Registrar A-Z: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Music and Dance

Dance, Guide for Enrollment and Audition

BA Students in Dance do not have to audition for entry into the program. Students wishing to pursue a BFA degree must pass an audition for admission.

Contact the Music and Dance Office, 460 Murphy Hall, or the Dance Division at 785-864-4264 for more information.

Music, Guide for Audition, Enrollment, and Examinations in Applied Music:

All new or transfer students desiring to major or minor in any area of music must audition for admission as well as placement in their applied lessons. All graduate students who wish to qualify for graduate credit must audition. All students must first pass an audition in the applied music area for which they wish to enroll. Contact the Music and Dance office, 460 Murphy Hall, 864-3436 regarding scheduling audition appointments with the professor or division director in your applied medium.

Musical Organizations, Auditions for


Auditions for all concert bands, choirs, orchestra, and jazz ensembles occur during the first week of fall classes. Contact the appropriate office for audition times and materials. Band and jazz information is available from the KU Band Office, 124 Murphy, 785-864-3367, kuband@ku.edu, www.kuband.org, and www.marchingjayhawks.com. Orchestra audition information is available on the KU Orchestra web page http://arts.ku.edu/~sfa/musicdance/orchestra/joining.shtml. Wind and percussion audition with the bands. Strings sign up outside 126 Murphy. Questions: Professor Neely, dneely@ku.edu. Choral auditions involve voice placement and sight-reading. Sign up for auditions at 330 Murphy during Hawk week. Spring auditions for ensembles and athletic bands occur during the fall semester. New spring students should contact the appropriate office for late audition times.

Music Theory and Composition

Music Theory Placement Examination:

This examination, which includes both written and ear-training components, is required of all junior college students and undergraduate transfer students who have not completed a four-semester theory sequence with an accredited NASM school. New freshmen (non-transfer) students who have received training in music theory may take the exam; however, new freshmen students are not required to take the exam. The subject material for each exam may be gleaned from the following sources:

  • Theory I exam: Robert Gauldin, Harmonic Practice in Tonal Music, 2nd edition, chapters 1-12
  • Theory II exam: Harmonic Practice, 2nd edition, chapters 13-25
  • Theory III exam: Harmonic Practice, 2nd edition, chapters 26-41
  • Theory IV exam: Stefan Kostka, Materials and Techniques of Twentieth-Century Music, all


This examination is given on the Tuesday prior to the first day of classes in the fall and spring semester. Advanced registration for the exam is not necessary; incoming students interested in taking the exam may simply arrive at one of the specific times and locations listed below:

Fall 2008 exam: August 19, 2008, 7:00 PM in 123 Murphy Hall
Spring 2009 exam: January 13, 2009, 7:00 p.m. in 123 Murphy Hall


Piano

Keyboard Skills Placement Examination:

A Placement Examination for the piano proficiency requirements for the various music degrees is required of all new freshmen and transfer students. All students, except those whose primary performance area is piano, MUST attend the orientation meeting as listed below. An appointment for the placement examination is assigned at the meeting. Students with piano skills may skip to the appropriate semester or pass the proficiency requirement. Questions may be directed to the Music and Dance Office, 785 864-3436 or music@ku.edu.

Spring 2009:
The Keyboard Skills sequence placement examination is available on an appointment basis for students entering music degrees in the spring semester. Contact Janet Johnson at pianoped@ku.edu with questions or concerns.

Fall 2008:
Piano Orientation Meeting: August 20, 2008, 12:00 PM, Swarthout Recital Hall, Murphy Hall
Piano Placement Exam: August 20, 2008, by appointment between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM, 404 Murphy Hall

Graduate Diagnostic Examinations

All new graduate students except those in music education, music therapy, or M.M. opera are required to take the music history and music theory diagnostic exam. New graduate piano majors must also take an exam in piano literature. The Graduate Diagnostic Examinations are given on the Tuesday (MTHC & PIAN) and the Wednesday (MUSC) prior to the first day of classes in the fall and spring semesters. See specific times and locations below.

Spring 2009 exams:
Musicology: January 14, 2009, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., 123 Murphy Hall
Music Theory: January 13, 2009, 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., 123 Murphy Hall
Piano Majors: (New graduate student piano literature exam) January 13, 2009, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., 402 Murphy Hall

Fall 2008 exams:
Musicology: August 20, 2008, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., 123 Murphy Hall
Music Theory: August 19, 2008, 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., 123 Murphy Hall
Piano Majors: (New graduate student piano literature exam) August 19, 2008, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., 402 Murphy Hall

Voice Auditions

Students who have not previously auditioned in Voice, may do so two days prior to the first day of class for the fall or spring terms. All students must first pass an audition prior to enrolling in the applied lesson. Contact Professor John Stephens at 785-864-9617 or jastephe@ku.edu for information.