College of Musical Arts

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions about the College of Musical Arts

How many students are music majors in the College of Musical Arts?

There are approximately 400 undergraduate music majors and 150 graduate students.

What is the student to teacher ratio?

With nearly 60 full-time faculty in the College of Musical Arts, the student to teacher ratio is approximately 7:1.

What degrees and majors are offered in the College of Musical Arts?

The College of Musical Arts offers two undergraduate music degrees.

Bachelor of Music degree with majors in

Bachelor of Musical Arts degree

Are there extra fees required of Music students?

Yes. An Applied Lesson Fee of $90 per semester is assessed for a minimum of 13 one-hour lessons. A Music Usage Fee of $50 per semester is charged for general use of equipment. Depending on the ensemble you are in, females may be asked to purchase a black dress and males a tux. Falcon Marching Band members are asked to purchase a shirt, gloves, shoes and a cap. See the Financial Facts page for more financial details.

What types of music organizations are there in the College of Musical Arts?

There are several service organizations as well as fraternities and sororities to join. There is a detailed list and description of each organization available.

What ensembles are available?

There are 13 large ensembles to choose from, including five bands, two jazz lab bands, five choirs and an orchestra. In addition, there are many chamber groups such as vocal jazz, early music (vocal and instrumental), Indonesian Gamelan, Afro-Caribbean Drum Ensemble, Steel Drum Ensemble and numerous instrumental choirs. For information about the ensembles please visit the ensembles Web site and opportunites for nonmajors.

Can I perform in ensembles if I decide not to major in music?

Yes, students are encouraged to participate in ensembles. Students register for the ensemble during summer orientation and registration and audition for the ensemble during the first week of classes in the fall. For more information, please visit the ensembles Web site.

When do I audition for ensembles?

Auditions take place during the first week of classes in the fall. Information and an audition sign-up can be obtained on the bulletin boards outside these offices for each ensemble just prior to the beginning of fall semester classes.

Can I take lessons if I’m not a music major?

Due to the number of music majors and minors in our program, lessons for credit are very limited. To be considered for lessons, a student must pass a competitive college level entrance audition the semester prior to the semester the lessons are taken.

Lessons are available for no credit through the College of Musical Arts’ Creative Arts Program (419) 372-8177.

Do I need my own instrument or does the school provide one?

If you are majoring in music you should own your own instrument. In some cases, school-owned instruments may be used on a temporary basis. You may wish to contact the faculty member of the instrument you play to determine if there is an instrument for you to use.

When do I audition for the Falcon Marching Band?

Approximately seven days prior to the beginning of classes, students arrive and move into their assigned residence halls, then report for marching fundamentals, drills and music rehearsals. Auditions are held at the beginning of rehearsals in August.

The Falcon Marching Band performs at all home games, selected other events and on the Sounds of the Stadium concert in November. Typically the group travels to at least one away game per season.

Are there enough practice rooms?

“The time you spend in the pratice room is some of the most valuable time you can spend working on your major. Make sure you budget your time. No amount of free time is too small to stop and practice. Don’t let this valuable time go to waste.”—Kelly Sutton, music education

There are approximately 70 practices rooms located on the second and third floor of the Moore Musical Arts Center. Practice rooms for percussion students are also located on the third floor and in the basement of the Center.

Last Updated: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 | Contact the CMA | Disclaimer