Music History Frequently Asked Questions

1.Where can I find out about the UofL Music History faculty?
A: Short bios of the Music History faculty are available at the following link: http://louisville.edu/music/faculty/. There is also information at http://louisville.edu/music/history/index.html .

2. How many music history majors are there at UofL?
A: The music history program is a small one, with a maximum of five to six students enrolled as music history majors at any one time.

3. What resources are available at UofL for music history majors?
A: The Dwight Anderson Memorial Library holds collections of unique resources for original research in music history. These include the Grawemeyer Collection of Contemporary Music, which comprises over 2,500 items by major composers submitted to the Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition since its inception in 1985, the Ricasoli Collection of 17th - and 18th - century materials from Tuscany, and several collections of local and regional importance. The medieval facsimile collection is particularly strong.

4. What opportunities for experience in ethnomusicology are available at UofL?
A: There are several courses in world musics offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The world music series provides further contact with and experience of the music of different cultures.

5. Will I be able to write my master’s thesis or senior paper on a topic I choose?
A: After the initial period of study, a student decides on an area for the focus of the final project or thesis and then consults with the faculty member specializing in that area. The student then drafts a proposal, which must be accepted by a specific faculty member for direction.

6. What is a master’s thesis in music history?
A: The master’s thesis in music history is a formal study of a specific topic and an original contribution to the field of music history. If you are in the Louisville area and can come to the University, you may examine theses from previous years in the University of Louisville Music Library. Recent theses have included studies of geometric pitch structure and form in Varèse’s Déserts, medieval bilingual motets, and conservative and progressive elements in C.P.E. Bach's Prussian Sonata no. 1.

A list of recent theses, dissertations, and senior papers is available at:
http://louisville.edu/music/history/recenttheses.html

7. What types of career options exist for music historians?
A: Past graduates in music history from the University of Louisville have made careers as musicologists, music librarians, arts administrators, and music critics.

Admissions, Applications, Awards, Costs, etc.

8. What are the admission requirements to become a music history major at the University of Louisville School of Music, and how do I apply?
A: To be accepted into the undergraduate music history program, students must meet the University of Louisville admission requirements and the School of Music admission requirements. For undergraduate admission requirements see
http://admissions.louisville.edu/ugrd.html
Please note: All undergraduate applicants are also required to perform an audition on a principal instrument or voice. For details on the required audition and application see http://louisville.edu/music/undergradprograms.html

Applicants to the graduate program must also meet the University of Louisville admission requirements and the School of Music admission requirements. For graduate admission requirements see:
http://graduate.louisville.edu/request_info/admissions.html

In addition, applicants to the music history program at the master’s level must submit a portfolio consisting of a letter of application and two to three papers written for music history or music theory classes at the undergraduate level. The goal should be to submit the best possible portfolio, because a strong portfolio could result in an offer of a scholarship or assistantship. A Summary List of the steps to take in applying for entrance to the master’s program is available at http://louisville.edu/music/history/summarylist.html.

Portfolios are circulated among the Music History faculty, each of whom makes an evaluation and a recommendation about admission and financial aid.

The portfolio review is one stage of the admissions process for the graduate degree program, which also includes submitting the following.

An application to the university

Transcripts

Required test scores

Recommendations

A financial aid application (if scholarship assistance is sought)

9. What are the course requirements for the undergraduate degree program?
A: Students enrolled in the undergraduate program in music history complete the four-semester music history sequence required of all music majors and also take 18 hours of courses, among which are four music history courses on varying topics, two hours of tutorials intended to enhance the four-semester core sequence required of all music majors, and a senior research project carrying four hours of credit. For the B.M. in music history course requirements see also
http://louisville.edu/music/history/degrees.html .

10. What are the course requirements for the graduate degree program?
A: Students complete 36 hours of course work, including seminars in music history, music theory and other elective courses including ensembles. Requirements include a thesis, proficiency in German or French established through examination, oral defense of thesis and graduate oral. For the M.M. in music history course requirements see also
http://louisville.edu/music/history/degrees.html

11. How much does it cost to study music history at the University of Louisville?
A: Tuition costs are set by the university: http://www.louisville.edu/admin/bursar/bursttf1.htm

Other costs include a place to live and food to eat (room and board), transportation to and from school, books, clothing, etc. In general, the cost of living in Louisville is about the same as the national average: a bit less than really large cities and a bit more than small towns. Information about on-campus housing and meals may be found at the following links:
http://www.louisville.edu/student/life/housing/index.html

http://louisville.edu/student/housing/rates.html

The cost of off-campus housing may be researched in The Courier Journal classified ads (among other places), at the following links:
The Courier Journal Real Estate Classified Ads

The Courier Journal Classifieds Home Page

12. What financial aid is available for music history majors? What are my options for financial assistance?
A: Financial aid opportunities are different for undergraduate and graduate students. In addition to information you find here, please be sure to carefully research all other available options, including various student loan programs and grants. Here is the link for the UofL Student Financial Aid Office…http://www.louisville.edu/student/services/fin-aid/

Undergraduate Financial Aid specifically for music history majors is fairly limited. However, scholarships for undergraduate music majors are based on the performance audition rather than the major. For information about undergraduate academic scholarships for students whose high school grades are exceptionally high, see http://admissions.louisville.edu/aid/scholarship.html For southern Indiana students, there are reciprocal in-state tuition plans.

Graduate Financial Aid for music history majors includes Graduate Teaching Assistantships in music history and Graduate Service Awards, and there are some fellowships available. The GTAs and the fellowships are very competitive with other universities. Please see the following page for more information: http://louisville.edu/music/history/awards.html

Especially for Graduate Students

13. Will I have an opportunity to teach?
A: During the first year of the master’s degree program, Graduate Teaching Assistants are assigned to a particular professor each semester and provide classroom assistance and grading assistance for exams and assignments for the undergraduate classes. First year Graduate Teaching Assistants may have occasional opportunities to substitute for various faculty, but there is no full-time responsibility for a course. Students may also volunteer to serve as tutors for various music history courses.

Second-year Graduate Teaching Assistants with appropriate skills may have the opportunity to teach an independent section of the music history course for non-music majors (MUH204).

14. What should I include in my music history application portfolio?
A: Applicants in music history should send a letter of application and two or more writing samples to the Music History Division. In the letter, include information concerning your background in musical performance, other relevant studies, teaching experience, and other degree preparation. If you are applying for financial assistance, state this interest in your letter of application. If assistance for study will be partly based on performance or teaching, an audition and/or an interview will have to be arranged through the Performance Division in question or the Director of Admissions.
The writing samples should be papers written for undergraduate classes in music history or music theory. Your writing samples should be in your best prose; revising your papers one more time is a good idea.

15. What should I do to prepare for graduate study in music history at U of L?
A: Prepare for the entrance examinations in Music History and Music Theory with the study guide sent from the Graduate Division in late May. (The review packet for the entrance exam in Music History is also available at Graduate Music History Entrance Exam Review Packet .) Begin reviewing foreign language for proficiency requirement for master's degree. Language proficiency in German or French must be established by the beginning of the second year of study.

Especially for Entering Undergraduate Music History Students

16. How can I best prepare to enter the undergraduate music history program at UofL?
A: Listen, read, study! and take your performance skills and your theory exposure seriously. The more ground you can cover before college, the more your training at UofL will mean for you. Many high schools offer some form of music theory training, even if informally. If not, talk with your ensemble directors to see if they can point you in the right direction to get more music history information and music theory practice. Some high schools offer courses in music history. In addition to taking these courses, read as much as you can about general history and music history, and if you are serious about music history, be sure to include foreign language study of German or French in your high school program. For music theory, there are several fine practice programs available for purchase (including Musica Practica, MacGamut, and Auralia, to name a few – all for both Windows and Mac), and there are many less extensive (but still very useful) freeware or shareware programs available for download. Try ZDNET to explore some freeware of shareware programs; search the Downloads for “music theory” or “Ear Training.” Another very good online practice program is found at Music Theory On Line.

17. What is the procedure for applying for the B.M. in music history?
A: Because undergraduate music students do not begin their enrollment as music history majors, applications are the same as for any music student. A required audition, and application are detailed online at http://louisville.edu/music/undergradprograms.html . If you know that you are very interested in majoring in music history, speak to the music history faculty about this as soon as possible, and contact us prior to application. The music history sequence (four semesters of music history courses required of all music majors) does not begin until the sophomore year, but the sooner you make your interests known, the better.