SOMD Academic Advising

How do I major in music?

To declare any music major, UO students must first submit an application to the School of Music and Dance. Some majors require auditions or portfolio submissions in addition to the application. More information and deadlines can be found on the SOMD Undergraduate Admissions page.

How do I declare a music minor?

UO student can declare a minor in Music Studies, Audio Production, or Music Technology by completing the Add a Music Minor form.

You don’t have to major or minor in music to participate in SOMD activities. While preference is given to majors in some classes, studios, and ensembles, all UO students are eligible and encouraged to take music classes and participate in ensembles.

What music classes can I take as a non-major?
Although registration preference is given to majors for some classes, non-majors are eligible to take nearly most classes so long as you have satisfied the pre-requisites. Preference for spots in Theory, Aural Skills, and Keyboard Skills is given to music majors, but non-majors and minors are eligible to register for remaining spots on Monday of the first week of the term. Email ugradmus@uoregon.edu for an override as a non-major.

Do I have to be a major or minor to participate in an ensemble?
No. All UO students are welcome to participate in ensembles, regardless of status as a music major or minor.

How do I register for an ensemble?
Ensemble auditions are held each year during Week of Welcome before the start of fall term. Students will often audition and participate in an ensemble throughout the academic year. If you wish to join an ensemble in winter or spring term, email the ensemble director in advance of registration to inquire about available spots in the ensemble. You may be asked for details about your experience or for an audition.

Where do I find more information about marching band or other athletic bands?
See Oregon Athletic Bands.

Can I take lessons (MUP classes) for credit as a non-major?
Yes. All UO students are eligible to take lessons, though availability of space in some studios may vary. 

How do I register for lessons as a non-major?
You may email the instructor of a MUP class to ask if they have room in their studio for you. They may want to hear you play in advance of approving your registration. If they approve your registration request, complete the SOMD Override Request form and email it to ugradmus@uoregon.edu. Some MUP classes (MUP 114 and MUP 115) are restricted to majors only until the first day of class. You will need to wait until then to register for remaining spots in these classes.

What MUP number should I register for?
Please refer to the chart below for the standard MUP registration guidelines for non-majors.

The Music Core is a combination of Musicianship classes and History & Culture classes. For our conservatory-style majors (all BMus degrees, Music Theory concentration, Music History & Literature concentration), this includes a 2-year sequence of Music Theory, Aural Skills, and Keyboard Skills classes. For Popular Music Studies and General Music Studies, students may select a combination of courses (including those listed above) to create a Music Core customized to their interests. MUS 131 Music Theory I and MUS 134 Aural Skills I are co-requisites.

Music Core Enrichment Lab
No-cost tutoring for Music Theory, Aural Skills, and Keyboard Skills classes.

First Year Music Theory (MUS 131, 132, 133)
Thursdays, 4:00 – 6:00pm on Zoom with Emily Milius

https://uoregon.zoom.us/j/91321064237?pwd=TGxveHJ1dUF4aG9sMmNDeHZLOGlGQT09

Passcode: raiseLTs!

Second Year Music Theory (MUS 231, 232, 233)
Wednesdays, 5:00 – 7:00pm on Zoom with John King

https://uoregon.zoom.us/j/93200397712?pwd=aFNpODR6SVExT214RUhIM0htRldOZz09

Passcode: 680732

First & Second Year Aural Skills (MUS 134, 135, 136, 234, 235)
Wednesdays, 4:00 – 6:00pm in rm. 142 with Emily Milius

Keyboard Skills
Mondays, 5:00 – 7:00pm in rm. 111 with John King

Study Guides for Music Core Placement Exams
Music Theory
Aural Skills
Keyboard Skills

Summer Review Courses
Sections of MUS 399 are available every summer for students who did not earn a satisfactory grade in and/or wish to review material from Music Theory, Aural Skills, and/or Keyboard Skills. Please see Dr. Pack’s Practical Musicianship blog for more information.

Online Resources

• musictheory.net includes exercises in note, key signature, interval, and chord identification, as well as several useful ear-­‐training exercises.
• teoria.com includes exercises for notation, intervals scales, key signatures, and chords. (Also includes exercises for aural skills).
• musicards.net includes flashcards for increasing fluency with note names, key signatures, intervals, and triads.
• E-MusicTheory includes drills for note names, piano keys, intervals, scales, key signatures, chords, and even first-­species counterpoint.
• good-ear.com has good practice for interval, scales, and chords.
• musicalmind.org has good practice for intervals and dictation.
• Musica Practica software, designed for aural skills refinement, is available for use in the Kammerer Computer Lab and via USB drive!  (For details, please inquire with Dr. Pack.)

I received an error message when I tried to register for a class. What should I do?

A number of things might trigger a registration error. Some can be resolved with instructor permission or within the SOMD, others may require you to submit a form to the Registrar’s Office.

SOMD Override Request Form

UO Registrar – Forms & Petitions

SOMD students must take all major and minor classes for a grade or P* (the asterisk indicates that the class is only offered P / NP). Per UO policy, students can use up to 12 credits of classes taken optionally as P / NP towards the 180 credits required for graduation.

What is an Incomplete?

Per UO’s Incomplete Policy,

An incomplete may be issued when the quality of work is satisfactory, but some minor yet essential requirement has not been completed, for reasons acceptable to the instructor. Faculty and students should develop a contract outlining the requirements and specific deadlines for making up the incomplete. Contracts should be filed in the departmental office through which the course is taught. Please note that it is not appropriate to direct a student to sit through the same class in a future term as a way to make up an incomplete, as that implies that the student has more than a “minor requirement” outstanding, and should not have been given an I. Further, students are required to be registered for and pay for all classes that they are “taking.”

Failure to make up the incomplete by the end of one calendar year will result in the mark of I automatically changing to a grade of F or N. In order to communicate completion requirements (clarification on outstanding work, deadline for completion, current grade), your instructor may opt to use the Incomplete Grade Contract.

Plan ahead for registration using this year’s Music Course Projections.

SOMD Dean’s Student Advisory Council (DSAC)
The Dean’s Student Advisory Committee serves to facilitate open, positive, and productive communication between the student body, various departments, and the office of the Dean at the School of Music and Dance at the University of Oregon.

Music Industry Collective
The MIC is a cross-disciplinary group for UO students to connect with each other, professionals, and opportunities within the music industry.

UO NAfME Collegiate
The Collegiate Chapter of the National Association for Music Education at the University of Oregon.

THEME Colloquium
Founded by Professor Steve Larson at the University of Oregon, THEME is an interdisciplinary colloquium of faculty and student researchers in music theory (T), musicology/music history (H), ethnomusicology (E), and music education (ME).

Mu Phi Epsilon – Nu Chapter
Mu Phi Epsilon is a co-ed professional music fraternity with more than 75,000 members in collegiate and alumni chapters around the world. The Nu Chapter is the collegiate chapter at the University of Oregon.

SOMD Committee for Equity and Inclusion
In co-operation with the University of Oregon’s Division of Equity and Inclusion, the SOMD CEI works to facilitate an inclusive, safe, and welcoming environment for all.

Bulletproof Musician: How many hours a day should I practice?

The Grossman Method: A course of study for violinists to learn advanced techniques while incorporating somatic understanding.

Get Body Smart: Online exploration of human anatomy and physiology.

Alexander Technique Teachers

– Marieke Schuurs at Cantare Studio in Springfield, OR

– Paige McKinney, based in Portland, OR

UO Health & Wellness Resources (SOMD webpage)

Detailed policies, procedures, and resources for undergraduate students in the SOMD can be found in the Undergraduate Student Handbook.

Visit the Popular Music at UO blog for events, information, and resources for Popular Music majors and other students interested in learning about, producing, and playing popular music.

Music majors must participate in a specified number of terms of approved ensembles and must audition for these ensembles every fall during Week of Welcome. Verify your specific ensemble requirements on your major’s Requirement Checklist.

Approved ensembles for Composition,* General Music Studies, Jazz Studies,º Music Education, Music Theory, and Performance:

Instrumental ensembles

• MUS 395 Top Wind Symphony (or MUS 397 Top Marching/Wind Symphony)
• MUS 395 Top Oregon Wind Ensemble (or MUS 397 Top Marching/OWE)
• MUS 396 Top Symphony Orchestra

Vocal ensembles

• MUS 397 Top Repertoire Singers
• MUS 397 Top University Singers
• MUS 397 Top Chamber Singers

*Composition majors may use three terms of MUS 490 Gamelan towards their ensemble requirement.
ºJazz Studies majors may also use MUS 394 chamber ensembles towards their classical ensemble requirement, in addition to their jazz-specific ensemble requirement.

The following majors may use any SOMD ensemble towards their ensemble requirement:

• Music History & Culture
• Music Technology
• Popular Music Studies†

†Popular Music Studies majors must include at least one term of a non-classical ensemble; see requirements checklist for details. 

All music majors have an applied performance studies requirement.

What MUP number should I register for?
Your MUP number is based on your major and your student standing / status pre- or post-checkpoint in your program (if applicable).

Some music majors and concentrations require recitals or projects. Consult the Checklists & Plans of Study for information about what may be required for your major or concentration. 

Recitals
Refer to the Recitals page of the SOMD website for recital scheduling and planning procedures.
Recital planning should begin three terms prior to the recital.

Senior Projects
Music History & Culture, Music Technology, and Music Theory concentrations require senior projects/portfolios. Begin brainstorming about possible projects no later than your junior year, and discuss timing and other details with the professors who will serve on your committee.

Forms and descriptions for senior project requirements can be found on the Forms page.