Lesson Types
Applied Music Instructors
How to Audition for and Enroll in Lessons
How to enroll in MyUCSC
Voice Lessons
Guitar Lessons
All other applied lessons
Cost of Lessons
Auditions and Juries(Advisory jury)
ProficiencyAudition
B.M. Auditions
Senior Recital Auditions
Scholarship Auditions
Examples: Standard Classical Audition Repertoire
MUSC 61 - 30-minute lower-division lessons (for first/second year students), 2 credits
MUSC 62- 60-minute lower-division lessons (for first/second year students), 3 credits
MUSC 63 - lower-division group lessons (for first/second year students) [min. 3 students],2credits
MUSC 161 - 60-minute upper-division lessons (for transfer and third/fourth year students), 3 credits
MUSC 161A - 30-minute upper-division lessons (for transfer and third/fourth year students), 3 credits
MUSC 161B - upper-division group lessons (for transfer and third/fourth year students) [min. 3 students], 2credits
MUSC 162 - 60-minute advanced lessons (for any advanced students - larger workload is expected of the students, as well as a public performance during quarter taken), 5credits
MUSC 196B - 60-minute senior recital prep (for students performing their senior recital that quarter), 5credits
For a complete list of our current applied lesson music instructors, please clickhere.
How to Audition for and Enroll in Lessons:
Note: To enroll in ensembles,look up auditions times & details here: Audition Schedule.
To enroll in lessons:either follow the directions listed below, or if not listed, please email the instructor of your instrument to set up a lessonaudition. If you are accepted into lessons, see instructions on how to enroll below. See this page for a list of our applied instrument faculty.
Once you have spoken with an applied lessons instructor about beginning lessons, pleasefill out the 2023-2024Digital Lesson Application.
Once your instructor provides you with an enrollment code, please follow these instructions to enroll:
- Go to “My UCSC” click on “Enroll” (Do NOT click on “Search”)
- Then, click on “Add”
- The page that opens should have a “Class Number” field where you can enter a number in the box.
- Enter the “Class Number” written above
- Check that the correct course and instructor appear in your shopping cart
- Proceed to “Finish Enrolling”
Voice Lessons (as of 2023-24):
The UCSC Music Department has openings for singers who wish to take individual and group voice lessons. Priority will go to Music majors/minors and Theatre Arts majors, but all UCSC students are invited to audition.
Sign up for auditions by filling outthis Google sheet.
Singers should bring one or two contrasting songs with sheet music for the pianist. Singers must sing with piano accompaniment - bring written out music in the correct key.
If you have any questions, please contact Emily Sinclair atevsincla@ucsc.eduor Sheila Willey atswilley@ucsc.edu.
Guitar Lessons(as of 2021-2022):
Google form for lessonaudition signups:https://forms.gle/ivbv4NCjdxVG5qCH6
Auditions will be held on Tuesday, September 21st. Auditions will be held in person at the UCSC music center in room 277. Virtual auditions will be held if you are unable to make it to the in-person audition. Please let us know below. You can email the guitar teachers William Coulter or Chris Mallett atbillski@ucsc.eduorcmallett@ucsc.edu. Students meet with their instructor for private lessons ten times each quarter, once a week for an hour. Students will have a variety of performance opportunities including a weekly performance class, recitals, masterclasses, and the UCSC guitar ensemble. We look forward to hearing from you!
All other appliedlessons (as of 2023-2024):
Please email the instructor of your instrument directly to set up a lessonaudition. If you are accepted into lessons, your instructor will give you instructions on how to enroll. See this page for a list of our applied instrument faculty.
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- One-hour lessons (Music 62, Music 161, Music 162, Music 196B) cost $650/quarter for 10 lessons. Declared or proposed Music majors & minors will receive a $150 scholarship each quarter they are enrolled in hour-long lessons.
- Half-hour lessons (Music 61, Music 161A) cost $350/quarter for 10lessons.Declared or proposed Music majors & minors will receive a $75scholarship each quarter they are enrolled in half-hour lessons.
- Group lessons (Music 63, Music 161B) cost $100/quarter for 10 lessons. All students in group lessons will have their lesson costs fully covered by a Department scholarship.
Lesson Policies:
- Missed Lessons - If the instructor's schedule permits, an attempt will be made to make up lessons missed due to student illness for a maximum of two lessons. Unexcused absences will not be made up. Students arriving up to 10 minutes late will have the remainder of their lesson time. The instructor may cancel the lesson for students arriving more than 10 minutes late.
- Withdrawal from Lessons - Refund Policy:To be eligible for a refund, the student must notify the instructor AND the Music Department Office as soon as a decision has been made to discontinue lessons. If the student is not enrolled in lessons but took more than three lessons, the full amount of lessons will be charged to their student account.
- Withdrawal from individual lessons with a 75% refund of the quarterly fee is only possible prior to and including the third lesson. If the student is not enrolled in lessons, but took up to three lessons, a 25% charge will be made to their account.
- Withdrawal from group lessons with a $40 refund is only possible prior to and including the Registrar's deadline to add/drop/swap courses.
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Advisory Audition (at the end of Music 30A)
All students pursuing the B.M., or Western Art Music concentration of the B.A.,takingMusic 30A, including music minors, will be scheduled for a juried audition on their major instrument or voice at theend of fall quarter.
Note:that this audition is advisory only. You will be heard by a faculty committee of three members, who will be asked to judge your current performance ability: elementary, lower intermediate, advanced, etc. The purpose of the Advisory (Music 30) audition is to apprise you of your present level and to inform you of what, if any, work is needed for you to pass the required Proficiency (Music 130) Audition next year. You will receive a copy of the evaluation form with the committee's comments, as will your private instructor. Performance levels must be demonstrated on a standard orchestral instrument, piano, harpsichord, voice or guitar. You should prepare two contrasting pieces and major and minor scales.
If you are a declared music minor, or intend to declare a minor, and therefore feel that you should not be required to take this audition, you must request permission from the Applied Music Coordinator.
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Proficiency Audition (at the end of Music 130)
All students pursuing the B.M., or Western Art Music concentration of the B.A.,taking Music 130must audition at theend of fall quarter. This includesthose emphasizing composition and those who were judged at an "Upper Intermediate" or "Advanced" level on the Advisory Audition
At that time,students should exhibit at least an upper-intermediate level on their major instrument or voice, as defined by the following guidelines:
- tone production of high quality;
- all major and minor scales over the range of the instrument (except voice);
- performance of two contrasting prepared pieces.
B.A. students who may not yet be prepared to pass the audition should nonetheless play at least one piece. Original compositions are not permitted. Students must provide the jury committee with a copy of their audition pieces.
B.A. students must attain an upper-intermediate level as a requirement of the major.Two-quarter extensions may be allowed by the audition committee in rare circ*mstances; students must audition at the end of each quarter and demonstrate significant improvement each time. B.A. students who have demonstrated an upper-intermediate level on the Proficiency Audition are not required to take subsequent juries, although they are urged take at least one jury yearly for feedback from faculty other than their applied instructors.
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Auditions for admittance to the B.M. program will be held on campus at theend of each Fall quarter.* A member of the Bachelor of Music Committee will sit on the juries. Students must get the approval of their applied instructor in order to audition. Students should be prepared to play three pieces or movements of a contrasting nature from at least two different stylistic periods. (Two contrasting movements from the same sonata or concerto may count as two of the three required pieces.) Students who have attained an advanced level on a previous audition are still required to audition.
Upper division students: Only students on an advanced performing level who have scheduled a recital date in their junior year, and who have auditioned no more than twice (the last audition possible being Fall of the senior year), will be allowed to change to a BM degree.
*Only junior transfer students entering UCSC in Winter Quarter may audition for the BM program in the Spring.
Continuing B.M. students are required to take two juries per academic year, atthe end of fall and the end of spring quartersat the same time as auditions for B.A. students (Saturday following the last day of instruction), for continuing review and criticism on their major instrument. Repertoire for the auditions must be approved by the applied instructor. If a student does not attain, or maintain, an advanced level, the Bachelor of Music Committee will re-examine the student’s continued participation in the B.M. program in consultation with the applied instructor.
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In order to present a senior recital, a student must attain an advanced level on the Proficiency Auditionby June of her/his junior year.
In unusual cases, exceptionally accomplished undergraduatecomposersmay be considered for a senior recital in composition. To be considered for such a recital, student composers must submit a portfolio of their works by thebeginning of spring quarter of their junior yearto the faculty member who has been their primary composition teacher. Portfolios will be assessed by all regular composition faculty (Cope, Jones, Kim, Nauert); senior recitals will be approved or disapproved by the end of spring quarter.
To all instructors whose students are planning to play a senior recital: all the ensemble pieces should be coached or supervised personally by the instructor.
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Scholarship Audition for continuing students
Competitions are held each May. To compete, a student must be nominated by her/his teacher. For first-year students, and transfer and re-entering students, auditions will be held at the end of fall quarter at the time of juries to accommodate those who were not enrolled the previous spring.
Students should be prepared to play three pieces or movements of a contrasting nature from at least two different stylistic periods. (Two contrasting movements from the same sonata or concerto may count as two of the three required pieces.) Auditions will last approximately 10 minutes; faculty may interrupt you during your piece. This has no bearing on their judgment. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of performance at these auditions, not on overall talent, potential, or financial need. If a piece is written with accompaniment, students must use an accompanist. If they do not, they are disqualified.
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Example audition materialfrom the Standard Classical Repertoire:
Bass - Marcello Sonata; Scarlatti Sonata in C minor; Corelli Sonata in D major.
Bassoon - Weissenborn Studies, Book I; Ouradous Daily Scales and Exercises; Milde Op. 24, 25 Etudesin all keys.
Cello - Saint-SaënsAllegro Appassionata; Bach Preludeto G major Suite,Allemandeto C major suite; Popper Etude No. l in C major.
Clarinet - Mozart Clarinet Concerto; Hindemith Sonata; Weber Concertino; Saint-Saëns Sonata.
Flute - DonjonEtudes de Salon; C.P.E. Bach sonatas; BlochSuite Modale; Mozart concertos in G or D; J. S. Bach sonatas; FauréFantasie; Hindemith Sonata.
Guitar - Bach lute suites (any movement); Villa-Lobos Preludes 1-5; Sor Studies (Segovia edition); Brouwer Studies; Ponce Preludes; Luys de NarvaezDiferéncias sobre Guardame las vacas.
Harpsichord - Bach Well-Tempered Clavier (any prelude or fugue except Book I, Prelude 1); Scarlatti Sonata.
Horn - Kopprasch Studies, Book 1 or 2; Mozart concertos Nos. 2 or 3; B. HeidenSonata for Horn; P. DukasVillanelle.
Oboe - Telemann Sonata in A minor; Marcello Oboe Concerto; Albinoni Concerto in D major; Hindemith Sonata.
Percussion -Portraits in Rhythm, Study 1 or 2 (snare drum); Begamo Style Studies, l-6 (mallets); BachBourrée Anglaisefor solo flute (mallets); Telemann Canonic Sonatas; Peters Introduction and Waltz for 4 toms and cymbal.
Piano - Any prelude and fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier; Mozart sonatas K. 280, 570, 309, 332, 333; Beethoven Sonata Op. 14; any Chopin nocturne (except the c minor, op. post.); any Brahms Intermezzo, Capriccio, or Rhapsody; any Debussy Prelude (Livres I or II) or movement from the Suite Bergamasque; any of the Gershwin Three Preludes; any of the Bartok Three Rondos; any Rachmaninoff Prelude.
Saxophone - Klosé Etudes; Gurewich Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra.
Trombone - Blazevich Studies in Clefs; Rochut Melodious Etudes.
Trumpet - BozzaBadinage;Gibbons Suite; Latham Suite; HovhanessPrayer of St. Gregory.
Voice - Pieces in at least 2 languages are required: SchubertDie Forelle; FauréAprès un Rêve;Mozart "Vedrai Carino" fromDon Giovanni; DebussyBeau Soir; StravinskyRicercare I(Cantata); Machaut (Ballade)Dousamis.
Violin - sonatas and concertos of Händel, Corelli, Tartini, Vivaldi.
Viola - études of Mazas, Sitt, Kreutzer.
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