Undergraduate Resources
The School of Music Office is located in Ed Landreth Hall, Suite 120.
Students Forms & Information
General Forms
*Note: All forms are designed to be signed using Adobe Digital Signature. Instructions on using an Adobe Digital Signature can be found here.
- Curricular Practical Training
- Degree Plan Roadmaps (under “Academic Advising Resources”)
- Departmental Honors Overview
- Intent to Graduate
- Jury Examination & Repertoire Forms (jury system)
- Music Major Request additional semester of aid
- School of Music Facility and Events Policy
- Student Recital Scheduling Policy
- Recital Program Template
- Recital Scheduling Form
- SOM Instrument Loan Agreement
- Sophomore Barrier Form
- Student-Travel-Assistance
- Studio Change Policy
- TCU School of Music Scholarship Policies: Degree Changes
- Transfer CORE Credit Request Directions (must be submitted online)
Voice Division
All other forms not listed here can be found on the College of Fine Arts Resources Page
General practice rooms for the School of Music are located in multiple buildings on campus: the second floor of Ed Landreth Hall, the basement of Waits Residence Hall, the first and third floors of Walsh Performing Arts Center, and the second floor of the TCU Music Center. These rooms are open via card swipe 24/7.
Additionally, there are piano practice rooms and percussion practice rooms designated for piano and percussion students, respectively. For more information regarding eligibility of piano and percussion practice room use, please contact Lori Stowe at l.stowe@tcu.edu. The piano practice rooms are located in the Walsh Performing Arts Center piano and percussion practice rooms are located in the TCU Music Center.
The SOM Practice Rooms may be reserved in advance. If unreserved, the rooms are available on a “first come, first served basis”. To reserve practice rooms, please go to:
If you have any questions regarding practice rooms, please contact Lori Stowe at 817-257-7232 or l.stowe@tcu.edu.
Refer to our list of ensembles and visit page to find audition requirements.
Important Dates
The following activities are required of all new incoming music majors:
Theory/Ear Training Placement Exam – First day of Fall semester, 8:30 a.m. on the Ed Landreth Auditorium Stage. Required for all incoming students enrolled in MUSI 10203 or 10201.
- Music Theory Fundamentals Resources
- Music History Course Rotation 2023-2025
- Music Theory Course Rotation 2021-2023
- Music Theory Course Rotation 2023-2026
All incoming music majors are required to enroll in MUSI 11030 Class Piano. Students interested in testing for placement beyond the first semester can do so during the week before classes begin. (Download pdf).
Recital/Concert Attendance
All undergraduate music majors are required to enroll in MUSI 11000 Recital Hour/Concert Attendance for each regular semester. Exceptions include first-year students enrolled in UNLF 10211 University Life during their incoming fall semester, BME students enrolled in their student teaching semester, and students enrolled in a ninth (and subsequent) semester. This is a zero-credit course that is graded on a pass/no-credit basis.
To receive a passing credit, students must attend a total of (10) performance events each semester.
- Performances are chosen from faculty and guest artist recitals, student recitals and TCU ensemble concerts. Off-campus events must be approved by Dr. Cortese to count toward concert credit.
- Up to (4) events may be concerts/programs in which the student participates.
- Of the remaining (6) required events, (3) must be in a performing area other than that of the student’s primary studio, and (1) must be from the scheduled special event list.
- At the end of the semester, students fill out an electronic attendance cover sheet that is uploaded with their (10) event program PDFs to an assignment folder on TCU Online. All materials are due by 5:00PM on the Monday following juries.
Two-steps ensure that students in the School of Music are fulfilling the requirements for Recital Hour: Students must pass 3 semesters of Recital Hour before they are eligible to sign up for their sophomore barrier. Students must pass 6 semesters of Recital Hour before they are eligible to sign up for their senior recital. Failure to follow these steps may impact progress toward completion of a degree program.
How to Get a Locker
Students may check out a locker during their time at TCU School of Music. Once you have a locker assignment, you may keep it as long as you are a music major at TCU. Instrumental lockers are located in the Walsh Performing Arts Center, and the TCU Music Center.
Please Note: due to the scheduled renovation of Ed Landreth Hall starting in May 2026, lockers in ELH will not be checked out for the remainder of the school year.
- To check out a locker in the Walsh building, please email Dr. Cortese at p.cortese@tcu.edu
- To check out a locker in the TCU Music Center, please contact Sharie Owens at S.OWENS@tcu.edu.
Dr. Cortese or Sharie will issue you a combination to the locker/padlock. Students are not allowed to use their own padlocks on the lockers. Please contact Dr. Cortese if you have questions about locker assignments.
Computer Lab
The SOM Computer Lab is located on the third floor in Jarvis Hall. The lab contains Mac computers equipped with music notation software, digital audio workstations (DAW), and a host of software instruments and synthesizers. MIDI keyboards and audio interfaces are part of each workstation as well. Hours of operation vary throughout the week and on weekends. Students should speak to Lori Stowe (l.stowe@tcu.edu) in the School of Music office or the lab manager, Dr. Neil Anderson-Himmelspach (n.himmelspach@tcu.edu), to gain swipe access to the Computer Lab.
Advising
All music majors are assigned a faculty advisor based on their area of study. Learn more about advising on the School of Music advising page.
At TCU, all students are welcome to participate in the variety of events and programs available in the School of Music. Whether you’re interested in singing in a choir, playing in the orchestra, marching in the band or taking guitar lessons, the information below will help answers your questions and point you in the right direction.
Audition Information
Non-majors are welcome to audition for ensembles within the School of Music. Please see the audition information above.
Private Lessons
Private instrumental and vocal lessons for non-majors are available on a limited basis. Interested students are required to audition for the area instructor in order to be considered for studio placement. Non-majors who have received a music scholarship from the SOM are required to enroll in private lessons. For more information, please contact Lori Stowe, Academic Program Specialist at 817-257-7232 or l.stowe@tcu.edu.
Music Minor
The TCU Minor in Music provides student musicians with the opportunity to study music history, music theory and applied performance at the collegiate level. This program is not intended as an introduction to music. Rather, it is designed for students with previous, substantial musical experience who wish to further their musical knowledge and abilities with professional study. For more information, please see opportunities for non-majors or contact Gina Bombola at 817-257-4841 or at g.bombola@tcu.edu.
While all music students are expected and encouraged to perform, CPT is applicable to international students only, Curricular Practical Training is defined as an alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education or any other type of required practicum that is academically-required at TCU and offered by sponsoring employers. CPT originates from an academic need for work, and as a result, it must be required of all students in a program. It may either be required specifically in a particular class or it may be a programmatic expectation to fulfill degree requirements. Implied in this is a system of evaluation by the academic department and a beginning and termination date for a particular employment.
Undergraduate students must be in F-1 status for at least 9 months before employment can be initiated. All students may not work full-time (over 20 hours including all assistantships and CPT employment) except during summer and winter vacation. CPT is a departmental privilege, and thus may be revoked for academic reasons at any time.
Typically in music, Curricular Practical Training students are expected to seek professional opportunities as a part of their coursework. Participation and progress in these endeavors must be approved and overseen by the supervising faculty member. Examples might include activities in teaching, participation in professional orchestras, chamber music performance, performance in church services, weddings, funerals, accompanying, etc. International students MUST file appropriate paper work BEFORE accepting professional gigs and services.
CPT Application Instructions
Download the CPT Recommendation Form from the International Student Services (ISS) website.
- Submit Section 1 of the CPT form to your academic advisor (applied studio teacher) for completion
- Have your academically-approved employer complete Section 2 of the CPT form
- Sign and submit form to ISS at least 7 days prior to employment start date
- Do not begin work until this process is completed and you have signed and picked up your new, work-authorized I-20 from ISS.
Located on the third floor of the Mary Couts Burnett Library, the Music/Media Library houses several thousand scores, print books, CDs and music discipline-related videos. The Music/Media Library and Hamilton Audiovisual Center provide a creative space for musicians to listen to music, watch performances, study scores, write research papers and attend specialized classes.