FAQ

There is no audition necessary to declare a Music minor. Click here for more information.

Yes, there are music scholarships for new and reentering students. Click here.

Yes, university students can take private lessons in instrumental and vocal instruction; however, there is an application process in order to be enrolled for private lessons.

Applied lessons are available for most wind, brass, and string instruments, as well as piano, voice, percussion, and guitar. Lessons are a one-credit course taught by a Music Program faculty member which involves a thirty-minute lesson each week, culminating in a juried performance at the end of the semester. Auditions for lessons occur at appointed times late in the fall and spring semesters for returning students, and during the summer or on the first day of the fall semester for incoming or transfer students.

Chamber music is a one-credit course available for small (usually 3-8 member) ensembles of string, woodwind, brass, or percussion instruments; jazz combos can also apply. All chamber ensembles or combos are coached by Music Program faculty. Jazz, classical, and percussion chamber ensembles all perform concerts at the end of each semester. For more information, contact Dr. Haysun Kang.

First, register online for the ensemble of your choice. Placement auditions for music ensembles are held during the first week of each semester.

Yes, you can. Simply sign up for the music ensemble of choice when you register for classes.

Many of our courses count for the university core. For a complete list of Music courses that count toward your University Core Curriculum go to the core curriculum page and look under Knowledge Areas, Artistic Knowledge and Experience.

Some Music courses are in the category of "general education" classes, which are open to all students. You can also take random music courses as a non-music major or minor, but you must be cleared to register by the Director of Music, Dr. Frederick Lowe, and may have to take theory and keyboard placement exams. All course prerequisites apply.

Our music/vocal ensembles count for one credit each semester toward the Artistic Knowledge and Experience requirement of the Core Curriculum. Ensembles can be repeated to fulfill the three-credit requirement.

Each ensemble performs two concerts per semester. See our ticketing site for a current concert listing.

In general, ensembles are graded principally on participation, which includes attendance and music preparedness. In addition, most courses include a small writing requirement. Contact your respective ensemble director for more details.

For first-year students

Your First-and-Second-Year Advising (FSYA) advisor might balk if you register for 17, let alone 18 credits, so please contact them to discuss your academic and co-curricular plans.

For sophomores and upperclassmen

You will need an override to surpass 18 credits, so contact your First-and-Second-Year Advising (FSYA) advisor before the semester begins to discuss your plans.

If you cannot enroll during the fall semester, consider joining in the spring semester—we welcome mid-year enrollees!

Most ensembles rehearse in Mundelein Center, either in the Auditorium or in the Skowronski Music Hall on the 2nd floor. Concerts take place in Mundelein Center Auditorium and Madonna della Strada Chapel.

For more information on Music Program concerts and ticket pricing, visit ArtsEvents.luc.edu.

Yes. The music studios on the first floor and practice rooms on the tenth floor are available on a first come, first served basis.

First floor music studios are only available to declared music majors and those enrolled in applied piano and percussion lessons via a prox card. To request a prox card please complete and submit this request form.

Tenth floor practice rooms are available to music majors and minors, and anyone enrolled in a music class through your student ID. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic non-music students will not be permitted to purchase access to the tenth floor practice rooms.

Unfortunately, practice rooms are not available outside of the fall and spring semesters, regardless of summer enrollment in non-DFPA classes.

Auditions occur during the first week of each semester. Generally, members of fall ensembles do not need to re-audition in the spring. For most ensembles, auditions are for chair or section placement only and do not affect enrollment. The exception is Jazz Ensemble, due to the nature of the band’s instrumentation.

Usually, auditions involve playing or singing a brief prepared excerpt as well as a scale. In some cases, excerpts will be sent to you prior to auditions. For more details about how to audition, click here.

The music program has limited instrument lockers and large instrument storage on the first floor of Mundelein Center. Students interested in using DFPA-provided lockers must submit a request form.

Music student lockers vary in size, and assignment will be based on availability and instrument size.

The music program has limited instrument supplies available for student use. If a student is interested in renting a musical instrument from the department, they should review the Instrument Rental and Usage Policy, and submit an Instrument Usage Contract. Should the rental be approved, the fee is $40 per semester.

In addition to participating in ensembles for academic credit and volunteering in the Band of Wolves, students can explore extracurricular organizations. Click here for more information about student music groups.