Information for First Year Students

All incoming students will take an online diagnostic exam covering music fundamentals. The diagnostic exam will be available during July and August. The results of this exam will help determine which section of Music Theory classes would be appropriate for your skill level. Click here if you would like to know more about the music theory diagnostic exam (there is a sample exam) or more about UNI’s Music Theory Program.

All music students are required to take Group Piano classes and show proficiency at the piano.  Do not worry if you have no piano background – that is why you take the classes!   Students with experience may test out of the proficiency.  See below. 

If you have no piano background, you will enroll for one of the four sections of MUS APPL 1470 Group Piano Class I.  Since these classes have limited enrollment, not all incoming freshman will have piano class their first semester.  Do not worry as this is normal and will in no way affect your projected graduation date.

If you have a background in piano, you need to meet with Dr. Andrea Johnson before or on the first day of the fall semester.  She can assess your background and place you in the appropriate level of piano class or determine if you meet the proficiency level.  Please contact her at andrea.johnson@uni.edu 

Music major students are required to perform in one large ensemble each semester, and most of these ensembles are auditioned. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU VISIT THIS WEB SITE TO FIND YOUR AUDITION DATES, TIMES, AND REQUIRED REPERTOIRE: https://music.uni.edu/ensembles/auditions-ensembles. You may choose to play in more than one large ensemble, but only two courses count for credit per semester. Additionally, you may enroll in small ensembles for participation credit.

Keep in mind that most ensemble auditions take place on the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday before classes start. Students in marching band camp will be excused from rehearsals for your audition.

Students who are participating in the Panther Marching Band should go to the following web site to register: bands.uni.edu. You will find the schedule of football games there as well as information about marching band camp that begins the week before classes.

You can direct questions about specific ensembles to the following faculty members:

Every music major is required to enroll in applied lessons on his or her instrument/voice each semester. Freshman music majors enroll for 2 credit hours of applied lessons. This means you will have one, 50 minute lesson per week. Please make sure you enroll for two credit hours, because the enrollment system will automatically enroll you for one credit hour unless you change this default number. Additionally, you should enroll in the seminar in your area (e.g. Wind and Percussion Seminar, Brass Seminar, Piano Seminar or Composition Seminar).

Your lesson day and time will be set for you by your applied teacher. You will turn in your class schedule to your applied teacher either right before the first week of classes or during the first week of classes, depending on what your teacher asks for. If you have questions about applied lessons, here are the names and emails of the applied teachers in each area. They are happy to answer any question you have so don’t hesitate to email them.