The Division of Voice offers 2 programs (Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Fine Arts) for singers interested in art song, opera, oratorio, concert, other classical pieces or vocal teaching. Students receive training in vocal technique, languages and diction, vocal repertoire, acting and the theatrical arts. Performance opportunities range from workshops to fully staged productions, allowing students to develop their talents at the most beneficial pace.
A total of 125 credit hours is required and is designed to further the student's knowledge, practice, and experience in voice. To graduate, a student must earn a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 in all major courses and a minimum average of 2.0 in all course work.
Students will be studying with faculty members who are nationally and internationally recognized. Courses in music theory and musicology are part of the exploration of music as are private instruction, ensemble and chamber music opportunities. All students pursuing the B.M. degree will perform a senior recital on their primary instrument/voice. In addition, performance majors will also complete a junior recital and music composition majors will also give a music composition recital.
With this degree, students can go on to pursue graduate studies in music, establish private studios, audition for music ensembles, or create their own paths in music or music-related endeavors.
Undergraduate Admission to the School of Music
First-year students should enter the school directly. Students may transfer to the school from other institutions or from other KU schools if they have at least a 2.75 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and are eligible to return to the college or university last attended in addition to completing a successful audition. Other students can be admitted only with the permission of the dean. Send applications to the Office of Admissions. Visit the Office of International Recruitment and Undergraduate Admissions for information about international admissions.
Students who wish to major in music must audition. All music students academically approved for admission to the School of Music are admitted contingent upon demonstration by audition of satisfactory level proficiency in their areas of applied music. Music audition information and application forms are available online. There is a limit of two times a prospective student may request an audition for entrance into one of the School's undergraduate degree programs. The second request must be within 12 months of the first and may be as early as 1 month following the first audition. The limitation also applies to students within the School auditioning from one program into another.
Transfer Students
Students may transfer to the school from other institutions or from other KU schools if they have at least a 2.75 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), are eligible to return to the college or university last attended, and complete a successful audition. Only grades of C or higher are accepted in transfer credit toward degrees offered by the School of Music. Students who wish to transfer performance credit from another institution toward any music degree at KU must validate this credit by audition. Music audition information and application forms are available online. There is a limit of two times a prospective student may request an audition for entrance into one of the School's undergraduate degree programs. The second request must be within 12 months of the first and may be as early as 1 month following the first audition. The limitation also applies to students within the School auditioning from one program into another.
Music Theory Placement
The music theory placement examination is required of all undergraduate transfer students who have not completed a 4-semester theory sequence with an accredited NASM school. It is administered as announced on the School of Music website each semester.
B.M. Degree Requirements for the Voice Major
A total of 124 hours is required, distributed as follows:
| Music Theory (19) | ||
| MTHC 105 | Theory I | 4 |
| MTHC 115 | Theory II | 4 |
| MTHC 205 | Theory III | 4 |
| MTHC 315 | Theory IV | 4 |
| MTHC 410 | Tonal Forms | 3 |
| Musicology (12) | ||
| MUSC 320 | Music History I | 3 |
| MUSC 340 | Music History II | 3 |
| MUSC 440 | Music History III | 3 |
| MUSC 480 | Music History IV | 3 |
| Music Courses (49) | ||
| VOIC 120 & VOIC 320 | Vocal Performance in English and Vocal Performance Class II | 2 |
| Applied music lessons: 8 semesters each for 3 credits, plus junior and senior recitals | 25 | |
| VOIC 405 | Vocal Literature I | 2 |
| VOIC 406 | Vocal Literature II | 2 |
| VOIC 408 | Vocal Pedagogy | 1 |
| Ensembles: 8 semesters each for credit | 8 | |
| Piano (proficiency level of PIAN 288) | 4 | |
| COND 245 | Conducting I | 2 |
| REC 100 | Laboratory in Music Performance (4 semesters) | 0 |
| VOIC 270 & VOIC 470 | Lyric Diction for Singers: _____ and Lyric Diction for Singers: _____ | 3 |
| Basic Courses (44) | ||
| THR 106 | Acting I | 3 |
| GERM and ITAL (2 semesters of each) | 20 | |
| ENGL 101 | Composition (or any course that fulfills GE21) | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Critical Reading and Writing (or any course that fulfills GE21) | 3 |
| COMS 130 | Speaker-Audience Communication (or any course that fulfills GE22) | 3 |
| MATH 101 | College Algebra (or any course that fulfills GE 12) | 3 |
| Natural Science: any course that fulfills GE3N | 3 | |
| Social Science: any course that fulfills GE3S | 3 | |
| Social/Ethics: any course that fulfills AE51 or AE52 | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 124 | |
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 101 | 3 | ENGL 102 | 3 |
| MTHC 105 | 4 | MTHC 115 | 4 |
| PIAN 144 (considered remedial-does not count towards degree) | 1 | PIAN 148 | 1 |
| REC 100 | 0 | REC 100 | 0 |
| VOIC 121 | 3 | VOIC 121 | 3 |
| VOIC 120 | 1 | Ensemble | 1 |
| Ensemble | 1 | GERM 108 or ITAL 120: continue same language | 5 |
| GERM 104 or ITAL 110 | 5 | ||
| 18 | 17 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| COMS 130 | 3 | MTHC 315 | 4 |
| MTHC 205 | 4 | MUSC 340 | 3 |
| MUSC 320 | 3 | PIAN 288 | 2 |
| PIAN 284 | 2 | REC 100 | 0 |
| REC 100 | 0 | VOIC 470 | 1 |
| VOIC 221 | 3 | FREN, GERM or ITAL, all 3 req'd | |
| Ensemble | 1 | VOIC 221 | 3 |
| Ensemble | 1 | ||
| MATH 101 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MTHC 410 | 3 | MUSC 480 | 3 |
| MUSC 440 | 3 | VOIC 470 | 1 |
| VOIC 320 | 1 | FREN, GERM or ITAL, all 3 req'd | |
| VOIC 470 | 1 | VOIC 622 | 3 |
FREN, GERM or ITAL, all 3 req'd | Ensemble | 1 | |
| VOIC 622 | 3 | GERM 108 or ITAL 120 (continue same language) | 5 |
| Ensemble | 1 | VOIC 405 | 2 |
| GERM 104 or ITAL 110 | 5 | ||
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| VOIC 622 | 3 | VOIC 622 | 3 |
| Ensemble | 1 | VOIC 623 | 1 |
| VOIC 408 | 1 | Ensemble | 1 |
| COND 245 | 2 | VOIC 406 | 2 |
| THR 106 | 3 | Natural Science: any course that fulfills GE3N | 3 |
| Social Science: any course that fulfills GE3S | 3 | Social/Ethics: any course that fulfills AE51 or AE52 | 3 |
| 13 | 13 | ||
| Total Hours: 126 | |||