Music Department | UC Santa Cruz

The music program at UCSC integrates music performance, theory, composition, history and literature. It offers a wide variety of possibilities both to students wishing to major or minor in music, and to all students who wish to increase their musical abilities and understanding. The Music Department supports an unusually diverse curriculum for a department of its size. By a choice of electives, the student can emphasize aspects of music beyond the basic core courses required of the major or minor. Students may obtain preparation for graduate or professional work in the following broad areas:

A. Performance (including orchestral and chamber music instruments, piano and Baroque keyboard instruments, and choral and vocal studies);

B. Composition and Theory (including instrumental, vocal, electronic and computer techniques);

C. Musicology and Early Music Performance;

D. Ethnomusicology. Advanced students may also enroll in some master's level courses and/or undertake research projects, field work, or student-taught seminars in association with faculty.

Enrollment in Music Courses

Music courses and individual instruction are available to all registered students. If a course has limited enrollment, music majors and minors may have priority. Only officially enrolled UCSC students are permitted to audit classes.

Placement Exam

The first-year theory course for music majors is Music 30A/B/C. Depending on their abilities and experience, students entering the program are placed directly into Music 30A or into Music 15. The Core Curriculum Placement Exam, given at the beginning of Fall Quarter, is the usual tool for determining each student's placement. Click here to see a sample exam.

Declaration of Major or Minor

Any lower-division B.A. or B.M. student enrolled in Music 15 or 30A, B, or C may declare a major or minor in music by completing the following:

1) Obtain a "Proposed Study Plan-Declaration of Major/Minor" form from your college;

2) Obtain the signature of your academic preceptor on the form;

3) To declare the major (not the minor), obtain applied instructor's signature on the "Primary Instrument Instruction Authorization" (forms available in 127 Music Center , the Music Department Office, and from applied instructors);

4) Consult a music faculty adviser to work out a study plan--obtain the adviser's signature;

5) Obtain approval of completed form at Music Department Office.

For more information please see the Undergraduate Student Handbook -(Adobe Acrobat Reader required).

Scholarships

Scholarship Awards are available for incoming undergraduate students. The Music Department awards scholarship money to advanced performers in all areas of musical performance for the 2012-2013 academic year. Strong performers are encouraged to apply. Simply apply to UCSC as a Music Major, and send a non-returnable recording to:

Music Department Scholarships

244 Music Center

1156 High Street

University of California

Santa Cruz, CA 95064

*** The Deadline for Postmark of Recording: January 31, 2013 ***

Guidelines: The recording should contain at least two solo pieces in contrasting styles, preferably from different historical periods. Label the recording clearly with your name, address, phone number, instrument, and the composers and titles of the works included. For more information, please contact the Music Dept. Office at (831) 459-2292 or music@ucsc.edu.

For more information, please see Scholarships.