2009-2010 Undergraduate Catalog - Belmont University


Admission and Academic Music Policies


This portion of the School of Music section of the university undergraduate catalogue includes discussions of: School of Music Admission Requirements, Admission to Junior Standing, and Senior Comprehensive Exam. In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to the University, applicants for a major or minor in the School of Music must:

1. Complete all application materials required by the Admissions Office of Belmont University and include the School of Music Supplement. (All applicants must request an audition date as described in the Supplement). Submit application materials to the University no later than two weeks prior to the requested audition date.

2. Complete a live audition following the guidelines in the "Getting Started" brochure available from the School of Music and found on the School of Music website at www.belmont.edu/music. If scheduling a live audition is impossible, permission can be requested to submit a video audition, follow the specifications for preparing the video audition (using VHS, VHS-C or DVD format) as described in the "Getting Started."

3. Complete the School of Music Basic Musicianship Test at the time of audition. If permission is granted for a video audition, instructions will be sent concerning completion and submission of Basic Musicianship Test. This test is included as part of the evaluation process for admission to the School of Music. Information about this test can be found on the School of Music website at www.belmont.edu/music. 

4.  Be admitted to Belmont University and the School of Music.

5. Take the following placement tests, which will be given during Towering Traditions summer orientation just prior to advising and registration:

Secondary Performing Area Placement:
All students except keyboard principals will have piano as the required secondary performing area. Keyboard principals in some majors have a voice secondary but in others may elect an instrument as their secondary area. (Music minors are not required to complete the Secondary Placement Test.)

Music Theory and Ear Training Placements:
All students are required to take the Music Theory Placement Test and may take the Ear Training Placement if they desire advanced placement in Ear Training.

Additionally, if the applicant is a transfer student :

6. Have applied study, piano study and theory courses taken at other institutions validated by audition and/or placement test in order to count toward graduation.

Admission to Junior Standing in Music
  1. Admission of all new music students to the School of Music, freshmen and transfers, is provisional in nature. A student's status in a specific music major becomes official with admission to Junior standing.
  2. Consideration for admission to Junior Standing in Music will be based on completion of requirements listed below. The appropriateness of the curriculum for the student's abilities and experience is also taken into consideration.
  3. Students are admitted to Junior standing upon the successful completion of the following requirements:
    • Sophomore Technical Exam in the applied principal following four semesters of study in that applied area. (Transfer students who transfer four or more semesters of applied principal study must take the Technical after one semester of study at Belmont.)
    • Grade of C or higher in second semester of 2000 level applied study in the major area.
    • Harmony I and II, MUT 1310 and 1320.
    • Ear Training I and II, MUT 1330 and 1340.
    • Introduction to Music: History, Style and Culture, MUH 1200.
  4. Admission to Junior Standing confirms the student's status in the specific music major and allows the student to proceed into 3000-level applied study.

Senior Comprehensive Exam Senior music students must take the Senior Comprehensive Exam during the semester in which they expect to graduate. This test includes diverse materials primarily from academic music courses and must be taken at the scheduled time in order for a student to be allowed to graduate.