Music Minors
Music Minors
The School of Music offers minors for both music majors and non-majors. All Music minors require students to meet prerequisites so it typically takes no less than four semesters to complete any Music minor. The first prerequisite for most Music minor programs is to complete an audition. Music majors cannot have a music minor in the same program, or with the same primary instrument as their major. Interested students must talk with the School of Music Academic Advisor before declaring any Music minor.
Auditions for the Applied Music and Jazz Studies minor programs are held before classes begin each fall and spring semester. Applied Music and Jazz Studies minors are also required to audition for co-requisite ensemble participation as appropriate for their performance studio. Though ensemble participation is co-requisite for Applied Music and Jazz Studies Private Study, the ensemble auditions are separate and different from auditioning for admission to the minor.
Freshman students may audition for a music minor as early as their first semester, though they cannot formally declare the minor until mid-October. Audition Days in January are reserved for prospective music major students, internal transfer students (change of major), and graduate students hoping to matriculate in the fall term. Students wishing to minor, but not major, in music should not audition during January Audition Days.
All UD students are welcome to participate in instrumental and vocal ensembles and will want to plan to audition separately regardless of major or minor.
Please check the UD Course Catalog for minor program academic requirements and for information on specific MUSC courses.
For students interested in continuing instrumental or vocal performance at the university-level, the Applied Music minor program includes four sequential semesters of private study (lessons) and co-requisite ensemble participation. A successful audition is required for acceptance as an Applied Music minor. Performance ensemble auditions are separate and different from auditions for admission to the minor and must be completed each semester. Interested students audition in either the fall or spring term before classes start.
Visit the Ensembles page for more information on Ensemble Participation and links to audition repertoire information. Students must talk with the School of Music Academic Advisor and the appropriate studio faculty advisor before declaring the Applied Music minor.
Please review our Performance Studios to learn more about our faculty. Students can complete Applied Music minor requirements with one of these concentrations:
- Bassoon
- Clarinet
- Double Bass
- Euphonium
- Flute
- Guitar
- Horn
- Oboe
- Organ
- Percussion
- Piano
- Saxophone
- Trombone
- Trumpet
- Tuba
- Viola
- Violin
- Violoncello
- Voice
The composition minor is only available to music majors. An interview with composition faculty and submission of composition samples are required.
The Jazz Studies minor includes an exploration of the history of jazz and provides the student with the harmony and improvisation skills used in jazz performance. Students with previous instrumental or vocal experience, even those who may be new to jazz and improvisation, are required to audition. Jazz ensemble auditions are separate and different from auditions for admission to the minor and must be completed each semester. Interested students audition in either the fall or spring term before classes start.
Visit the Jazz Ensembles page for more information on Ensemble Participation and links to audition repertoire information. Students must talk with the School of Music Academic Advisor and a Jazz studio faculty advisor before declaring the Jazz Studies minor.
Formerly called Music Management Studies, the Music Industry Studies minor examines the theory and practice of core principals in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors of performing arts organizations including music. No audition is required but students who are not music majors are required to earn B+ or higher grades in MUSC101 and MUSC105 before declaring the minor or registering for the core courses.
Interested students are strongly encouraged to talk with the School of Music Academic Advisor or the Music Industry Studies program coordinator and faculty advisor to get assistance with selecting and registering for minor elective courses.
The Musical Studies minor provides students a breadth of understanding in music theory, history, and literature, with the option to meet minor electives by participating in School of Music ensembles. No audition is required to add this minor.
Students with a Bachelor of Music program major completes at least eight credits of unduplicated coursework to meet requirements for the Musical Studies minor. Students in the Bachelor of Arts in Music program cannot minor in Musical Studies.
Students who are not music majors and choose Option 1 for meeting the prerequisites for minor courses must earn B+ or higher grades in both MUSC101-Appreciation of Music and MUSC105-Fundamentals of Music I.
Students who choose Option 2 for meeting the prerequisites for minor courses will be able to drop MUSC184-Music Fundamentals: Theory and Fluency if they successfully pass the Music Theory Placement Exam. The Music Theory Placement Exam is administered only to students enrolled in MUSC184; students complete the exam during the first week of classes.
MUSC185-Aural Skills I is a co-requisite for MUSC184 and prerequisite for MUSC195-Foundations of Music Theory. Most students, including those with a music major, complete both MUSC184 and MUSC185 if they choose theory Option 2.
Interested students are strongly encouraged to talk with the School of Music Academic Advisor to get assistance with selecting and registering for Musical Studies minor courses.
