The Department of Music Academic Advising Office is here to help you navigate your degree, answer questions about requirements, and connect you with resources to support your success at USU. On this page, you’ll find instructions on how to schedule an appointment and how to prepare so you can make the most of your advising session.
How do I schedule an advising appointment?
Visit the scheduling page
Visit the Music advisor's scheduling page.
Select a program/service
Select the academic program or service you would like to make an appointment under using the dropdown menu.
Select an individual
Select an individual to meet with from the provided options. (There will likely be only one option.)
Choose a date and time
The default date scheduling option is Calendar View, but you may switch to Day View to so see a list of available days and an amount of available appointment times on those days.
Once you've selected a date in either view, available time slots will appear. Select the time slot you prefer.
Log in
You may be prompted to log in at this point using your A-number and password.
Fill in additional information and submit
If you would like to receive SMS updates related to your appointment, enter a phone number.
Select a purpose for your appointment and a meeting preference from the appropriate dropdown menus.
Submit your reservation by selecting Submit Reservation.
Prepare for your appointment
Take the necessary steps to prepare for your appointment so that you get the most out of meeting with your advisor.
What do I need to do to prepare for my advising appointment?
Reference your degree requirements
What is Degree Works and how do I use it?
Review your degree map
Look at the suggested semester-by-semester sequence for your program.
Prepare a tentative schedule
Think about which courses you plan to take next semester.
Write down questions
Bring a list of advising, registration, or career-related questions.
Bring materials
Bring your unofficial transcript, any transfer credit info, or a laptop to access Degree Works during the meeting.
Know important deadlines
Be aware of registration opening dates, add/drop deadlines, scholarship deadlines, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pre-Music program?
Pre-music majors are those students who have passed their entrance audition and have been accepted into the music program. As pre-music majors, they will register for 1000 level pre-music individual instruction courses for the first two semesters in the music program. At the end of each semester is a jury. When students have passed two semesters of pre-music individual instruction with a B- or higher grade, and they pass MUSC 1110 Music Theory I with a C or higher grade, they will be moved into declared music status. Pre-music students can see when this has happened in DegreeWorks. Their major code will have the letters BM, BS or BA at the end of their major code instead of PPRU.
What is a Music Program Barrier?
Music Major barriers are a "fail safe" to prevent students continuing in the major whom faculty deem unlikely to achieve the level of proficiency required to be a successful professional musician. All music majors will perform a Barrier Jury after they have passed two semesters of pre-music individual instruction with a B- or higher grade. The barrier jury is typically during the student's third semester of study. During this semester, they will register for the 2000 level pre-barrier level of individual instruction. Music Majors who pass this jury with a B- or higher grade are allowed to continue in their music major program. Music education majors have an additional barrier, in which they must pass MUSC 3100 Motivation and Classroom Management Strategies in Secondary Classroom Music with a C or higher grade and be accepted into the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP).
When are auditions?
Information on Music auditions can be found on Music's application page.
Can I audition for a group even if I'm not a Music major?
Non-music majors are welcome to audition for any ensemble on campus. Choral and band auditions take place the first week of the Fall semester, while orchestral auditions occur during the summer. Some groups on campus do not require an audition.
How do I get into Music Therapy?
Students interested in music therapy need to complete the 2-step process consisting of: (1) a pre-selection audition, and (2) an on-site audition.
The pre-selection audition requires:
- A completed music therapy application,
- A high school or college transcript,
- A video of the auditionee singing a song and accompanying themselves on guitar OR piano,
- A 1-2 minute video responding to the questions “What is music therapy?” and “What makes this career well suited for me?”.
Students who are notified that they have passed the pre-selection audition will be invited back for an in-person audition. Auditionees will be asked to perform the following:
- A recital-ready (classical) piece on their principal instrument. Please check the music therapy repertoire specified for your instrument's "audition requirements"
- A sung popular/contemporary song, accompanying yourself on piano,
- A sung folk or children’s song, accompanying yourself on guitar.
What are the jury requirements for Music Therapy majors?
Music Therapy majors are required to pass juries for their primary instrument. The program also requires that Music Therapy majors pass testing referred to as Level Exams. There are three required level exams that all students are required to pass during their tenure in the program. Typically, these exams are taken during their Freshman (Level I), Junior (Level II), and Senior (Level III). Students are tested on their proficiency to accompany themselves, while singing, on various instruments, specifically guitar and piano. The required memorized repertoire is increased with subsequent level exams.
Can I double major in music?
Many students choose to pursue a double major—either within music (for example, Music Education and Music Performance) or by pairing a music major with another discipline outside of music. This is certainly possible, though it may require additional semesters to complete all necessary coursework.
Some students combine a Music B.A. degree with another major, since the B.A. includes more elective credits that can be fulfilled through courses from the second major.
Students considering a double major should meet with their advisor(s) to ensure they remain on track to complete all degree requirements. To schedule an appointment with the Music Department advisor, Nathan Scott.
How do I transfer into a music major?
Students transferring from another institution may have credits and/or coursework that can fulfill certain requirements for their USU Music degree. These are evaluated on a case-by-case basis by faculty in consultation with the Head of the Music Department.
Transfer students who have completed the full Aural Skills or Music Theory sequence at their previous institution are automatically exempted from the equivalent sequence at USU.
Students who have taken only part of a theory or aural skills sequence will have those credits articulated as elective credit. To determine placement in USU’s sequence, they must complete the Transfer Student Placement Exams. Students can contact Dr. Tim Chenette directly to arrange these exams.