Prospective students, who have not yet been admitted to the School of Music, should consult with our Admissions Department (somadmit@uw.edu) or attend a free Information Session to learn more.
Current UW students: many of your questions can be answered by emailing musicadv@uw.edu.
Advisors assist you with academic planning, enrollment, graduation requirements, and understanding School and University policies and procedures.
Program requirement information for graduate and undergraduate students is available online for planning your coursework and class schedule. We recommend that you verify program requirements on a regular basis with your advisor.
See the following pages for specific topics/questions:
Prospective Students:
- Undergraduate Admissions
- Graduate Admissions
- Auditions
- Undergraduate Degree Requirements
- Graduate Degree Requirements
- Prospective Undergraduate Student Information Sessions
Current Students:
- Auditions
- Undergraduate Degree Requirements
- Graduate Degree Requirements
- Course Offerings
- Registration Policies
- Piano Classes and Proficiency Exam
- Recital Scheduling
- Upper Level Electives
- Additional Notes and Forms
Additional Notes for Current Students
Forms
Auditions and Juries
Entrance auditions are required to qualify for Music major status, or for applied lessons and most ensembles. Autumn quarter auditions are held the week before the first day of classes. The recommended repertoire for auditions is available online and in the Advising Office. And annual jury is required for each student registered for private lessons. Your studio professor will guide you in determining when it is necessary to jury. Voice majors jury at the end of each quarter. Please visit Auditions link.
Music Theory and Music History Placement
Students may be exempted from pre-core Music Theory (MUSIC 119) and Music History (MUSIC 120) courses by earning a satisfactory score on the appropriate placement test or assessment. These tests and assessments are for placement only; no credit is awarded. Placement tests or assessments must be completed prior to enrolling in pre-core coursework. Satisfactory assessment or test scores may not be used to replace grades earned in MUSIC 119 or 120. If students fail to earn the minimum required grade in any pre-core course, they must repeat the course and earn the minimum required grade in order to advance into core Music History or Music Theory. Students may repeat pre-core courses once. Further attempts to pass pre-core requirements must be approved by the department.
Basic Keyboard and Piano Proficiency
All Music majors are required to demonstrate piano proficiency prior to graduating. The level required depends on the individual program. All levels of basic keyboard are taught each quarter and evaluation dates can be found on the Secondary Piano page. You must sign up for the exam with the Lead Piano TA no later then the 5th week of the quarter. Students may pick up the handout for proficiency requirements from the TA's office in MUS 6. It is important that you know which exam level you must pass for your specific degree. See Secondary Piano.
The Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirement for Graduate Students
The School of Music requires all graduate students enrolled in our program to maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the UW Graduate School's guidelines, found at https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/SGP/ScholRegCH110.html. Currently, the Graduate School requires students to earn a grade of at least 2.7 in all courses counting toward the degree requirements and to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
Satisfactory academic progress may also include other factors, such as the successful completion of performance juries, preparation of and performance of degree recitals, and participation in ensembles. Additionally, a student is expected to make timely progress by forming a supervisory committee, preparing topics for the master's examination, developing areas for the doctoral general examination, and completing the doctoral dissertation.
Students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress may be placed on Academic Warning after one quarter and may be moved to Academic Probation after two quarters. Academic Probation may lead to Academic Drop, which is suspension from the University. See Graduate School Policy 3.7 at https://grad.uw.edu/policies/3-7-academic-performance-and-progress/ for more information.
Graduation
Undergraduate students are recommended to make a graduation appointment with the Undergraduate Advisor in the first quarter of their last year. Graduate students are recommended to notify the Graduate Advisor one quarter before the quarter in which they intend to graduate.
Format and Guidelines for the General Examination for the D.M.A. in Performance
The general examination for D.M.A. programs in performance will consist of a written and oral examination in three areas/fields of expertise, to include both a qualifying written examination and an oral general examination, as described in this document.
Practice Room Keys & Concert Pass
Practice rooms are located on the third floor. Music majors, graduate students in the School of Music, and those in MUSEN may purchase a key for $20 in the Main Office (MUS 102). Payment may only be made via Husky Card.
Music majors may obtain free concert passes ( from the Advising Office (MUS 116).
Lockers
Lockers are located on the third floors and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Claim your locker by affixing your own lock to it. Responsibility for your belongings is your own; it is NOT recommended that you store your valuables or instrument in your locker. You do not have to give your locker number to the office. However, you must vacate your locker by the end of Summer Quarter each year. After that time, the locks are cut off and the contents are taken to the Lost and Found in the HUB. You may claim a locker anytime after September 20th.
Extra-large lockers for cello are available in the basement. Please see the Main Office (MUS 102) to arrange for keys.