FAQs

Ensemble Participation

I would like to be in an ensemble, but I do not plan on majoring or minoring in music. Can I still participate?

Absolutely! Every one of our ensembles is open to non-music majors. See our Join an Ensemble page for more details.

Do I still have to audition to participate in an ensemble?

Many of our ensembles require an audition with the director, often at the start of the semester. See our Join an Ensemble page for more details.

Is there scholarship money available for non-music majors performing in ensembles? If so, how can I be considered?

Yes, though many of our scholarships are available only to music majors, Performance Grants are open to anyone, regardless of major, based on the ensemble needs and the abilities of the player or singer. See our Music Scholarships and Awards Info page for more details. Any non-music major wishing to be considered for a performance grant must audition for the full Music Department faculty on a February or March audition day. See our Audition Requirements page for more information and click here to request an audition: Schedule an Audition.

What ensembles are offered at UTC? 

We offer an array of instrumental and choral ensembles, large and small, of various types and genres. See our Ensemble page for more details.

Music Minor

I might be interested in minoring in music. Do I need to decide that from the start of my first year, or can I add a music minor later?

You can add a music minor later, but it is strongly recommended that you declare the minor by the spring semester of your second year at the latest, to ensure that you can complete the minor by graduation. If you participate in ensembles in your first year and you are unsure whether you want to minor in music, it is strongly recommended that you register for the one-credit section so that your ensembles may count toward your minor. See our Become a Music Minor page for more details.

What music minors do you offer?

We offer three music minors - Collaborative Music, Music Composition, and Music Performance. See our Become a Music Minor page for more details.

Do I have to audition if I want to minor in music?

It depends. If your minor course of study includes applied instruction (private study on your primary instrument or voice), you will need to audition for appropriate applied placement. See our Become a Music Minor page for more details.

Is there scholarship money available for music minors performing in ensembles? If so, how can I be considered?

Yes, though many of our scholarships are available only to music majors, Performance Grants are open to anyone, regardless of major, based on the ensemble needs and the abilities of the player or singer. See our Music Scholarships and Awards Info page for more details. Any non-music major wishing to be considered for a performance grant must audition for the full Music Department faculty on a February or March audition day. See our Audition Requirements page for more information and click here to request an audition: Schedule an Audition.

Music Major

I really love music, but I don't know what it would be like to be a music major. How will I know if it's right for me?

The best way to learn what it feels like to be a music major at UTC is to plan a campus visit and spend the day with us! Tour the buildings, attend classes or rehearsals, meet the faculty, and talk to some students. All of that can be arranged by contacting our First Year Coordinator, Jordan Hicks, at [email protected].

I really love music and I might want to major in it, but I don't know what kind of career I night have with a music degree. What advice do you have? 

Whether you are exploring multiple majors or searching for information about your chosen field of music, this site will help you connect majors to careers. Learn about various careers and the types of employers that hire people with each major, as well as strategies to make you a more marketable candidate upon graduation.

What undergraduate degrees do you offer at UTC? 

A Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.) is a well-rounded liberal arts degree with a chosen major. With the B.A. in Music, about one third of the hours come from music courses. The remainder are from general education courses, four semesters of foreign language study, and a chosen minor (e.g., communication, business, psychology, public administration, etc.). It is the most flexible music degree, allowing a student to tailor the degree to their desired career path.

A Bachelor of Music degree (B.M.) is a professional degree, meant to prepare a student for a career as a musician; therefore, the degree includes greater emphasis on performance and the development of musical skills, along with whatever additional skills are necessary for field work in the chosen major. With the B.M. degree, about two thirds of the hours come from music courses. At UTC, we offer a B.M. degree with the following majors: 

• Composition
• Instrumental Music Education
• Instrumental Performance
• Music Therapy
• Piano Performance and Pedagogy
• Vocal Music Education
• Vocal Performance

See our Music Degrees page for more details and to find links to degree Clear Paths, which are documents that sequentially list the course requirements for each degree.

I would like to be a music major at UTC. What do I need to do?

See our Become a Music Major page for more details.

How do I schedule and audition? What do I need to do to prepare? 

Auditions are held in February and March for admittance the following fall. See our Audition Requirements page for more details on what to prepare and click here to request an audition: Schedule an Audition. If you miss the February and March audition dates, we may be able to hear your audition in August just before the new semester begins, but the late audition may preclude you from being considered for a performance grant scholarship, placement in a particular ensemble, and/or placement in a particular studio for applied study. For full consideration, it is strongly advised that you audition in February or March.

Applied (Private) Lessons

I am not a music major or minor but am interested in taking private lessons on my instrument or voice. Is that possible?

It depends on whether there is room in the applied instructor's schedule. To inquire, contact the faculty member for your instrument, found on the Faculty and Staff page. In order to take applied instruction (private study on your instrument or voice) at the 1000-level of above, you will need to audition for appropriate applied placement. See our Audition Requirements page for more details on what to prepare and click here to request an audition: Schedule an Audition.

General Questions

Who will I study with at UTC?

UTC's world-class faculty are at the top of their respective fields. They are published scholars and in-demand clinicians, are active in service across campus and in their professional organizations, and are innovative and engaging in their classrooms and ensembles. Most importantly, they care deeply about the success and well-being about every one of their students. See our Faculty and Staff page for more details.

What are your buildings, classrooms, and performance spaces like?

UTC's Fine Arts Center, newly renovated in 2020, includes the 450-seat Roland Hayes Concert Hall, along with classrooms, rehearsal spaces, studios, a computer lab, a student lounge, and practice rooms. Nearby Cadek Hall includes the Recital Hall, piano lab, and additional studios and practice rooms. The historic and charming Patten Chapel in the center of campus has outstanding acoustics for smaller ensembles to give performances. The Marching Mocs have their own practice field at the Sports Complex just a few blocks from the Fine Arts Center, and home football games are held at Finley Stadium in downtown Chattanooga. See our Facilities page for more details.

Is there a music-themed Living Learning Community? Is it for music majors only, or is it open to non-music majors as well?

Yes! It's called Music Row, and it's open to any freshman, sophomore, or transfer student who loves music. Music Row is located at Decosimo Apartments. See our Music Row Learning Community page for more details: https://www.utc.edu/arts-and-sciences/arts-and-sciences-residential-college/music-row.