Student Information
Advising
It is important to see your advisor on a regular basis during the course of a degree program. If you are not sure who your advisor is, ask your applied music teacher or the supervisor of your area.
Applied Music
Students who intend to register for Applied Music Instruction (private lessons) must have instructor and Area Coordinator approval. You must get you CRN from the area coordinator. CRN's will be available at Fall and Winter juries. Each lesson lasts for a period of 10 weeks (or 10 private lessons).
Declaring Your Music Major
To declare or change your music major(s), you should refer to the list of music codes available in the Music Office to declare your music degree(s) with the PSU Admissions, Registrations, & Records Office. If you are a new or transferring student, you are required to apply for and pass the School Entrance Audition to be considered a music major and/or minor. An audition is also required whenever changing degrees within the School of Music. Please consult with your Area Coordinator.
Foreign Language Requirement
For students seeking a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree, the Department of World Languages and Literatures is your go-to place for learning how to satisfy PSU’s foreign language requirement. Please review the information here then select your language. The system will guide you through your options. The Department of World Languages and Literatures is located in 491 Neuberger Hall and is open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Jury Forms
- Brass Jury Form
- Drum Set Jury Form
- Guitar Jury Form
- Percussion Jury Form
- Piano Jury Form
- String Jury Form
- Vocal Jury Form
- Woodwind Jury Form
Music Education
After students have earned an undergraduate degree (BS, BA or BM), they must complete the Graduate Teacher Education Program to become certified to teach in the public schools of Oregon. It is a 4-term program that begins either in the current summer or the following spring. You must apply and be accepted. Currently 100% of graduates find jobs. Click HERE for more information.
Music Library Resources
Looking for research resources for music? Check the Library Music Research Guide and the Naxos Music Library.
Performance Attendance
All undergraduate music majors/minors must register for Performance Attendance (MUS 188) and attend eight Noon Concerts each term. Each music major student must complete nine (9) terms of MUS 188; each music minor student must complete six (6) terms of MUS 188. The course is not offered during the summer term.
Piano Accompanists
Piano Proficiency
All Music Majors, including piano majors and transfer students, must pass the piano proficiency exam.
Practice Rooms and Lockers for Music Major/Minor
- Practice Room Rental Fee: $30 per term.
Music majors/Minors: Practice room rental fee is mandatory and will be automatically charged to the student's account when they enroll in classes each term. Music majors/minors do not need to sign up for MUS 01 Practice Room Fee. Practice room access codes for music majors can be renewed at the end of the term and will stay active until June 15th as long as the student is still enrolled each term as a music major or minor.
Non-music majors: non-music major students may rent music practice rooms. Students must be enrolled in at least one music course or Applied Music (MUP). Practice Room Access codes expire at the end of each term.
Practice rooms are limited and therefore only available to PSU students currently enrolled in music courses. The Music School Staff will verify enrollment and major/minor status.
- Locker Rental Fee: $75 per academic year (Fall/Winter/Spring) plus $50 refundable deposit.
Music Majors/Minors: To check out a locker, students must sign up for MUS 02 Locker Fee. To check out a large instrumental locker, you must show your instrument to the music staff. Only music majors and minors can rent lockers.
- Key Deposit: $50
Students who are approved to check out key(s) must make a $50 key deposit to the School of Music office. Key deposits are refunded if all keys are returned by the posted deadline. All keys are issued through PSU Facilities Office and it may take up to one week for the key to be available for pick up.
LOST KEYS: If you lose your key(s), you lose your $50 deposit. To get a replacement key at Facility Office, 1) you will be required to make an additional $50 key deposit to the School of Music; 2) Facility Office will also bill your student account for an additional amount of $50. If you lose your keys twice, you are no longer authorized to have any keys.
Recital Program
Upper Division Examination/Level Change
Students who have completed two years of undergraduate study at PSU School of Music and/or wish to change their MUP level are required to complete the Upper Division Examination.
Wellness
The School of Music at Portland State University is committed to providing information regarding hearing, vocal and musculoskeletal health and injury prevention.
The Coordinate Movement Program, established in 2001, offers wellness classes, private lessons and community referrals for all musicians.
If you are currently seeking a Portland-area medical professional who can assist with a music related concern, check our Wellness Referrals.
Student Ensembles
No other institution in the state offers so many performing opportunities to young musicians.
With the Portland Center for the Performing Arts (PCPA) and other performance venues nearby, students enjoy many opportunities to hear the finest musicians in the world. Students gain practical performance experience by participating with many professional and pre-professional groups including Portland Opera, Portland Symphonic Choir, Oregon Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Musical Theater Company, and the Portland Youth Philharmonic.
PSU Guitar Ensemble
The PSU Guitar Orchestra studies and performs classical repertoire carefully selected and created for a large, multiple-guitar orchestra. The group is primarily for classical guitar majors at PSU and is by audition only. For further information about the group or audition requirements please contact the director, Professor Bryan Johanson.
Jazz Lab Band
This ensemble performs Jazz literature in a big band setting. The ensemble is under the direction of Professor Charles Gray. An audition may be required. The band rehearses three hours per week.
PSU New Music Ensemble
The PSU New Music Ensemble, conducted by Ken Selden, performs music of the past 25 years by major contemporary composers from all over the world. The Ensemble also hosts an annual Composition Competition. Audition is required. For more information, please email kselden@pdx.edu.
PSU Symphony Orchestra
The PSU Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ken Selden, performs a broad range of symphonic repertoire. Under his direction, the PSU Symphony has received three awards in Adventurous Programming from ASCAP and the League of American Orchestras. Recent guest artists with the orchestra include Manuel Barrueco, Matt Haimovitz, Anna Polonsky, Awadagin Pratt and Orli Shaham, as well as PSU faculty members Hamilton Cheifetz, Carol Sindell and Richard Zeller. The PSU Symphony also performs annually with the PSU Opera Theatre and The Portland Ballet. The orchestra is open to music majors and non-majors by audition. For more information please go to http://psusymphony.wordpress.com or email kselden@pdx.edu.
PSU Chamber Choir
The nationally and internationally acclaimed PSU Chamber Choir is the premier choral ensemble at Portland State University. Comprised of 32 talented singers, the Chamber Choir performs music at the highest level of choral artistry, with a focus on music composed in the 20th and 21st Centuries. Participation in the Chamber Choir is open to all PSU students, regardless of major, but requires a considerable amount of skill and previous choral experience, as well as a commitment to hard work and musical excellence. An audition is required.
PSU University Choir
The University Choir is a select group of 50-60 singers, and is open to PSU students of all majors. With its focus on education, the University Choir performs a wide range of choral music from all style periods. The University Choir is the ideal place for voice and music education majors beginning university-level study, music majors who are new to singing, or non-music majors with choral experience. An audition is required.
Portland State University Wind Symphony Band
The Portland State University Wind Symphony enjoys a reputation of excellence. By audition, the Wind Symphony has made recent regional appearances at the College Band Director's Association Conference and the Oregon Music Educator's Conference. The ensemble is comprised of music majors, non-majors and includes select graduate students. Membership is selected by audition. Under the direction of Dr. Edward Higgins, the ensemble emphasizes musical performances that perpetuate the finest wind literature.
Portland State University Concert Band
The Portland State University Concert Band is open to any PSU student interested in refining their music skills inside the Symphonic Band setting. The ensemble is a non-auditioned ensemble made up of both music majors and non-music majors.
Opera Workshop
Students may audition for opera workshop to study the skills of the singing actor, stagecraft, and prepare opera scenes that are presented at the end of each term on and off campus.
Opera Production
Portland State has a 30 year tradition of opera productions. It is the only university in the state that produces a full opera with orchestra each year. Recent productions of Così fan tutte (2007), Don Giovanni (2002) and Le Nozze di Figaro (1999) received first and second place awards in the National Opera Association Production Competition. Internationally recognized artists such as Marilyn Horne, Sherrill Milnes, Martina Arroyo and stage director Tito Capobianco come to Portland State University each year through the Jeanine B. Cowles Distinguished Professorship to share their expert knowledge and understanding with the students as they prepare the opera. Each year an opera is chosen that best represent the talents and skills of Portland State University students. The operas are double cast whenever possible to provide more students with an opera performance experience.
