Undergraduate Student Handbook

• Recital Reservation Form
• Woodwind Hour Reservation Form
• Vocal Hour Reservation Form
• Piano Hour Reservation Form
• Music Education Evaluation Form
• Collaborative Piano Request Form
• Extension of Time for Incomplete Grade Form
• Request for Independent Study Form
• Division Handbooks
  • Piano Handbook
  • Vocal Handbook
  • Music Education Handbook

The School of Music at Baylor University was established in 1921 and has grown to a current undergraduate and graduate enrollment of approximately 375 students pursuing degrees in music.  The School of Music employs approximately 60 full-time faculty members and is housed within five facilities around the 1,000-acre Baylor University campus.

Waco Hall

This historical facility houses the administrative offices of the School of Music, the Keyboard Division, the Academic Division, the Music Education Division, and the Vocal Division. Within the Waco Hall Complex, the facility is home to the 2,500-seat Waco Hall Auditorium, also home to the Waco Symphony Orchestra, the 500-seat Roxy Grove Hall, and the 120-seat Recital Hall II.

The Roxy Grove Wing houses the administrative offices of the School of Music, the piano faculty studios, the piano technical shop, and storage facilities for the School of Music.  The Waco Hall East Wing houses academic, education, voice faculty offices and studios, academic classrooms, as well as the choral division rehearsal hall and choral music library.

The Piano Pedagogy Wing includes space for the Piano Laboratory Program, teaching studios for graduate students, academic classrooms, and is home to the O’Neal Collection of piano pedagogy materials.

McCary Music Building

The Glennis McCrary Music Building is home to the 1,000-seat Mary Gibbs Jones Concert Hall, which houses the McLane Organ, the 200-seat Meadows Lecture & Recital Hall, the Markham Organ Studio & Recital Hall, and the Hearn Recording Studio.  The building includes practice and rehearsal spaces of various sizes for individual practice to larger ensemble rehearsals, as well as studio and office spaces for the ensemble faculty, instrumental and organ faculty, as well as music libraries for multiple disciplines.

Opera Black Box Theater

The Black Box is located across from the McCrary Music Building and behind the Lewis Art Building.  Home to the Baylor Opera Theatre Program, the Black Box Theater consists of a rehearsal studio, costume and scenic shops, and prop storage.

Harris House

Home to the Dunn Center for Christian Music Studies, the Harris House facility houses faculty and staff offices of the Baylor Church Music Division. The facility includes designated space for Doctoral research and discussions, as well as workspace for students of all levels.

Wiethorn Building

The Wiethorn Building is located adjacent to the McCrary Music Building and Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Building.  The facility is a shared space between the School of Music and the Baylor Theater Arts programs, primarily used for classroom and lecture space, masterclasses, and as an additional rehearsal space.

The School of Music follows the Baylor University Undergraduate Academic Calendar.

School of Music policy requires that to earn credit for a course, a student must be officially enrolled by the end of the second full week of the term and attend at least 75% of all class meetings.  Faculty members may establish additional attendance requirements as they deem necessary and outlined in their course syllabus.  Any student who is not present for at least 75% of the scheduled class meetings for any course will automatically receive a grade of “F” for the course.  Any University-related activity necessitating an absence from class will count as an absence when determining whether a student has attended the required 75% of class meetings.

Undergraduate Course Repeat Policy | Office of the Registrar | Baylor University

School of Music Policy

Students currently seeking a music degree (BM, BME, BA Music) may not repeat a course in the Music Core course work in their major after receiving a grade of “F” in that course for the second time.

Baylor University Policy

A student may repeat a course for which his or her highest earned grade is a “C-” or below.  A student may also repeat a course, when approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, for which he or she needs to earn a higher grade in order to fulfill a prerequisite for a course requirement for a degree, major, or minor. (A student is encouraged to review degree/major/minor requirements for policies governing minimum grades needed in those areas.) 

A student will have a maximum of three attempts for any one course. A course that has received a grade or a “W” notation is considered an attempt.

Courses attempted at Baylor University, which includes courses for which a student received a “W” notation, may not be repeated at another institution for transfer to Baylor University.  All grades earned at Baylor University will be calculated in the term and cumulative grade point average (GPA).

Academic Forgiveness

A student may request to have the first grade earned (not a “W” notation) from a repeated course excluded from the calculation of their grade point average (GPA) for a maximum of three courses during their undergraduate career, where the original grade earned was a “C-” or below.  If a student attempts a course a third time and Academic Forgiveness is applied, then all grades except the first will be used to calculate the grade point average (GPA).  Once applied to a particular course, Academic Forgiveness cannot be cancelled or removed and may not be appealed.

Plagiarism or any form of cheating involves a breach of student-teacher trust. This means that any work submitted under your name is expected to be your own, neither composed by anyone else as a whole or in part, nor handed over to another person for complete or partial revision.  Be sure to document all ideas that are not your own.  In addition, you must not provide course materials to other students, whether individually or generally (such as online) that would enable them to gain an unfair academic advantage.  Instances of plagiarism or any other act of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Honor Council and may result in failure of the course. Not understanding plagiarism is not an excuse. We expect you, as a Baylor student, to be intimately familiar with the Honor Code at:

Office of Academic Integrity | Baylor University

While Baylor University has not adopted an official University-wide policy regarding the use of artificial intelligence, it has granted each professor the authority to institute their own policies and regulations as to what will be accepted use of artificial intelligence in their classroom. It is up to the student to understand the policy for each of their courses and what is considered acceptable use of artificial intelligence with their professors. 

In the event that a professor does not include an artificial intelligence policy in their class syllabus, it is up to the student to seek guidance from their professor before utilizing the tool in their course work.

Any student who needs academic accommodations related to a documented disability should inform their professor immediately at the beginning of the semester. The professor will be able to obtain appropriate documentation and information regarding a student’s accommodations from the Office of Access and Learning Accommodation (OALA).  Any additional assistance regarding accommodations is available on the first floor of Sid Richardson Hall, East Wing in the Paul L. Foster Success Center or call (254) 710-3605 or email OALA@baylor.edu. 

The Family Education and Right to Privacy Act (FERPA) governs the disclosure of student records and information.  FERPA provides that student records other than published directory information must remain private and confidential.  Student non-directory information which this law protects includes class grades and grade point averages; social security numbers; disciplinary records; parent or guardian’s name, address, and phone numbers; class schedules; and health records. However, this law does permit the disclosure, without the consent of the student involved, of confidential student information to faculty members with legitimate educational interests. 

A student may consent to allowing specific information to be shared with specific individuals on a specific date. In this case a student must sign a FERPA consent form.  Instructions on how to complete the FERPA consent form can be found here:

BearWeb FERPA Release Form | Office of the Registrar | Baylor University

Decisions regarding Academic Probation/Suspension in the School of Music are made by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

2.7.1 Academic Notice

At any time a student’s term and/or cumulative grade point average (GPA) is below 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, the dean of the academic unit in which the student is enrolled will notify the student that he or she will be placed on academic notice during the next term. Any student with 30 or fewer hours who is placed on academic notice is required to develop and implement an academic improvement plan. Details will be specified in the academic notice letter from the student's academic dean. Any student on academic notice is required to obtain academic advisement before registering for the next term. If at the end of the probation term both the student's term GPA and cumulative GPA are 2.0 or above, the student will be removed from academic notice. However, if at the end of an academic notice term the student's term GPA is 2.0 or above, but the student's cumulative GPA is still below 2.0, the student will be continued on academic notice until the cumulative GPA also reaches at least a 2.0.

2.7.2 Academic Suspension

Once a student has served at least one term of academic notice, if the student's term GPA is ever below a 2.0 for a subsequent term, the student will be subject to academic suspension.

Any student who is subject to academic suspension will be informed in writing by the dean of the academic unit in which the student is enrolled that academic suspension appears to be appropriate. The letter will indicate that the student has five (5) business days from the date of the letter to provide the dean with relevant information (change of grade, verifiable medical condition, or other circumstances) that might affect the dean's decision. After reviewing the student's academic records and other relevant information supplied to the dean by the student, the dean will decide whether to place the student on academic suspension or to extend the student's period of academic notice. The dean will notify the student in writing of the decision. The period of suspension for a student who is placed on academic suspension for the first time is two enrollment terms (summer and fall or spring and summer). If a student is suspended at the end of the summer term, the suspension is fall only. The period of suspension for a student who is placed on academic suspension for a second time is three (3) subsequent enrollment terms (summer counts as one enrollment term). A student who is reinstated following his or her academic suspension is on academic notice and must meet the terms of academic notice to avoid another academic suspension or a dismissal.

2.7.3 Academic Reinstatement

Students must apply for reinstatement following academic suspension. The student must explain to the dean in writing his or her assessment of the reasons for the academic difficulties and how, if reinstated, he or she expects to change academic performance so as to raise the term and cumulative GPA to the required level. The dean may elect to grant the student's appeal or extend the academic suspension for an additional term.

See the Incoming Students resource page

3.1.1 Music Theory Placement

See the Music Theory Placement page

3.1.2 Secondary Piano Placement

See the Secondary Piano Placement page

3.1.3 Advanced Placement (AP) / Credit by Examination

The Advanced Placement (AP) examinations are offered once a year in May by participating high schools that offer college-level courses based on AP course descriptions. Check with your high school for registration deadlines and fees. Reports of AP examination results are mailed by The College Board in mid-July to institutions listed as recipients by students.

School of Music students are encouraged to refer to the Baylor Student Testing Services website at the following link for information regarding required test scores and/or credit transfer policies:

Student Testing Services | Baylor University

Information regarding advisement and the process of scheduling advising appointments with advisors will be posted in Canvas prior to the beginning of the advisement period. 

All students will have an individual appointment with their faculty advisor each semester before registering for courses for the subsequent semester.

Students who wish to change a degree, major, or an area of concentration within the School of Music must have approval from the faculty of the current degree/concentration, as well as approval from the faculty of the degree/concentration to which they are transferring to. 

Students can request a change in major through by BearWeb by following these steps:

BearWeb > Student Academic Services > Student Records > Change of Major Request

What happens after you make the request?

An email will be sent to the person responsible for the academic area that you selected.  You will receive a response within 48 hours (regular workdays) from the academic area of the major, degree, or minor requested, giving final instructions for processing the change.

Students have the option to add or drop a course prior or during the semester.  Adding or dropping a course may be done in BearWeb or by scheduling a meeting with the Undergraduate Academic Programs Manager.

Dropping a Course

Students are encouraged to visit the “Before You Drop a Course” page on the Baylor Advising website:

Before You Drop a Course | Major Exploration & Success Advising | Baylor University

If a student drops a course before the end of the twelfth class day of the semester, the course will be removed from the student’s transcript. After the twelfth class day (and through the fiftieth) class day, a notation of “W” will appear with any dropped class on the student’s transcript.

Failure of the student to drop a class officially will result in the grade of an “F.”  A course is not considered officially dropped until the student either drops the course through BearWeb or initiates the drop by submitting a request to the Undergraduate Academic Programs Manager.  The student must attend class regularly until that time.  After the twelfth class day, an advisor approval is necessary before a student may drop a course.

A grade of “I” is given for any course in which the course work is not completed, or the final exam is missed due to illness or other just cause. A student who is unable to participate in their jury or final exam is responsible for scheduling a time with their professor at the earliest opportunity possible.  The “I” grade must be removed by the end of the following term (including summer terms) or it will be replaced by an “F” and reflect accordingly on a student’s transcript.

A student may petition for an extension of time for the removal of an incomplete (“I”) by submitting an “Extension of Time for Incomplete Grade” form, but will require a reason deemed appropriate and approval by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. 

Some music courses are not offered every semester; therefore, it is imperative that students plan ahead in scheduling these courses and progressing through appropriate course sequences toward degree completion.

Future Course Rotation Document

All students pursuing a degree in music or a minor in music are required to complete a designated number of semesters of MUS 1001 – Recital Attendance. (Music Majors – 6 semesters, Music Minors – 2 semesters). Attendance is recorded electronically with entry and exit QR code scans with student monitors. Students must attend a minimum of 6 approved recitals/concerts to receive a passing grade in the course. The syllabus for MUS 1001 may be found in the School of Music Undergraduate Handbook and in Canvas. A schedule of events that count for recital credit can be found on the School of Music webpage under the “Calendar of Events”.

After the completion of their sophomore year (at least 60 hours completed), and prior to the start of their junior year, students should file for graduation in BearWeb to be added to the Office of the Registrar’s rolling list for graduation preparation.  Upon addition to this list, students will receive communication from the School of Music Undergraduate Academic Programs Manager to set up a Graduation Conference to review their degree audit, plan the final semesters of enrollment at Baylor, and make any preliminary preparations for graduation that may be required.  Communications regarding graduation will continue post-graduation conferencing, but the goal is to ensure that each student is on track to graduate on time.

To apply for graduation:

BearWeb Home > Student Academic Services > Student Records > Apply to Graduate

Applied music refers to the study of the performance of an instrument or the voice, either as a major, concentration, or elective. The maximum amount of credit that can be earned in a single concentration in any one semester is four (4) semester hours.  No student may be registered for more than one section of a single applied music concentration in a semester without approval from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.  The maximum total amount of credit that can be earned in multiple applied music concentrations in one semester is six (6) semester hours. 

Summer applied lessons must be approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and will only be offered for specific circumstances regarding degree completion.  In a summer session term, five (5) hours of private instruction are given for one hour of credit, and ten (10) hours of instruction are given for 2 hours of credit.  The maximum credit that can be earned in one summer term is two (2) semester hours. Any deviation or permissions require approval from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.   

Credit earned for applied music study may not be used to satisfy degree requirements until candidate is officially admitted to the School of Music.

To schedule major applied lessons, a student should meet with his or her applied music teacher during the first week of classes.

All applied music course numbers have four elements as follows:

1. The first digit indicates the division (level of study):
   • 1-Lower division
   • 3-Upper division
   • 5-Graduate
2. The second digit indicates the amount of credit in semester hours.
3. The third is the letter which indicates the instrument "family":
   • B-Brass
   • H-Harp
   • K-Keyboard
   • P-Percussion
   • S-Strings
   • V-Voice
   • W-Woodwinds
4. The fourth digit identifies the instrument within the "family":
   • B1-Trumpet
   • W1-Flute
   • S1-Violin
   • K1-Piano
   • H1-Harp
   • B2-Horn
   • W2-Oboe
   • S2-Viola
   • K2-Organ
   • P1-Percussion
   • B3-Trombone
   • W3-Clarinet
   • S3-Cello
   • K3-Harpsichord
   • V1-Voice
   • B4-Euphonium
   • W4-Bassoon
   • S4-Double Bass
   • K4-Carillon
   • B5-Tuba
   • W5-Saxophone

Example: Registration for MUS 12B1 would register the student for a lower division (1), 2 credit hour (2) course in trumpet (B-brass, 1-trumpet).

Each area will maintain their own studio and music hour schedule throughout each term.  These scheduled rehearsals will be provided to students during the first week of classes and provided on the course syllabus by their respective professor. 

In most cases, a studio will have one hour of studio rehearsal a week and a performance hour scheduled for another hour during the week, but can vary.

Woodwind Hour Reservation Form

Vocal Music Hour Reservation Form

Piano Hour Reservation Form

Final exams for applied music subjects are called juries and consist of a brief performance before a committee of faculty members in the division. These exams are held during finals week of each semester.  Information regarding jury sign-up will be communicated via Canvas and/or through your individual studio teacher.  Jury requirements will vary depending on division, so students are expected to communicate regarding jury expectations with their studio professor.

In addition to regular juries, a variety of divisional exams are required for advancement to upper level course work or as prerequisites for other course work and/or recitals.  In such cases, these exams will replace juries for the semester in which they are given.

Participation in the Golden Wave Marching Band may be used to satisfy the requirements for Lifetime Fitness on a degree plan, however, it may not satisfy both the Lifetime Fitness and Ensemble requirements in the same semester. Any student enrolled in marching band for Lifetime Fitness credit must also be concurrently enrolled in a second ensemble for Ensemble credit.

Ensembles Page

4.6.1 Audio Recordings

The School of Music has (4) four performance venues, Jones Concert Hall, Meadows Recital Hall, Roxy Grove Hall, and Recital Hall II. Audio recording is available in all 4 venues, live streaming and video recording is available in Jones Concert Hall and Roxy Grove Hall only. All approved performances except for those taking place in non-School of Music venues will have a recording studio staff member available on site (30) thirty minutes prior to the start of the performance. If no one is present, please contact the recording studio manager (Rick Carpenter @ 254-709-3965). If you have any a/v, live sound, or lighting needs, please contact the facilities manager (Zach Gamez @ 254-710-6554).

An audio recording will be made of the performance and once processed, will be uploaded to Baylor Box. You will receive an “invite” to a box folder with the performance date and your name in your Baylor email. In the folder will be an audio file of your performance titled All Raw. You will be able download the file and share the file with any Baylor email address. You will have access to the file if you have a current Baylor email, but it is strongly recommended you download the file as soon as you receive it. Processing usually takes a couple of days but takes longer as the semester progresses. While mid-fall takes a couple of days, mid-spring can take a couple of weeks.

4.6.2 Video Recording/Livestreaming

Approved performances in Jones Concert Hall and Roxy Grove Hall will be live streamed in addition to the audio recording. If a video recording is desired, students will need to coordinate with the media staff member and provide the required media to the staff member prior to the performance. Students will need retrieve the recording from the staff member after the performance.  All media that is provide for recording will be formatted before the performance, and this will erase anything previously stored on the media. 

4.6.3 Required Media for Recording

Our recorders require SDXC UHS II flash cards, we recommend Lexar Professional Silver series or San Disk Extreme Pro series cards. It is important whatever card you choose to provide; it be SDXC-UHS II.

Recording at 1080p (full HD) will require a 256GB card for one hour of record time and it is strongly recommended having a second card at least 128GB in size to cover going over one hour.

If recording at 1080p is cost-prohibitive, we recommend recording at 720 which would allow one hour of recording time on a 64GB card.

Certificates are optional and offer undergraduate students the opportunity to choose from a select group of courses focused on helping develop a particular skill or area of expertise.  Twelve hours minimum are required. A minimum of nine advanced hours are required. Students must have a grade point average minimum of 2.00 ("C") on all courses in the certificate taken at Baylor. Certificates appear on a student's transcript and a hard copy is given to the student signed by the Dean or President. 

The Certificate in Orchestral Conducting is accessible to students seeking the BME, BM or BA-Music.

Certificate in Orchestral Conducting Information Page

Certificates are optional and offer undergraduate students the opportunity to choose from a select group of courses focused on helping develop a particular skill or area of expertise.  Twelve hours minimum are required. A minimum of nine advanced hours are required. Students must have a grade point average minimum of 2.00 ("C") on all courses in the certificate taken at Baylor. Certificates appear on a student's transcript and a hard copy is given to the student signed by the Dean or President. 

The Certificate in Jazz Studies is accessible to students seeking a BME, BM, BA-Music degree, or a Non-Major.

Certificate in Jazz Studies Information Page

At Baylor University, piano study for music majors serves two functions:

• To expose the student to practical skills they may require in the musical field
• To reinforce basic, necessary theoretical and musicianship skills 

The School of Music offers a common curriculum for music majors in the first three semesters of Class Piano, designated as Levels Is-IIIs. So that students gain experience in practical activities specific to their degree plans, contents for Level IVs and above vary according to major. In order to move between levels, students are required to earn a semester grade of C or better. Students must also earn a grade of C or better in their final semester of piano instruction in order to complete the requirement.

Students may not complete required secondary piano courses through summer study at Baylor or elsewhere. 

All freshmen and transfer students entering a music degree program will take a piano placement test during orientation. At the placement, each student’s level of competency (in repertoire, Musical Vocabulary, reading, and skill activities) will be assessed and they will be placed at the appropriate level within the curriculum. Students with preexisting keyboard skills may test out of one or more semesters of piano instruction. 

The Dowd harpsichord is available for use only in Roxy Grove Hall.  The Collegium harpsichord is available for use in School of Music sponsored functions. Anyone wishing to use the harpsichords should contact Dr. Jann Cosart at least thirty days in advance of the performance.  Requests for harpsichord tuning should be submitted to the piano technician at least thirty days in advance of the performance. The Harpsichord Request Form and Instructions for Completing and Submitting the On-Line Piano and Harpsichord forms are located on the School of Music website under Current Students.

The Hamburg Steinway concert grand in Roxy Grove Hall is to be used only for faculty and piano degree recitals.

Harpsichord Request Form

Participation in the Golden Wave Marching Band may be used to satisfy the requirements for Lifetime Fitness on a degree plan, however, it may not satisfy both the Lifetime Fitness and Ensemble requirements in the same semester. Any student enrolled in marching band for Lifetime Fitness credit must also be concurrently enrolled in a second ensemble for Ensemble credit.

You must enroll in the recital course that corresponds to your applied music course during the semester you will be giving your recital – including degree and non-degree (special) recitals.  You will not be allowed to schedule your recital if you are not enrolled in the course.

Recitals must be presented on or before the last day of classes in a semester, except for semesters in which the last day of class is a Friday.  In this situation, recitals may be scheduled on the Saturday and Sunday following the last day of class.  While recitals are permitted to be scheduled against other events (except Distinguished Artist Series events), it is encouraged of students to avoid doing so as it will impact attendance at either their recital or the other performance. Students are encouraged to discuss appropriate scheduling times with their applied professor as each division may have separate recital scheduling policies.

Reminders When Deciding a Recital Date:

• Discuss possible recital dates with your applied professor.
• Avoid scheduling recitals when possible against other performances in the School of Music.
• Be aware of your commitments, as well as other commitments within the School of Music for your peers – including chamber concerts, studio performances/competitions, large ensembles, etc.

Students are limited to the venues under the administration of the School of Music – Roxy Grove Hall, Recital Hall II, Meadows Recital, Jones Concert Hall (organ and percussion only, or with approval by the Associate Dean of Operations.  All recital reservations are made by completing an submitting the “Recital Scheduling Form” and submitting it via email to musicrecitals@baylor.edu and e-mailing a copy to your applied professor.

Due to the high volume of recitals that are presented each semester, the School of Music schedules a window of time for each divisional area and degree to schedule their recitals in order to maintain organization during the scheduling process.  Students may only submit the scheduling form on their designated day after 7:00am. Any forms submitted prior to 7:00am on the day scheduled for your degree area will not be submitted appropriately and leave you at risk of not having your recital scheduled.  After the request form has been submitted, you will receive confirmation and further correspondence regarding your recital as appropriate.

Important Reminders Regarding Recital Scheduling:

• Maintain flexibility in your dates.  The more flexibility you have, the higher the chance you will have in being able to hold your recital when you want to.
• Students who earn an incomplete “I” for a prior semester recital may reserve their date at any time and are not limited to the schedule below regardless of degree plan but must communicate with the Associate Dean of Operations to reschedule their recital.
• Please be mindful that many students are scheduling their recitals throughout the semester.  It is our goal to work together and remain flexible when scheduling during busy points of the semester (i.e. middle to end of terms) when most events take place.

Fall 2024 Recital Scheduling

• Monday, September 9
  • All Graduate Recitals; Senior BM Piano Recitals; APC Recitals
• Tuesday, September 10
  • Senior BM Recitals – Performance Majors Only (including Secondaries)
• Wednesday, September 11
  • BME Recitals and Other Senior BM Recitals (Comp. & Church Music)
• Thursday, September 12
  • All Junior Recitals and BA Recitals
• Friday, September 13
  • Special Recitals and All Non-Degree Student Recitals

Spring 2025 Recital Scheduling

• Monday, January 27
  • All Graduate Recitals; Senior BM Piano Recitals;  APC Recitals
• Tuesday, January 28
  • Senior BM Recitals – Performance Majors Only (including Secondaries)
• Wednesday, January, 29
  • BME Recitals and Other Senior BM Recitals (Comp. & Church Music)
• Thursday, January 30
  • All Junior Recitals and BA Recitals
• Friday, January 31
  • Special Recitals and All Non-Degree Student Recitals

A recital reservation will include a thirty (30) minute setup time before the program and a thirty (30) minute break down and storage time after the program.  An additional thirty (30) minutes of setup time may be requested for percussion and composition recitals but will require approval by the Associate Dean for Operations.

The School of Music allots a two-week grace period following the initial week of recital reservations each semester to allow students to rearrange and make any adjustments to their reserved date, time, or venue without penalty.  After this grace period, a $75.00 fee will be assessed for each change made to a reserved event.

Fall 2024 Grace Period

Ends Monday, September 30th at 5:00pm

Spring 2025 Grace Period

Ends Monday, February 24th at 5:00pm

All degree Recitals may be presented in Meadows Lecture/Recital Hall, Roxy Grove Hall, or Recital Hall II.  Recitals occurring in other, non-music, venues must be approved by the Associate Dean for Operations. It is not possible for the School of Music to provide recording services or piano tuning for non-music venues.  Non-music venues may also not be included in School of Music publications such as Music This Week, website, or social media publicity.

There is no cutoff date for scheduling non-degree (special) recitals in the fall semester; in the spring semester the cutoff date is March 31.  Non-degree recitals may not be presented after March 31. Performances may be presented in Meadows Lecture/Recital Hall, Roxy Grove Hall, or Recital Hall II.

A maximum of fifty (50) minutes and a minimum of forty (40) minutes of music is required for a Senior BM recital, with the overall length not to exceed 60 minutes including intermissions and stage time.  All other degree recitals may not exceed twenty-five (25) minutes of music, with the overall length not to exceed 30 minutes including intermissions and stage time.

Students may reserve a space in ASTRA to use for recital rehearsals, recording sessions, and/or meetings.  Requests are due by noon on Fridays for the following week.

Students may not make reservations more than seven (7) days in advance and are limited to no more than nine (9) hours per week and may not exceed three (3) consecutive hours.

ASTRA Scheduling (General Tutorial)

Room Scheduling in ASTRA Instructions

ASTRA Single-Event Submissions (Tutorial Video)

ASTRA Recurring-Multiple Event Submission (Tutorial Video)

Hearings may be scheduled using the Music room Request form via Astra thirty (30) days prior to the recital date.  Hearings must be passed a minimum of fourteen (14) days prior the scheduled recital date. 

Instrumental Recital Hearing Form

Vocal Recital Hearing Form

Hearing rehearsals may be reserved at the time the hearing is scheduled.  Any rehearsal time in the venue should occur within fifteen (15) days of the hearing.  Scheduled rehearsal time for hearings will be deducted from the allocated rehearsal hours.

Recital rehearsals include up to three (3) hours of time (including setup and breakdown) in the hall for senior BM recitals and may be distributed as the performer desires. All other undergraduate recitals may schedule up to two (2) hours of rehearsal time (including setup and breakdown) in the venue.  IN the even of unusual setup and breakdown circumstances, an additional thirty (30) minutes of time may be reserved for each rehearsal with approval from the Associate Dean of Operations.

Pianists are to be contacted early in the recital planning process and must be provided music for the recital a minimum of six (6) weeks prior to the hearing performance in order to allow appropriate preparation.  All fees and arrangements for payments are the responsibility of the student and are to be discussed in advance.  All collaborating musicians’ names are to be included on any programs, advertisements, flyers, etc.

The term “assisted by” should not be used under any circumstances, and the term “pianist” should be used instead of “accompanist.”

Collaborative Piano Request Form

The layout and printing of student recital programs are the responsibility of the performer.  Students should consult with their applied teacher and defer to the final judgment of the Concert and Promotions Specialist when submitting their programs for printing.

Before a student’s hearing

• Type program information in Student Recital Template:
  • One Page Template
  • Two Page Template
• E-mail a copy of your completed recital template to your applied teacher for final proofing.
• Make any final edits to the program after completed hearing.
• Your applied teacher will submit your final program to the Concert and Promotions Specialist with their approval.  Seventy-five (75) copies of the program will be printed. Students who wish to receive additional copies of their recital program will need to make arrangements with the Concert and Promotions Specialist and pay the additional cost.
• An email will be sent to the student when copied programs will be available for pick-up from the Baylor Copy Center.

The School of Music does not permit students to sponsor receptions outside of performance venues following recital programs.  Post-recital receptions must be done either off-campus, or in another venue on-campus outside of the School of Music.

Students who do not comply with this policy are subject to a fine of $250.

Music Education Handbook

Students in Baylor's BME Program take extensive coursework in both music and education — all of which is housed in the School of Music. Each student will craft their own journey based on their primary instrument, secondary instrument(s), and ensemble choices. No matter the choices that you make, there are five significant milestones every BME student passes on their way to graduation.

BME Milestones

1. Admission/Audition
   • To study in the Baylor Music Education program, you must be apply to both Baylor University and the School of Music. Audition dates are chosen on the School of Music application. For more information check out Admissions.
   • MUS 1330:  Introduction to Music Education must be taken in the spring of a student’s freshman year or the fall of their sophomore year.  It serves as a prerequisite for all upper-level music education courses. Transfer students should enroll in this course during their first semester of enrollment at Baylor.
2. Music Education Evaluation
   • During the second year of study, every BME student undergoes a review process prior to entering upper-level study in the Baylor Music School and for admission into the Teacher Education Program. This evaluation occurs through the MUS 3001 course and is designed to assess our students' musical and academic performance and fitness for continued study towards a BME. The experience is intended to be an honest conversation about each student's future We want every student that graduates from our program to be ready for the joys and challenges that teaching music can bring.
     Music Education Evaluation Form
3. Recital
   • In the final year of study, all BME students are required to give a 25-minute recital. This recital is the capstone project of a student's applied music study at Baylor, and a wonderful opportunity to showcase the outstanding musicianship learned in years of study. More information on student recitals can be found under section 5 of the Undergraduate Student Handbook.
4. Fieldwork in Music Education
   • In the semester prior to student teaching, all BME students demonstrate readiness by fulfilling all requirements for the BME degree and toward TEA certification. MUS 4001 Fieldwork in Music Education is the course where you will complete all the procedures and make your student teaching placement requests. It is an exciting time (even if filled with paperwork) to look forward to entering the classroom.
5. Student Teaching
   • You made it! The final semester of the BME is completed off-campus, in the music classroom of your choosing. Here you will combine everything you have learned in the Music Education Program as the foundation of your student teaching experience. We work with our students as much as possible to provide assignments in line with their career goals. Student teaching takes place either in Waco, or in communities within a 200-mile radius of the Baylor campus. Student teaching is challenging, rewarding, and a big step on your journey as a music educator.
     Clinical Teacher Handbook
     Cooperating Teacher Handbook

The Music History sequence in the core music courses required of all music majors consists of four courses that may be completed in any order, but require successful completion of both Theory II and Musicianship II.  These courses include:

MUS 3324:  The History of Music Before 1600

MUS 3325:  The History of Music from 1600 to 1800

MUS 3326:  The History of Music from 1800 to World War I

MUS 3327:  The History of Music from World War I to Present

The freshman and sophomore Theory and Musicianship sequences are designed to complement each other – meaning Theory I and Musicianship I should be taken concurrently, Theory II and Musicianship II concurrently, etc.  Generally, all music majors enrolled in Theory I-IV should be enrolled in the corresponding Musicianship course.  A student may, however, enroll in a Theory course while being enrolled in a lower-level Musicianship course if at some point the student’s level of achievement in Musicianship falls behind their level of achievement in Theory.  A student may not take a Musicianship course at a higher level than a Theory course – as the Theory course may only be equal or one level greater than the current enrolled Musicianship course.  At no time should there be more than one level difference between Theory and Musicianship courses being taken concurrently in a semester term.

Students must achieve a grade of C or higher in the following courses to advance in the academic sequence:  MUS 1301, MUS 1101, MUS 1302, MUS 1102, MUS 2301, and MUS 2101.

Theory V is offered each term and offers advanced material and discussion-based topics that require class enrollment sizes to be set to smaller capacities than its predecessors to facilitate student learning and experiences. It is acceptable in some cases to have a “gap” semester between the completion of Theory IV and enrollment in Theory V due to the lower enrollment capacity. 

Please note:  Because Theory V is a different type of course and not a direct continuation of the material in Theory IV, there is no significant pedagogical disadvantage in having a “gap” semester between Theory IV and Theory V.

MUS 4V80 is a course designed for independent research undertaken by a student under the supervision of one faculty member and is limited to area of study other than applied music.  Students wishing to register for MUS 4V80 must submit a “Request for MUS 4V80 – Independent Study” form with required approval signatures to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for final approval.  Completed forms must be submitted by the end of the third (3^rd) day of class.

The Concerto Competition is open to all woodwind, brass, string, percussion and keyboard students of Baylor University. Students must be enrolled during both fall semester when the prelims take place and spring semester when the finals take place. (Students enrolled for student teaching are eligible.) Previous winners of the competition may not enter.

Divisions 

Contestants will enter in one of five divisions: 

• Strings and Harp 
• Brass
• Woodwinds
• Piano and Organ 
• Percussion

For the Concerto Competition guidelines and entry form, please visit:

Concerto Competition | School of Music | Baylor University

For information, visit:

Semper Pro Musica Competition | School of Music | Baylor University

Lockers are available for student use in both the Waco Hall complex and the McCrary Music Building.  To reserve a locker in Waco Hall East, students should contact Waco Hall East Room 206 during regular business hours.  Lockers in the McCrary Music Building are reserved in conjunction with instrument check-out.  To inquire about an instrument locker in McCrary Music Building, students should visit MMB Room 125.

Practice rooms are available in both the Waco Hall Complex and the McCrary Music Building, with the latter being the primary practice room building.

Practice rooms are located on the second floor of the McCrary Music Building.  These rooms are unlocked and are available to all applied music students.  There are a limited number of locked rooms which are designated for students studying piano, level V or above.  To obtain a key for one of these rooms, students should bring a written request from their piano teacher to the Administrative Assistant in Roxy Grove, Room 103, between 8:30am-12:00pm or 1:00-5:00pm.

The practice room area in McCrary Music Building is secured by ID card access from 5:30pm until 7:30am.  After the 12th class day, ID cards will be activated for any student enrolled in a music course.  It is important for students using practice rooms to maintain the security of the area.

Baylor University’s Arts and Special Collections Research Center is located on level 3 of Moody Memorial Library.  Recognizes as one of the most distinguished fine arts collections in the southwest, the Center boasts a collection of approximately 116,000 printed music scores, 54,000 print fine arts books, and 75,000 audio and video recordings.  In addition to these print resources, the libraries host thousands of e-books and e-journals, as well as over 800 databases.  The library also houses a fine collection of rare materials, such as the Mrs. J.W. Jennings Collection of Medieval Music Manuscripts and Early Printed Music, the Francis G. Spencer Collection of American Popular Sheet Music, the Harry Eskew Collection in Hymnology, and the Ouseley Collection dating from the 18^th and 19^th centuries.  For more information about these and other special collections, visit the Baylor University Libraries website:

University Libraries, Museums, and the Press | Baylor University.

The third floor of Moody Memorial Library follows the main library hours throughout the year.  Staff members are available to help with research and with using the collections. A “live chat” option is available on the main library website (see link above) for additional assistance.

Moody Memorial and Jones Library include group study spaces, classroom space, and workstations with audio and video playback equipment for all media formats available in the Library.  Located in the Listening and Viewing Center of the 3^rd floor area, the Crouch Music Lab is a specialized instructional technology center for music applications.  Each of its twelve stations, plus an instructor station, includes Mac computers coupled with M-Audio 5-octave MIDI keyboard controllers.  The computers are equipped with a variety of music-related software applications.

Home - Music - Moody 311 Creative Lab - Guides at Baylor University

Find & Access

Utilizing the Baylor Library OneSearch system is the easiest way to find resources needed for research.  It is available on the main library page: 

University Libraries, Museums, and the Press | Baylor University

OneSearch allows you to discover physical items in the Baylor Libraries, as well as most of the online content that we provide for your use. It is designed primarily for keyword searching, but also has the ability to search by title, creator, or subject. 

Research guides are available to help locate resources and offer instruction on a number of topics including using Zotero for citation management, basic searching, and aid in writing papers:

All Guides Alphabetically - Guides at Baylor University

Course Reserves

The Crouch Fine Arts Library offers course reserve services for music and visual art courses, as well as for any other courses that use audiovisual materials from our collections. 

Baylor School of Music Performance Recordings

This collection holds more than 9,000 audio recordings of School of Music performances, including faculty recitals, student recitals, and ensemble concerts.

To identify recordings of interest or to find a performance date:

• Search OneSearch for recordings that have been fully catalogued.
• Recordings that have not been catalogued can be identified by searching the performance programs in the Baylor Digital Collections. 

The School of Music offers many opportunities for students to be engaged and involved, including a variety of service and professional organizations.  Students are encouraged to reach out to any organization that they may find of interest to see how they may get involved.  These groups provide valuable services to the School of Music, Baylor University, and the local community, as well as offer social and professional contacts and opportunities.

Baylor Association of Church Musicians

The Baylor Association of Church Musicians serves as a professional organization for students who expect to participate in church music as a full-time or bi-vocational church music leader. Although most appropriate for church music majors, all music emphases, as well as majors in other university disciplines, participate in the organization’s programs.  BACM meets regularly once a month for programs presented by experienced church musicians from the surrounding area, Texas and throughout the United States. 

Baylor University Music Education Association

BUMEA is an organization for music education majors of all areas dedicated to advancing the field of music education through leadership, professional development, and community involvement opportunities.  Throughout the year we have monthly meetings which consist of guest speakers who are successful music educators.  The leadership and community involvement experiences offered to members provide ways to improve communications skills, build contacts, and further one’s insight into the field of music education.  In addition, members can apply to join larger organizations, Music Educators National Conference (MENC), and Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), which offer monthly journals and the opportunity to attend conferences.  Please contact Michele Henry, the BUMEA sponsor, at Michele_Henry@baylor.edu for more information on this organization.

Kappa Kappa Psi

Kappa Kappa Psi is a national honor band fraternity for college bandsmen.  The organization serves the School of Music and the bands at Baylor.  Members represent all areas of the University. 

Tau Beta Sigma

Tau Beta Sigma is a national honorary sorority dedicated to serving bands through active involvement with all the Baylor bands, the School of Music, and throughout the community. During the fall semester, our activities revolve around the Golden Wave Marching Band as we assist with daily operations of rehearsals, game day setup, mailouts, and uniform and instrument check-out, along with providing financial support for the cost of some of the marching band equipment.  Throughout the entire school year, we host receptions after band concerts, help with band recruiting, and keep the concessions in Waco Hall operating during school and community events.  To serve the local area we are proud participants of the Adopt-a-Highway program, the Adopt-a-Band program, and Steppin’ Out.  In addition to providing service and leadership opportunities, Tau Beta Sigma members share in the joy of sisterhood by participating in social activities.  To become a member of this organization, you must be in a musical ensemble each semester, maintain a GPA of 2.5, and go through a five-week training period. 

website: https://tbsiota.weebly.com/

Mu Phi Epsilon

Mu Phi Epsilon is an international professional music fraternity.  Membership in the Baylor chapter is open to women and men in music by application and invitation.  The organization strives for excellence in musicianship, scholarship and service to school and community.  Members also become eligible for scholarships both during and after their undergraduate work.

Music and Memory at Baylor University

Music and Memory at Baylor University is a volunteer student organization in partnership with the national non-profit organization, Music and Memory.  Our mission is to bring personalized music into the lives of the elderly or infirm through digital music technology, vastly improving quality of life. Additionally, our organization provides a monthly live musical performance for the residents of Living Springs Village, a local memory care facility, utilizing various ensembles and individuals within the Baylor School of Music and Baylor University at large. For more information regarding our organization, please contact the Music and Memory at Baylor University Faculty Advisor, Amy Fleming, at Amy_Fleming@baylor.edu. 

Pi Kappa Lamda

Pi Kappa Lambda is the only professional honor society for outstanding music students.  Membership, which is offered to a limited number of upperclassmen each year by invitation only, is decided on a basis of grade point average and excellence in musical endeavors.

School of Music Student Council

The Student Council is an elected group of student representatives from each area of discipline, which serves as the student advisory body to the office of the Dean of the School of Music.

Student National Association of Teachers of Singing

The Student National Association of Teachers of Singing (SNATS) chapter at Baylor is an organization of students established in order to provide its membership with increased knowledge about singing and teaching others to sing as well as practical information on maintaining a professional career in the field of classical vocal music.  To this end, each meeting features a guest speaker who has found professional success and is willing to assist our members in achieving their own. Past guests have included an Otolaryngologist, a specialist in the adolescent female voice, a teacher with an established private studio, and various members of the Baylor Voice faculty who have, as individuals or as part of a panel discussion, provided information on Vocal Pedagogy, Vocal literature, educational and professional tracks for specific career goals, teaching the female voice, teaching the male voice, and similar topics.  In addition to providing valuable information, our organization engages in service activities such as assisting the vocal faculty when hosting the Texoma Regional NATS conference, and we enjoy social activities together such as attending “Live from the MET” broadcasts at our local theater. Membership in SNATS is an excellent avenue for the development of leadership skills and an opportunity to become involved in the primary professional guild for the teaching of singing. For more information regarding our organization, please contact the SNATS Faculty Advisor, Mark Diamond at Mark_Diamond@baylor.edu.