Academics

Brass

As a TCU brass student, you’ll access a range of courses and opportunities that will equip you with the specific skills and guidance to grow as a musician.

Composition/Theory

In this program, you’ll learn from full-time composers and theorists in a highly selective program offering individual instruction and mentoring.

Musicology

Because music is inextricably woven into the fabric of human activity, the cultural and philosophical contexts of which music has been a part are important considerations in the study of the variety of styles, genres, and media that students in our program have the opportunity to explore.

Organ & Church Music

Students will experience broad range of pipe organs and harpsichords in the TCU School of Music.

Percussion

The TCU Percussion Studio is dedicated to maximizing percussion education through a wide variety of performing ensembles and a closely supervised private lesson structure.

Piano

Piano majors study with an internationally known faculty of artists and teachers through a variety of program options.

Strings

The TCU School of Music offers a world-class education from a faculty that includes nationally and internationally recognized musicians in violin, viola, cello, bass, harp and guitar.

Voice

Our goal in the voice program is to prepare our students for success whether they choose to use their vocal talents on stage, in the classroom or elsewhere in life.

Woodwinds

The woodwind curriculum includes personalized instruction and performance opportunities in an equally supportive and challenging environment.

At TCU, you’ll grow intellectually and personally, and you’ll also gain specific knowledge and skills for a career. You’ll learn by doing, stepping outside the classroom to turn your ideas into action. Internships are invaluable for helping determine which career path most interests you.

Internship experiences within the School of Music are based on your area of study. Music education majors often pursue private teaching, sectional or band camp classes with area school districts. Students who pursue Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Arts degrees can take advantage of internships through summer music festivals, area arts organizations, places of worship, community outreach programs and more.

Contact the Center for Career and Professional Development to request funding for these internships.

TCU policy on internships

TCU offers hundreds of internships in any given semester and does not support political or personal statements associated with any of them. We evaluate each opportunity to ensure academic value as it relates to a course of study. Beyond that, we encourage you to seek the opportunities that best match your interests and to choose how to best fulfill your internship requirements.

Learn more about TCU’s internship and job opportunities.

Develop your degree plan with advisors who are committed to your personal and professional success. The School of Music guides you every step of the way so that you can identify and accomplish your academic and career goals. To speak with your advisor, refer to the contact list below or your my.tcu.edu student center portal. For more information about advising in the School of Music, please contact Dr. Marc Reed.

Marc Reed, D.M.A.
Director, School of Music
LAN 120A
marc.reed@tcu.edu
817-257-1742

Primary Advisors

Advisors by Degree

In addition to TCU’s full range of scholarships, the College of Fine Arts offers competitive scholarships for music majors at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Assistantships, including up to full tuition and a stipend, are available for graduate students.

For music majors, the School of Music awards numerous scholarships — up to full-tuition awards. Additionally, many TCU students receive both music and academic scholarships. Under special circumstances, non-music majors might also be considered for scholarship awards based on audition and the specific needs of the performing ensembles.

To be considered for an academic scholarship, complete the standard TCU Undergraduate Student Application and the School of Music Admission Application. We encourage music applicants to apply before the TCU Early Action deadline of November 1 so that students can schedule auditions as soon as possible and receive admissions decisions shortly after auditioning. It is possible to receive a scholarship if applicants apply by the Regular Decision deadline of February 1 with TCU, but this could delay admission and scholarship notifications substantially. It is not recommended to wait to submit the School of Music Admission application until February 1, as applications submitted after the January 15 Regular Deadline are not guaranteed to be reviewed by faculty before live auditions conclude. The School of Music Admission Application Preferred Deadline is December 1, and the Regular Deadline is January 15.

Additionally, please ensure that you have completed the FAFSA and CSS Profile as well as any additional forms and action items in your myTCU portal prior to your audition if invited to audition, or by March 1 at the latest. Applicants will not be given any financial aid decisions until all forms are completed and on file with TCU Financial Aid, they have been admitted to TCU and they have been admitted to the School of Music.

Music scholarships, including the prestigious Nordan scholarships (explained below), will be considered by audition during one of the scheduled audition dates; applicants must complete the online School of Music Admission Application before an audition time can be scheduled.

Nordan Young Artist Award Scholarship

The Nordan Young Artist Award is an exclusive scholarship, open to entering first-year vocalists, instrumentalists, and composers of superior talent, who have chosen to major in music. Nordan winners receive a four-year, full tuition award.

To be considered for the Nordan Scholarship, students are encouraged to complete the School of Music Admission Application by December 1, but no later than February 1. Please be sure to to upload a preliminary pre-screening video performance.  Specific repertoire requirements are listed for each division area and can be found on the Undergraduate Student Admission page. Find out more about how to create a quality prescreen media recording. Additionally, applicants should complete the Free Application of Financial Student Aid (FAFSA – required for US citizens) and the CSS Profile. Visit the TCU Office of Financial Aid for more information.

Following screening, successful applicants will be notified by email of their eligibility to audition for acceptance into the School of Music.

Auditions will be held at TCU in January and February 2026. It is preferred that auditions are performed in person, but if an exception is needed, please contact Kayla Maciel at k.l.maciel@tcu.edu.

Marching Band Scholarship

Students participating in the TCU Marching Band will receive a $4,000 scholarship during the fall semester in which they participate. For more information, contact band@tcu.edu or call 817-257-7640.

Graduate Assistantships & Financial Aid

Assistantships are available to qualified, full-time graduate students in the School of Music. Applicants must be admitted to the program, have an outstanding academic record and present favorable recommendations.

Master’s and doctoral applicants will be considered for graduate assistantships as part of their application process. Assistantships provide tuition grants plus stipend and require approximately ten hours of work weekly.

The Preferred deadline for all graduate program application submissions with all materials is December 1 to guarantee review and preferred audition scheduling.

The Regular application deadline for all graduate programs is January 15 and those who apply by this date may not get their preferred audition date or time.

The Final application deadline is February 1 for all graduate programs. However, review is not guaranteed for those who submit application and materials after the January 15 Regular application deadline.

Learn more

More Information

For more information about the School of Music admission process or scholarship information, please contact Kayla Maciel, Coordinator of Music Admissions at k.l.maciel@tcu.edu or text/call 817-257-4742.

Learn more about all TCU scholarships

At TCU, you’ll graduate with the skills — collaboration, creativity, organization and leadership — to pursue a successful career inside and outside the arts. Some music graduates decide to attend law or medical school. Others continue their graduate studies at prestigious universities and conservatories across the country.

With a job placement rate over 90 percent, our graduates have gone on to succeed as public and private school teachers, church music directors, freelance musicians, arts administrators, music producers and professional musicians in symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles or opera companies.

Career Services

You’ll have access to a career consultant who works with fine arts students. This person’s expertise working with arts majors is a clear advantage for you. Schedule one-on-one meetings with your career consultant, who will assess and analyze what you need most. Whether you’re crafting a speech or preparing for a job interview, your career consultant is there on the sidelines — pushing you into the game.

Melanie Coulson
Career Consultant to the College of Fine Arts
817-257-2222
m.coulson@tcu.edu

For more information about job opportunities, please visit: