Divisions and Areas of Study

Division of Composition Studies
The composition program at the University of North Texas is one of the largest and most diverse of its kind in the nation, with over 75 majors and seven composition faculty members representing a wide variety of compositional aesthetics and approaches.

Division of Conducting and Ensembles
The Division of Conducting & Ensembles consists of four areas: Choral Studies, Early Music Ensembles, Orchestral Studies, and Wind Studies. The division serves two functions: the education of conductors and the direction of a great number of large university ensembles and dozens of smaller groups involving over one thousand students in ensemble experiences widely recognized as among the finest in the nation.

Choral Studies
The University of North Texas has a distinguished seventy-five year history of preparing choral conductors and singers for the challenges of the professional singer/conductor/teacher. Members of the UNT Choral and Voice Studies Programs regularly perform with area opera companies and choruses such as the Dallas Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Dallas Symphony Chorus, Dallas Bach Society, Denton Bach Society, the Orchestra of New Spain, Orpheus Chamber Singers, and Schola Cantorum of Texas.

Early Music
The Early Music program is a large and significant program at the University of North Texas. The program consists of several performing ensembles that include the UNT Baroque Orchestra and Vox Aquilae, as well as many chamber ensembles such as viol consort, recorder consort, cornett and sackbut ensemble, “Morley Consort,” and mixed chamber ensembles of instruments and instruments and voices.

Orchestral Studies
The Masters and Doctoral orchestral conducting program at the UNT College of Music is designed to prepare capable young conductors for professional and academic careers. Degree candidates work with Maestro Itkin in an intensive study environment that combines classroom study in technique, score study, interpretation, style, rehearsal technique, repertoire, programming, and public speaking, with extensive practical experience in front of various orchestral ensembles.

Wind Studies
The graduate conducting program in the Wind Studies Area offers degrees at both the Masters and Doctoral level. The goal of the program is to develop conductors for professional careers in performance and education through intensive study of literature and pedagogy. The rigorous and varied curriculum prepares well-rounded conductors for successful professional careers.

Division of Instrumental Studies
The Division of Instrumental Studies is one of the largest and most comprehensive instrumental faculties in the world, with 40 full-time Artist/Teacher faculty as well 12 adjunct faculty drawn from professional Dallas-Ft. Worth ensembles.

Brass
The brass area at the University of North Texas provides private instruction for the complete spectrum of the brass area with specialists-teachers in all brass instruments (trumpet, baroque trumpet, horn, natural horn, trombone, bass trombone, euphonium and tuba). The College of Music at the University of North Texas is unique in that there are full time faculty in all of these instruments.

Percussion
The University of North Texas Percussion area is a diverse and innovative program that has set high standards in percussion education and performance for decades. In addition to outstanding classical percussion offerings, the program boasts one of the finest jazz drum set programs in the country.

Strings
The String Area of the College of Music is an integral part of one of the largest and most comprehensive music schools in the world.

Woodwinds
The UNT woodwind faculty consists of nationally and internationally recognized artists and teachers. BM, MM and DMA degrees are offered in flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, and in multiple woodwinds (those who perform on all of the woodwind instruments). 

Division of Jazz Studies
The University of North Texas opened the door for jazz studies at the college level in 1947 when it became first university in the nation to offer a degree program in jazz. Today, the North Texas jazz program, housed within the largest music school in the nation, retains its role as leader in jazz education. It has earned an international reputation for excellence in both the music education field and the professional jazz industry.

Instrumental Jazz Performance
Instrumental Jazz Performance majors experience a wide variety of applied lessons, ensembles and labs. Courses include Jazz Fundamentals, Jazz Keyboard Fundamentals, Intro to Jazz Recordings, Jazz Improvisation and History of Jazz.

Jazz Arranging
UNT offers multiple opportunities for the student writer. There are many outstanding ensembles that enable the writer to hear his or her work immediately and get frequent recordings for greater study. There is also ample opportunity to build a professional recording portfolio via CD recordings by the One O'Clock and Two O'Clock Lab Bands, The UNT Jazz Singers, and the eclectic small group known as Zebras. All courses in jazz arranging include study and creative writing for both large and small ensembles.

Vocal Jazz Performance
Vocal Jazz Performance students study and experience both the traditions and modern practices of vocal jazz performance (in both solo and ensemble settings), songwriting, vocal pedagogy, jazz aural and keyboard skills, jazz theory and arranging, as well as courses in jazz history. Sincers are involved in private applied lessons, small ensemble performing and recording experiences, recitals, vocal jazz forum and vocal jazz ensembles.

Division of Keyboard Studies
The Division of Keyboard Studies embraces four distinct areas: Piano, Organ, Harpsichord, and Collaborative Piano with specializations in either voice or instrumental collaboration. Performance Majors in this division are frequently active off campus in national and international competitions as well as in their pursuit of concert careers. Abundant opportunity for developing performance skills is provided by all faculty in the division.

Piano

COLLABORATIVE PIANO

Organ
The University of North Texas organ program is one of the largest university organ programs in the United States offering a rich diversity among our students, a collection of world-class concert organs and a broad array of repertory preferences. See what we have to offer by becoming familiar with our instruments and activities hosted by the organ department throughout the academic season.

Harpsichord

Division of Music History, Theory and Ethnomusicology
The Division of Music History, Theory, and Ethnomusicology is a vibrant contributor to the College of Music. It maintains a full range of academic programs from the bachelor's to the doctorate. In fact, the Ph.D. program, celebrating a half-century of activity, was the first in the university. Today more than 60 students are enrolled in its graduate programs. As a hub of academic activity, it fosters a wide range of activities.

Ethnomusicology
The ethnomusicology area is dedicated to the proposition that all music cultures are worthy of academic study and research, which includes active participation in music making. Students are exposed to different musical systems and how they function in their cultural setting.

Music History
The priorities of the musicology area reflect its place within a large, comprehensive school of music. Comprising six full-time and three part-time members, the music history faculty is actively engaged in musicological research notable for its breadth (both chronological and geographic) as well as its vitality and rigor. 

Music Theory
The graduate program in Music Theory at the University of North Texas provides advanced instruction in the diverse sub-disciplines of the profession and thus prepares students for a career as college or university theory professors. 

Division of Vocal Studies
The Division of Vocal Studies has 15 full-time faculty and eight graduate teaching fellows. There are over 75 students pursuing the Bachelor's, Master's and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in voice performance. The division also serves over 100 music majors with voice as their concentration who are pursuing degrees in Music Education, Jazz Studies, Composition, etc. Secondary lessons are available for music majors with other concentrations, as well as other majors across campus. Faculty of the Division of Vocal Studies teach courses in Opera, Vocal Pedagogy, Diction, Vocal Literature, Collaborative Piano, and Class Voice.

Opera
The opera program in the College of Music at the University of North Texas strives to offer intensive training and diverse performing opportunities to students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in an environment that is at once nurturing and challenging.