audition. You may find the application and instructions for applying as a music major on the Butler School of Music Undergraduate Admissions homepage.
A. The Butler School of Music does not accept high school AP credit for music theory because the AP exam and most high school theory classes do not cover all the material covered in even one semester of music theory at the Butler School of Music.
A. The street address for the Butler School of Music is:
2406 Robert Dedman Drive
Austin, TX 78705
Please do not mail anything to this address. The mailing address is:
Butler School of Music
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station E3100
Austin, TX 78712
Directions to the Butler School of Music (Music Recital Hall Building)
If you are arriving by air, the campus is a 30-minute drive from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Take Highway 71 West to Interstate 35 and follow the directions below for approaching campus northbound on Interstate 35.
Southbound on Interstate 35
Take exit #235b (for the LBJ Library), merge to the far right lane on the access road, and turn right on Dean Keeton St/E 26th St (westbound). At the second signal, turn left onto Robert Dedman Dr. The BSoM (MRH) will be the second building on your right. Continue past MRH to the first stop sign and turn right onto E 23rd St. Take the first right onto Trinity St. Follow the slight hill up and around to the left. The parking garage is located just beyond the Texas Memorial Museum. From the parking garage Music Building East (MBE) is east, across the street from the parking entrance. Parking will be no more than $10/day. Enter MBE and walk directly through to MRH.
Northbound on Interstate 35
Take exit #235b (for the LBJ Library), and turn left at the first signal (Manor Rd/Clyde Littlefield Dr). Continue under the highway and through the lights at Red River St. You will be driving directly towards the stadium. At the ‘T’ intersection turn right onto Robert Dedman Dr. At the next stop sign turn left onto E 23rd St. Take the next right onto Trinity St. Follow the slight hill up and around to the left. The parking garage is located just beyond the Texas Memorial Museum. From the parking garage Music Building East (MBE) is east, across the street from the parking entrance. Parking will be no more than $10/day. Enter MBE and walk directly through to MRH.
Parking
Additional parking may be available on the street (Dean Keeton, Robert Dedman, or Trinity). Please read all signage carefully! Most spaces on Robert Dedman and Trinity are reserved Monday-Friday 7am-6pm, and spaces on Dean Keeton are metered. However, hours of enforcement do vary and some spaces are reserved or metered seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Again, please read all signage carefully! The BSoM is not responsible for any parking citations incurred. Please visit www.utexas.edu/parking for more information. We recommend parking in the garage if you are unsure of parking restrictions. The garage fee is far less expensive than a parking citation.
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