Fall Kickoff, Week 0, Pre-instruction week

All three names refer to the three days (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday) after move-in weekend and before classes start on Thursday. Please note that classes on Thursday and Friday are required. However, if you have not had a lecture yet for your class, the section for that lecture may not happen this week. For example, if you have a MWF class, and a R (Thursday) section for that same class, that Week 0 section may be canceled. Check gauchospace frequently!

All incoming declared Music or Music Studies majors, please make an appointment with the Undergraduate Advisor over the summer, or meet at the scheduled time during your orientation session.

For students interested in becoming a music major, a personalized meeting is also advised!

Undergraduate Theory and Musicianship Placement Exam

The Musicianship and Theory placement exam is for students new to the university or for students who wish to enter the major or minor who have not taken the exam before. Students will be placed into the appropriate class in the the Music Theory series (11, 5A, 5B, 5C, or in some cases 160A or C), and the Musicianship series (4A-F).

This exam is only offered during the pre-instruction week of Fall quarter.

2026 Exams

Theory - Wednesday, September 23rd, 10am, Music 1145

Musicianship -  Wednesday, September 23rd, 11am, Music 1145

Download the Study Guide. Incoming music majors are expected to attend the exam. Please register here. Non-majors who would like to attend may also register using the same form.

Senior Project Informational Meeting - September 23rd, 12:30pm, Music 2218

Please visit this page for more information about Senior Projects & the Informational Meeting. 

Incoming Majors Informational Meeting - September 22nd, 12:00pm, Music 1318

Pizza, salad, and drinks provided!

Beginning of the Year Celebration

Following the Musicianship and Theory placement exam, the Beginning of the Year Celebration will happen. Whether you are new to UCSB, new to the major, or a continuing major, you are strongly encouraged to attend. Food and refreshments provided!

Fall 2026 - Wednesday, September 23rd, 3pm @ Music Sunken Garden

Locker Rooms and Keys

Please see the key page for information. You'll need to bring a $40 check or money order with you to check-out a key. Please note to access any practice rooms, you must be currently enrolled in a Music Department Lesson or Ensemble - there are no exceptions to this policy.

 

 

Fall Lesson Audition Info

Lesson Audition Info

World Music

World Music Instrument lessons (MUS 22D-X and 122D-X) do not require an audition to enroll. If you are unable to add directly on GOLD, contact the instructor of the course. Contact the instructor for class meeting times if not listed in the schedule - or be on the lookout for an email from the instructor. Instruments listed below will link to the instructor teaching the lessons.

The department offers instruction in Dastgah, Arabic Maqam, Nay, and Oud in all regular quarters: Fall, Winter and Spring, and Sitar in Winter (and for continuing students in Spring).

Strings

Unless outlined in detail here, other auditions for private instruction in strings may be arranged with individual faculty members by instrument. See the Faculty Directory for email contacts.

Piano

An audition is required for all lessons, with the exception of MUS 31A in Fall.

Fall 2026 Audition Information

MUS 33/133: Thursday, September 24, 10am - 2pm

MUS 31/32: Wednesday September 23, 9am - 2pm

All students interested in auditioning must contact Paul Berkowitz and Natasha Kislenko directly for the sign up link.

  • Class Piano (MUS 31 A, B, C) are group lessons and available for students who already read music (both treble and bass clefs), and who have taken MUS 11 or its equivalent. Students in this series may be at a more beginning level of piano study but should be able to read music at a basic level. If you are an undergraduate bachelor of music (non-piano) major and are required to pass piano proficiency, you can either start at MUS 31A or place into B, C or out of of the 31 series via audition. For requirements and scheduling, as well as questions about 31 A-C series, please reach out to Prof. Natasha Kislenko.
  • Private lessons (MUS 31X, 32 or 33/133) are for piano students who have had previous serious study in piano at the intermediate or advanced levels. Contact Prof. Natasha Kislenko for placement in MUS 31X
  • If you are an advanced student, you may be able to audition for placement into  MUS 33 if there is available space. Please, direct your questions to Professor Paul Berkowitz berkowit@music.ucsb.edu. In your inquiry, discuss your piano background.
  • Piano Proficiency students required to pass piano proficiency for their degree requirements should contact Prof. Natasha Kislenko to inquire about a piano proficiency exam.

Note, that piano lesson slots tend to fill up quickly and students selected for study in the Fall Quarter will automatically receive priority for study in subsequent quarters.

Voice

An audition is required. Students who audition may be assigned for voice study with voice faculty members.

MUS 25/125, Intermediate Voice (Lessons with Faculty), Thursday, September 24, 12–3pm, in Geiringer Hall
Please sign up for auditions here: Audition Sign-Up Form

Auditions for Intermediate Voice Lessons with Voice Faculty (MUS 25/125) will take place on
Thursday, September 24, from 12:00–3:00 p.m. in Geiringer Hall.

Audition Requirements
Please prepare one classical piece—either an art song or an operatic aria—to be performed from memory. The selection may be in English or a foreign language.
Candidates must bring two copies of their music:

  •  One copy for the accompanist
  •  One copy for the jury

Accepted repertoire: Only art songs and arias are permitted. Popular music, folk songs, and musical theatre repertoire will not be accepted.

Audition Results & Mandatory Meeting
The final list of successful candidates will be posted outside Geiringer Hall between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m.
All students accepted into the Voice Faculty studios are expected to attend a mandatory meeting at 3:30 p.m., immediately following the auditions.
If you are unable to attend the meeting, please email Dr. Bayrakdarian at bayrakdarian@music.ucsb.edu and explain the reason for your absence.
These requirements apply to both music majors and non-majors.

Important: Chamber Choir Co-Requisite:
Students taking private lessons (MUS 25/125) in a Voice Faculty studio are required to participate in Chamber Choir (MUS A36/136) for all three quarters as a co-requisite.
Students must audition for the Director of Choral Activities, Prof. Brent Wilson, for acceptance into Chamber Choir. Pending the audition and the recommendation of the Director of Choral Activities, a student may be required to participate in a different choral ensemble based on their current musicianship skills until they are prepared to join Chamber Choir.
Break a leg, and toi, toi, toi!

Fall Ensemble Audition Info

Audition information for Music Dept. ensembles may be found here, click on the ensemble you are interested in. Some ensembles (most world music ensembles and all choirs except chamber choir) do not require an audition, just sign up on GOLD!

All Ensembles can be found in GOLD under the MUSIC A - PERFORMANCE LABORATORIES section for registration. For ensembles that require an audition, approval (aka add) codes will be distributed by the instructor after a successful audition.

Students should register for ensembles based on their class level. Students with Freshman or Sophomore level standing should register for classes numbered 0-99, Juniors and seniors 100-199, Graduate students 200-299.