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Our department is the musical core of UW-La Crosse. We provide diverse musical experiences for our students and the community.

Fall 2024 Students: Please scroll down for participating ensemble information and Screaming Eagles Marching Band (SEMB).

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Interested in one of our majors, minors or certificates? Fill out the declaration form to declare a major or minor.

Undergraduate programs

Music

Undergrad major Undergrad minor Teacher license

Studying music includes both artistic and academic experiences. Student musicians work on their artistry in departmental recitals, master classes and participating in ensembles. Academic experiences enhance the artistry through private lessons, music theory, ear training, sight-reading and music history. All majors and minors include several semesters of lessons on one voice or instrument. Music education courses provide opportunities to gain skills in teaching expertise as well.

Areas of study

Education: Choral & General Music Education Emphasis

Completion of the music education: choral and general music emphasis program and associated benchmark assessments will lead to endorsement for a Wisconsin teaching license in music for grades K-12 (2500). Students in all teacher education programs must satisfy the School of Education (SOE) core requirements.

Undergrad major Teacher license View a sample plan for Education: Choral & General Music Education Catalogfor Education: Choral & General Music Education

Education: Instrumental & General Music Education Emphasis

Completion of the music education: instrumental and general music emphasis program and associated benchmark assessments will lead to endorsement for a Wisconsin teaching license in music for grades K-12 (2500). Students in all teacher education programs must satisfy the School of Education (SOE) core requirements.

Undergrad major Teacher license View a sample plan for Education: Instrumental & General Music Education Catalogfor Education: Instrumental & General Music Education

Jazz Performance Emphasis

UW-La Crosse has an outstanding jazz program with performance opportunities for all in large and small ensembles. While the music major core includes lessons, music theory and music history, the jazz performance emphasis offers coursework in jazz improvisation, jazz combos, advanced jazz orchestra (big band) and the jazz performance recital, which includes you creating your own arrangements for your combo.

Undergrad major View a sample plan for Jazz Performance Catalogfor Jazz Performance

Performance Emphasis

Students select this emphasis when they wish to excel in a single area of performance, such as violin, piano or trumpet. Core studies include music theory and music history, along with refining their solo performance musicianship in lessons for at least six semesters, culminating in a performance recital completed as a capstone project near the end of their studies. This emphasis has six elective credits that also allow a student to pursue opportunities to dive deeper into theory, accompanying, chamber music, additional lessons and advanced ensemble participation.

Undergrad major View a sample plan for Performance Catalogfor Performance

Piano Pedagogy

Piano students who desire to teach will focus on developing their own musical expression in advanced lessons, as well as studying effective ways of teaching and reviewing business models for the independent studio through the pedagogy courses. Students will have the opportunity to teach during this emphasis.

Undergrad major View a sample plan for Piano Pedagogy Catalogfor Piano Pedagogy

Theory Emphasis

The music theory emphasis allows the music major to extend their application of knowledge gained from the core courses in music theory and music history. Students will have the opportunities to explore these applications through courses such as Composition lessons, Orchestration and Arranging and Advanced Music Theory.

Undergrad major View a sample plan for Theory Catalogfor Theory
Catalogfor Music
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Music Performance

Undergrad minor

UWL offers both a music minor and a music performance minor. While the music minor includes more academic requirements, the music performance minor is more flexible, allowing for additional credits in both lessons and ensembles. 

Catalogfor Music Performance
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Featured courses

  • Jazz Orchestra I
    MUS 130 | 1 credit
    Small ensemble open to students in all schools and colleges with consent of instructor. Requires concurrent enrollment in a large ensemble for music education majors: MUS 106/206/306/406 (Concert Choir), MUS 123/223/323/423 (Treble Chorus), MUS 158/258/358/458 (Choral Union), if choral and general music education major. MUS 100/200/300/400 (Marching Band), MUS 144/244/344/444 (Symphonic Band), MUS 156/256/356/456 (Orchestra), MUS 140/240/340/440 (Wind Symphony), if instrumental and general music education major. A maximum of two credits in all small ensembles may be applied to the music major. Repeatable for credit - maximum two. Offered Fall, Spring.
  • Global Cultures in Music
    MUS 205 | 3 credits
    This course surveys the selected musical traditions of the world. By looking at selected communities in detail, students will better understand that music is, in most cases, connected to culture and cannot be understood without an awareness of cultural contexts. Students will also develop a musical vocabulary and listening skills through exposure to recordings, lectures and assignments about stylistic elements, and analysis. The ability to read music is not required for the course, but it is helpful. The lectures will be supplemented with sound recordings, and will include in-class demonstrations when possible. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.
  • History of Western Music I
    MUS 264 | 3 credits
    A chronological study of music in Western civilization with emphasis on periods and styles from early times to the death of Bach. Outside listening required. Prerequisite: MUS 115 or minimum score of 3 on AP music exam or Music Department Theory assessment milestone. Offered Annually.
  • Theory of Music I
    MUS 266 | 3 credits
    This course is an introduction to core music theory concepts. Students review essential concepts by studying them within musical contexts (melody, harmony, counterpoint, etc.). Topics include meter and rhythm, the management of dissonance, the structure of keys, the harmonic function of triads and seventh chords, and basic formal units (phrase, period, cadence, etc.). The course introduces students to applied chords. The students explore these concepts through composition and analysis, using models from the common practice period and some popular 20th-century styles. Prerequisite: MUS 115 or minimum score of 3 on AP music exam or Music Department Theory assessment milestone; concurrent enrollment in MUS 268. Offered Spring.
  • Aural Skills I
    MUS 268 | 1 credit
    In this course students develop aural skills to build their musical literacy by seeing, listening, and transcribing notation. Students complete specialized exercises that develop their hearing skills through the practice of singing using syllables and transcribing what is heard. Exercises include singing and notating increasingly challenging melodies, rhythmic exercises, and identifying harmonies and simple harmonic progressions. Prerequisite: MUS 115 or minimum score of 3 on AP music exam or Music Department Theory assessment milestone; concurrent enrollment in MUS 266. Offered Spring.
  • Global Cultures in Music
    MUS 205 | 3 credits
    This course surveys the selected musical traditions of the world. By looking at selected communities in detail, students will better understand that music is, in most cases, connected to culture and cannot be understood without an awareness of cultural contexts. Students will also develop a musical vocabulary and listening skills through exposure to recordings, lectures and assignments about stylistic elements, and analysis. The ability to read music is not required for the course, but it is helpful. The lectures will be supplemented with sound recordings, and will include in-class demonstrations when possible. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.
  • Theory of Music I
    MUS 266 | 3 credits
    This course is an introduction to core music theory concepts. Students review essential concepts by studying them within musical contexts (melody, harmony, counterpoint, etc.). Topics include meter and rhythm, the management of dissonance, the structure of keys, the harmonic function of triads and seventh chords, and basic formal units (phrase, period, cadence, etc.). The course introduces students to applied chords. The students explore these concepts through composition and analysis, using models from the common practice period and some popular 20th-century styles. Prerequisite: MUS 115 or minimum score of 3 on AP music exam or Music Department Theory assessment milestone; concurrent enrollment in MUS 268. Offered Spring.
  • Aural Skills I
    MUS 268 | 1 credit
    In this course students develop aural skills to build their musical literacy by seeing, listening, and transcribing notation. Students complete specialized exercises that develop their hearing skills through the practice of singing using syllables and transcribing what is heard. Exercises include singing and notating increasingly challenging melodies, rhythmic exercises, and identifying harmonies and simple harmonic progressions. Prerequisite: MUS 115 or minimum score of 3 on AP music exam or Music Department Theory assessment milestone; concurrent enrollment in MUS 266. Offered Spring.
View all courses
Portrait of Caitlin Krueger

Hear from an alum

Caitlin Krueger

The Music Department at UWL is great because its size allows for close interaction between professors and students. The professors care about not only our musical success, but success in all aspects of our lives.

Portrait of John Paul Peckham

Hear from an alum

John Paul Peckham

I chose to study piano performance at UWL because of the great professors I met at my audition. The individual attention I’ve received is beyond what I thought possible! There are so many ensembles to join, and the best part has been meeting great musicians that I now call friends.

Portrait of Amber Englebert

Hear from an alum

Amber Englebert

UWL ensembles are small enough that you really get to know your fellow members. I can honestly say that whether or not the students are music majors, they all have a passion for making great music. Plus, they’re really fun to be around!

Portrait of Anton Lenertz

Hear from an alum

Anton Lenertz

Being a part of the Music Department at UWL was amazing. All the ensembles encourage students to get involved and enrolled, even non-music majors. Part of the reason why I love it so much is because we get a great variety of students from multiple departments across campus.

Portrait of Caitlin Krueger

Hear from an alum

Caitlin Krueger

The Music Department at UWL is great because its size allows for close interaction between professors and students. The professors care about not only our musical success, but success in all aspects of our lives.