Areas of Study

The programs of study for brass majors are designed to develop skilled performers who are familiar with the standard solo, ensemble and orchestral literature for their instruments. 

The chamber music faculty are committed to the philosophy that small group collaborations, from duo sonatas to larger, un-conducted chamber groups, establish an essential foundation in musical communication and listening skills while providing rewarding music-making opportunities.

Part of the Chamber and Collaborative Music Division, the collaborative piano area was inaugurated in the fall of 2008 and is now under the leadership of Dr. Colette Valentine.

Composition offers Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. The curricula of these degree programs offer students maximum flexibility in pursuit of their musical interests and career goals.

The graduate programs in conducting are designed to be small and highly selective. The objective of the master's and doctoral programs in conducting is to prepare highly competent conductors who will be prepared to function effectively in professional and academic settings. The music faculty of The University of Texas at Austin considers study in music history, theory and related fields essential components of a conductor's preparation.

The Guitar Studio at The University of Texas at Austin enjoys being one of the most competitive and strongest guitar studios in the world. Founded by Professor Adam Holzman, the Guitar Studio's students have won an array of international prizes.

The jazz studies program offers a unique and comprehensive curriculum for the serious jazz musician. A distinguished faculty works closely with students to create a learning environment which is both productive and inspiring, recognizing that the most valuable asset of a successful jazz program is its quality of experience, not merely its size.

The program in music and human learning is one of the most comprehensive and highly regarded in the country. 

The musicology and ethnomusicology area is unusual in American academia for its integration of musicology and ethnomusicology, history and ethnography. Students are encouraged to challenge the shifting boundaries between Western "art" repertories, non-Western traditions and popular music.

The Organ Studio offers studies in the technique and art of organ playing, from beginning through advanced levels, with special emphasis on literature appropriate to the individual student, whether it be at the undergraduate, masters or the doctoral level of the performance program.

The percussion studies program at the Butler School of Music is committed to developing superb musicianship through performance and a deep, fundamental understanding of music and human learning.

The Keyboard Department is renowned both for the comprehensiveness of its degree programs and their excellence. For a half century, it has attracted a distinguished faculty who have taken pride in training generations of some of the most highly regarded musicians and teachers. A low faculty-to-student ratio guarantees a high degree of personal and professional interaction.

String majors are provided with a wide array of performance opportunities and courses taught by a faculty of dedicated teachers and performers. The Butler School of Music is one of the highest-ranked comprehensive music schools in the country. Our outstanding array of degree programs, low student-faculty ratios, outstanding professional guest artists, abundant performance opportunities and excellent facilities offer students an ideal environment to become skilled professionals.

The Butler School of Music features a faculty of dynamic and innovative music theorists who are developing theories of musical meaning and interpretation (cognitive, gestural, semiotic, hermeneutic, narrative, psychodynamic and sociological) across a wide range of repertoires, from the Renaissance to the 21stcentury, including film music and popular music. The department has one of the strongest placement records in the country, with nearly all recent graduates securing teaching positions in colleges and universities throughout North America.

The voice and opera program provides the vocal training and background necessary to move into professional and educational settings. The diverse faculty brings to the Butler School of Music the highest level of professionalism and performing experience. Our graduates are well prepared for professional careers in opera, higher education and public school teaching.

The faculty of the Woodwinds Department have earned international recognition as both performers and pedagogues.