About The School of Music

The School of Music is a department within the College of Arts and Sciences, the largest and most comprehensive college at the University of Tennessee, the largest of the state universities in the Tennessee higher education system. UT has more than 27,000 students— over 21,000 undergraduate and almost 6,000 graduate students. There are 8100 faculty and staff on campus of which 58% of the 1500+ instructional faculty are tenured. (more facts...)

The School of Music offers a broad and comprehensive professional music program. Through its many specialized professional music concentrations, the School affords music students the opportunity of a wide variety of professional direction, training, and experience.

In the School of Music, there are 47 full-time faculty, 8 part-time faculty and 10 full time staff. Currently there are 272 music majors:  205 undergraduate and 67 graduate.  All enrollments are based on the School’s Enrollment Management Guide to ensure that all students receive the training and experiences they need to be successful in their chosen career fields.

Since fall 2013, the School of Music has been housed in the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center and in August of that year became an All-Steinway School.

The School is extremely proud of its record of achievement in education, performance, and service. Internationally recognized performing artists and conductors, members of major symphony orchestras, leading performers in commercial music and jazz, composers, and faculty members of leading academic institutions are included in the ranks of the School's graduates.

Accreditation

The School of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), the accrediting agency for music units at institutions of higher education in the United States.

The University of Tennessee is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

School of Music Values, Mission and Vision

Values

The School of Music is committed to promoting the values of free and bold intellectual inquiry, meaningful musical expression, vibrant civic engagement, respect for diversity, and an understanding of the rich musical heritage of our nation and the world.

Mission

The School of Music at the University of Tennessee is a diverse community of teachers, learners, scholars, and performers who seek to advance knowledge of and excellence in the craft, expression, understanding, and interpretation of music. We train the next generation of music professionals (e.g., composers, educators, performers, and scholars) and aspire to be a leader among professional music schools. 

As part of its mission, the School:

• enriches the musical and educational lives of its students, the university community and citizens of Tennessee;
• develops technical and artistic excellence in performance and pedagogy; 
• fosters critical understanding of theoretical, historical and cultural studies of music; 
• promotes effective and innovative skill in music education.

Vision

The School of Music faculty, students, and alumni will have a significant role in the musical culture and the musical dialogues of the nation and the world.

Degree Programs

The School of Music offers the following degrees and concentrations:

• Bachelor of Arts
  • Applied Music
  • Music and Culture
• Bachelor of Music
  • Music Education
  • Performance (Brass, Organ, Piano, Woodwind/Percussion, Voice, Strings)
  • Sacred Music (Organ, piano, voice)
  • Studio Music and Jazz
  • Theory/Composition (theory and composition tracks)
• Masters of Music
  • Collaborative Piano
  • Composition
  • Conducting (Choral, Instrumental)
  • Jazz
  • Music Education (Choral, General, Instrumental)
  • Musicology
  • Performance (Brass, Organ, Piano, Woodwind/Percussion, Voice, Strings)
  • Theory
• Certificate programs
  • Graduate Artist Certificate
  • Certificate in Music Theory Pedagogy
• Minors
  • Applied Music
  • Music Theory
  • Music & Culture
  • Music Composition
  • Music Business

School of Music Honors Program

The School of Music offers an honors program for exceptional undergraduate students.

Knoxville, TN

The University of Tennessee is located near downtown Knoxville, TN. Knoxville, a city of 186,000 residents, is in East Tennessee, near the Smoky Mountains.

Knoxville has a vibrant music community. In addition to the performances sponsored through the School of Music, the University of Tennessee's Frank H. McClung Museum, the Ewing Gallery of Art and Architecture, the Clarence Brown and Carousel Theatres, and International House also present many exhibits, performances and productions by professionals, students and faculty.

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Knoxville Opera Company, the Bijou and Tennessee Theatres, Thompson Boling Arena, The Arts Council of Greater Knoxville, The Knoxville Museum of Art, and the Knox County Tourist Commission supplement artistic activities in the area. The annual Dogwood Arts Festival sponsored by Knoxville brings more than 200,000 people from the city and surrounding area to see performances by many university and civic groups as well as to observe visual artists.