All prospective music majors must audition for proper placement in their respective performance areas and take a music theory placement test. Information concerning auditions and placement tests is available in the Music Office.  Students returning after two long semesters away from University must re-audition and be re-admitted to the department. Exceptions are if student has previously completed all required private lessons and recitals.

All Bachelor of Music majors are required to pass the sophomore proficiency exam on their major instrument.  For transfer students who transfer in at least four semesters of lessons and meet the proficiency requirements, the audition may serve as the proficiency exam. For transfer students who do not meet the necessary proficiency requirements, they will be enrolled in MUSI 2223 for applied lessons. Transfer students may take MUSI 2223 for as many semesters as they have transfer credits from another institution.

For example, if a student transfers in four semesters of lessons, they may take MUSI 2223 up to four times, but they may attempt the proficiency exam at the end of any semester if they are ready. If a transfer student transfers in three semesters of lessons, they may be placed in the fourth semester of the lesson sequence or in MUSI 2223. The lesson sequence is defined as the required list of applied lessons required under an individual student’s degree plan. That student could take MUSI 2223 a total of three times or, with instructor approval, could move to the fourth semester of lessons after one or two semester(s) of MUSI 2223. Once a transfer student enters the lesson sequence, they are no longer eligible for placement in MUSI 2223.

Students can only attempt the proficiency exam two times. If they fail the sophomore proficiency exam the first time (either in MUSI 2223 or MUSI 22XX), they will receive a grade of Incomplete (I) for the semester, and they will be required to enroll in MUSI 2222 the following semester. At the end of MUSI 2222, students will be required to attempt the proficiency exam for a last time. If students do not successfully pass the proficiency exam, they will not be allowed to remain a Bachelor of Music major.  If they pass the second attempt at the sophomore proficiency, their grade for fourth-semester lessons (MUSI 22XX) or preparatory lessons (MUSI 2223) will be changed to the grade earned in their first attempt at 22XX/2223. If the student fails their second attempt at the sophomore proficiency, their grade for fourth-semester lessons (MUSI 22XX) or preparatory lessons (MUSI 2223) will automatically be changed to “F.”

All Bachelor of Music students are required to enroll in a large ensemble each semester in residence. Any student not enrolled in a large ensemble by the end of Late Registration will be given a warning and advised to do so, and students that are still not registered in a large ensemble after Census date may be removed from the music program and required to re-audition in a subsequent semester in order to be re-admitted. Ensembles that meet this requirement, as well as any minimum requirements for number(s) of semester in specific ensembles, are determined by each degree plan. Residence is defined as any semester that a student is enrolled in any private lesson section or enrolled in 6 or more semester hours at the university, except during student teaching or music industry studies internship.

All students are strongly urged to refer to the sections on Academic Regulations and Degree Programs in the current UT Arlington Undergraduate Catalog. Students seeking teacher certification should read the College of Education section of this catalog concerning admission to teacher education programs and state requirements for certification.

In addition to fulfilling University and the College of Liberal Arts requirements for admission to a degree program, students planning to be music majors must also fulfill the listed Music Department requirements.

Students should expect, in addition to attending weekly private lessons, a minimum preparation (individual practice) of five hours per week in courses granting two hours credit, 10 hours per week in courses granting three hours credit, and 12 hours per week in courses granting four hours credit.

Bachelor of Music Students must complete their lesson sequence before they can take elective lessons (MUSI 0171 or MUSI 0271) on their primary instrument.

All private instruction, except MUSI 0171 or MUSI 0271, requires a jury.

Keyboard Pedagogy students must perform a memorized senior recital of 50 minutes. A pre-recital hearing, played for the keyboard faculty, is held two weeks prior to the recital. Students are provided opportunities to perform on the Department of Music Clavier Recital Series and Noon Recital Series. Students perform frequently on visiting guest pianist masterclasses and weekly studio classes. Students are frequently assigned to perform with various ensembles including the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and the Symphonic Band. Students often perform in chamber music settings and serve as accompanists for various applied studios.

All Bachelor of Music students are required to pass the Theory Proficiency exam.

Students must receive a C or better in all music courses in order to graduate. If a student does not earn a C or better, it may not count as a prerequisite for any other course.

If a student fails the same music degree-required course three times (making a D or F), the student must receive a C or better in their fourth attempt of the class or be dismissed from the Music program. They will not be permitted to take the course for credit at UT Arlington in subsequent semesters.