Frequently Asked Questions

Although Tech students typically have full schedules, they always seem to find time for rehearsals. In the combined activity of rehearsals and concerts, students enjoy a well-deserved break from study, a social activity and personally rewarding growth.

You'll meet a great number of other students in the Department's thriving ensembles, representing a complete list of the majors on campus at the undergraduate and graduate levels. These are inclusive, not exclusive ensembles and activities. If you don't know anyone on campus, this is a great place to meet the cream of the crop. Surveys demonstrate that music students have higher GPA's than the general student body. These are people you ought to know!

Some students decide to wait "until they get their feet on the ground" before becoming involved. Many will become involved in other social activities instead and never come back to music. They then miss the very supportive elements that make a successful academic career: diverse experiences, positive social interactions and confidence building through team and individual effort. The proof is in the research: music students do better in school!

If you have tried everything to avoid a conflict with an ensemble rehearsal, but cannot find a way around your scheduling problem, contact the ensemble director as soon as possible. In many cases, these conflicts can be worked out.

Costs to participate in any of the ensembles are nominal.

• First year Marching Band – approximately $200. The Athletic Association covers travel expenses to all performances. (They even provide per diem to buy meals.)
• Instrument rental is $25 per semester.
• Instrument lockers are located in the Couch Building (room 103) and may be rented at a cost of $10 per semester.
• If you are enrolled in an ensemble, a practice room key may be issued at a cost of $10 per semester ($25 if not enrolled in a music class).
• Each of the ensembles requires specific concert dress. For example, the Symphonic and Concert Bands require men to wear tuxedos and women to wear black formal attire.

Auditions for Marching Band are held during band camp (the week before fall semester classes begin). Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble auditions are held during the first day or two of classes. Contact the director for more information. 

Choral Ensembles

• Chorale
• Chamber Choir
• Men's Glee Club

Instrumental Ensembles

• Concert Band
• Symphonic Band
• University Orchestra
• Jazz Ensemble I & II
• Chamber Ensembles
• Percussion Ensemble
• Marching Band (fall semester)
• Pep Bands
• MIDI Ensemble

General Classes

• Music Theory I
• Music Theory II
• Survey of Music Technology
• Integrating Music into Multimedia
• Intro to Computer Synthesized Music
• Composers and their Music 1500-1800
• Composers and their Music 1800-present
• Applied Music Instruction  (minor program only)

Many of the general classes will help you meet your humanities requirements toward graduation. Students are also permitted to earn four hours of humanities credit for participating in ensembles in the Music Department, provided the selection and concentration criteria are satisfied. See the general catalog under Architecture/Music for further details.

The Department offers a Certificate of Fine Arts-Music and a Music Minor program for woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings and voice.

Ensembles rehearsal schedule is designed to avoid conflicts with core classes.

All students participating in music classes must register for the class. Students enrolled full time at other state institutes may cross-register for the class.

If you would like to join us, fill out a music interest form.  You can expect to hear from us about concerts and at the end of your senior year of high school.