School of Music

High School Bulletin

School of Music

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Overview

Overview

The School of Music of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts prepares students for professional careers. Our goal is twofold: to put students on a path that will permit them to attain their highest musical aspirations and ultimately to be able to meet the challenge of succeeding in a highly competitive profession.

In its conservatory setting, UNCSA provides an artistic environment in which each student pursues personal musical development under the direct guidance and instruction of an outstanding artist-teacher. As professionals in their own areas, faculty members are committed to continuing their own careers while sharing a wealth of experience and knowledge with their students.

A student enrolled in the high school music program is expected to exhibit exceptional ability or promise in their area of concentration and demonstrate appropriate progress as determined by their major teacher. Students complement their work in the studio with ensembles, chamber music, and courses in music theory and literature designed to prepare students for the demands of a typical undergraduate music program.

To earn the UNCSA high school diploma, a high school student must meet the academic course and credit requirements of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. These academic requirements are similar to the diploma requirements at traditional public and private high schools. The UNCSA High School Academic Program requires that all 12th graders be enrolled in at least two academic courses, that all 11th graders be enrolled in at least three academic courses, and that all 10th and 9th graders be enrolled in at least four academic courses throughout the school year.

The School of Music offers courses of study with concentrations in the following areas:

  • Brass (trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba and euphonium)
  • Composition
  • Guitar
  • Harp
  • Organ
  • Percussion
  • Piano
  • Strings (violin, viola, violoncello and double bass)
  • Voice
  • Woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and saxophone)

Requirements

Requirements

Admission to all programs in the School of Music is by application and audition. Specific information about application and audition requirements is available on the UNCSA website.

To be admissible to any program in the School of Music, applicants must possess the following essential qualifications:

  • Aural ability to discriminate discrete pitches;
  • Visual ability sufficient to read standard notated music;
  • Visual ability sufficient to recognize and interpret gestures of a conductor for concentrations requiring ensemble participation;
  • Fine motor skills sufficient to play a keyboard instrument regardless of area of concentration;
  • Ability to participate in group instruction.

Evaluation

Evaluation

A. Music Requirements
Required music instruction includes weekly lessons and master classes. Chamber music and large ensembles may be assigned by the faculty as appropriate. Students in 11th and 12th grades are required to enroll in Music Theory & Musicianship, Aural Skills or Music Literature & Analysis, as assigned by the theory faculty.

B. Diploma Requirements
To earn the UNCSA high school diploma, a student must complete the required academic courses prescribed by the UNCSA High School Academic Program. Specific information about academic graduation requirements is available in the High School Academic Program section of the Bulletin.

C. Diploma with Designation “Concentration in Music”
Successful completion of the two-semester Music Theory & Musicianship sequence (MUS 0311 and MUS 0312), as well as satisfactory progress in individual instruction in the area of concentration is required for a student to receive the designation “Concentration in Music” on their high school diploma.