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Undergraduate FAQ's


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Frequently Asked Questions

1.  When should I start the process of applying to UNT?
2.  Are there scholarships available?
3.  How do you apply to UNT and the College of Music?
4.  Is it necessary to have a piano background before applying?
5.  Is it necessary to have a theory background before applying?
6.  How do you audition for the performing groups?
7.  What types of lessons will I take?
8.  Can you finish the degree in four years?
9.  Is it possible to have a job while pursuing a music degree?
10. Do you have lockers, practice rooms, and instrument rental?
11. How do I get to campus
12. Will my advanced placement (AP) credit count towards my degree?

1. When should I start the process of applying to UNT?
    Preferably the summer before the start of your senior year. Because our scholarship auditions start in January, you will want to start your application process before that and start working on the pieces with your private teacher.
2. Are there scholarships available?
    The College of Music does offer scholarships. These are awarded based on auditions held in January, February, and March for the following school year. The scholarships are only for music majors attending UNT. The University of North Texas has academic scholarships as well as need based scholarships UNT in the form of federal financial aid.
3. How do you apply to UNT and the College of Music? 4. Is it necessary to have a piano background before applying?
    No, but all music majors are required to pass a piano proficiency exam before graduation. Four semesters of classroom piano are part of the degree plan for all non-keyboard music majors.
5. Is it necessary to have a theory background before applying?
    No, though some prior knowledge could help you test out of our pre-theory course, Music Theory Fundamentals. All beginning music majors will take the Freshman Theory Placement Exam at New Student Orientation. Test results determine the appropriate music theory course for each student; either Theory and Aural Skills I, or its pre-requisite course, Music Theory Fundamentals. Theory I requires some prior basic knowledge. We recommend that you prepare for this Exam. Use the Study Guide. The test will check your ability to: 1) accurately write all major and minor key signatures on both treble and bass clefs, 2)correctly spell any major or (all three types of) minor scale in both clefs (using accidentals instead of key signatures), and 3) label basic intervals. This test will place you in either Theory and Aural Skills I, or in the pre-requisite theory course, Music Fundamentals.
6. How do you audition for the performing groups?
    All the performing groups audition the week before the start of the fall and spring semesters, with the exception of marching band. Marching band begins the week before classes start in the fall semester. All of the groups hold open auditions for any student at UNT, regardless of major. For more specific information, contact that area (jazz ensembles: (940) 565-3743; orchestras: (940) 565-3732; bands: 940 565 3737; choirs: 940 369 8389).
7. What types of lessons will I take?
    If you are accepted as a performance major (strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, keyboard, voice) you will enroll in MUAM lessons. If your major is composition, jazz studies, music education, music history, or music theory, you would be an applied concentration (MUAC) in an instrument or voice. You might also want to take secondary (MUAS) lessons in another instrument or voice on a space available basis.
8. Can you finish the degree in four years?
    The music degrees all require between 132 and 144 semester hours, which includes the University core of 47 hours. If a student took only the required courses and took 15 hours a semester it would take 4 to 5 years to graduate.
9. Is it possible to have a job while pursuing a music degree?
    Our schedule is arranged so that music students take most of their classes in the mornings, have rehearsals in the afternoons, and have evenings free to attend performances. While many students have part time jobs, it is difficult to schedule around a full time job commitment.
10. Do you have lockers, practice rooms, and instrument rental?
    You may rent a locker and a practice room by visiting that website: www.music.unt.edu/practice. We have small lockers and larger ones for tubas and double basses. We have two buildings of practice rooms. Instruments may be rented on a semester to semester basis to students enrolled in private music lessons beginning the first week of the semester. An Instrument Rental Authorization form (to be filled out by both the student and faculty member) may be obtained from Room 231, Music Annex 106, or from faculty members. Instruments available for rental include: bassoons, cellos, clarinets, cornets, double basses, English and French horns, euphoniums, flutes, oboes, piccolos, saxophones, trombones, trumpets, tubas, violas, and violins.
11. How do I get to campus
    (from DFW Airport): Within DFW Airport, take the central service road northbound to Highway 121. Turn right (northeast) on 121 toward Lewisville, and stay on the Business 121 route. In Lewisville, turn left under I 35 East and enter it going northbound to Denton (16 miles).

    (to the UNT campus): In Denton, take Exit #466B, and turn right on North Texas Blvd. This street curves (past our new silver domed Murchison Performing Arts Center). Continue north to the first stop sign, and turn right (east) on Chestnut Street. Go two blocks to the next stop sign at Avenue C. You will be facing the UNT Police Booth just across this intersection. Stop there to obtain your free visitor parking permit, and ask them to park you near "Music" (the building directly on your right).

    (to Jazz Studies and Kenton Hall): If you enter the Music building at the corner door (up the steps), Stan Kenton Hall will be the first door on your left, and the Jazz Studies Office will be down the short hall and around the corner to your right.

    (to the Main Music Office): From this corner (Avenue C and Chestnut), walk down the Avenue C sidewalk (with the Music building on your left) until you come to the "bridge" door a wide walkway that crosses to the second floor. Enter here, and turn left down the hall to the Music Office (the first windowed office on your left, Room 247).

    (from Fort Worth): Come north to Denton on I 35 West. As you approach Denton (you'll see UNT's Fouts Field ahead), take Exit #85A to the right, as though you were going to Dallas. Immediately take Exit #466B to the right and loop left over the North Texas Blvd. bridge. This street curves (past our new silver domed Murchison Performing Arts Center). Continue north to the first stop sign, and turn right (east) on Chestnut Street. Go two blocks to the next stop sign at Avenue C. You will be facing the UNT Police Booth just across this intersection. Stop there to obtain your free visitor parking permit, and ask them to park you near "Music" (the building directly on your right).

    (from the East on Highway 380): Drive west through Denton on Highway 380. After you pass a shopping area (Denton Center), turn left on Malone Street when you see the Whataburger restaurant on your right and the 7 11 on your left. Continue south on this street as it curves and becomes Jagoe, then Avenue C. After the stop light at Oak Street, continue south for four blocks to the stop sign at Chestnut Street, and turn left to the UNT Police Booth. Stop there to obtain your free visitor parking permit, and ask them to park you near "Music" (the building directly on your right).

    (from the north on I 35): As you come past Denton southbound on I 35, take the I 35 East split toward Dallas at Exit #467. Then take Exit #466B to the right and loop left over the bridge on North Texas Blvd. This street curves (past our new silver domed Murchison Performing Arts Center). Continue north to the first stop sign, and turn right (east) on Chestnut Street. Go two blocks to the next stop sign at Avenue C. You will be facing the UNT Police Booth just across this intersection. Stop there to obtain your free visitor parking permit, and ask them to park you near "Music" (the building directly on your right).

12. Will my advanced placement (AP) credit count towards my degree?
    The University of North Texas accepts advanced placement for academic coursework completed.AP Music Theory credit is counted as MUTH 1260.
      
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