Prospective Students

Thank you for your interest in music at UW-River Falls! Please take some time to explore our website to learn more about our music program, including our renowned music faculty, outstanding music ensembles, and the social media sites associated with our music program. On this page, you'll find information about admissions, scholarship opportunities, and our new Music Major Entrance Expo (audition) procedures.

Music Major Entrance Expo (NEW)

At UW-River Falls, we recognize that the world is changing, including the interests, experiences, and needs of prospective music majors. As such, in addition to revising our music degrees, we are moving away with traditional auditions, which often exclude students whose musical experiences differ from standardized school music approaches. At UWRF, we are opening our doors to music students from all walks of life.

In place of traditional conservatory-style auditions, students who wish to major in music at UW-River Falls will be invited to participate in a Music Major Entrance Expo (see below for details). As part of this process, students will have the opportunity to showcase their musical strengths, interests and experiences, whether that be performing music (all music styles welcome), sharing compositions, showcasing leadership experiences, or otherwise. In addition, the Entrance Expo will include an opportunity for students and faculty to get to know one another, share information, and discuss how - together - we can help students fulfill their dreams for a rewarding career in music.

The world is changing - and so are we. We look forward to meeting you at your Music Major Entrance Expo and are excited to help you reach your dreams. Welcome home, future Falcons!

Admission Requirements

The information below pertains to prospective students who hope to major in music at UW-River Falls and would first enroll at UWRF during the 2021-2022 academic year. Prospective music majors must complete the following to qualify for acceptance into the Music Department at UW-River Falls:

Admission to UWRF: All prospective students must apply and be accepted into the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Please direct any questions regarding admission to the Admissions Office.
Music Major Entrance Expo: In addition, all prospective music majors must complete a Music Major Entrance Expo with the UWRF Music Department (see below).

Please note that students who plan to major in a degree path other than music do not need to complete a Music Major Entrance Meeting.

Entrance Expo - Requirements

All prospective music majors will have the opportunity to showcase their musical strengths and visit with Music Department faculty about their goals (and more) as part of their Music Major Entrance Expo, which will be held virtually (online). Entrance Expos will consist of three components, including: (a) Music Showcase, (b) Interview, and (c) Music Theory Placement. Each of these components is described below.

Music Showcase - All prospective music majors will be asked to share their musical talents with Music Department faculty as part of their Entrance Expo. Recognizing that prospective music majors have a wide variety of musical interests and experiences, students may showcase their talents in a variety of ways, including:

Performance - perform music (or submit YouTube video recordings of performances), including standard solo literature, etudes, show tunes, personal compositions, improvisation, etc
Leadership - share videos related to musical leadership experiences (e.g., conducting, coaching, teaching, etc)
Composition - share musical compositions and arrangements via audio recordings, playback on related software, musical scores, etc
Digital Media - share multimedia presentations, digital creations, etc
Other - other music-related options, as applicable

Interview - All prospective music majors will have the opportunity to visit with Music Department faculty about their career goals as part of their Entrance Expo. Please plan to share your hopes and dreams for your time at UWRF (and beyond), elaborate on your Music Showcase components (see above), and ask any questions that you have regarding UW-River Falls, the Music Department, or the degree path you hope to pursue (e.g., music education, music business, etc).

Music Skills Placement – All prospective music majors will be asked to complete the Music Skills Placement as part of their Entrance Expo, which will allow us to guide students into the appropriate Musicianship and Aural Skills classes during their first year of study. During this assessment, students will have an opportunity to tell us about their past music experiences and demonstrate their understanding of music fundamentals and aural skills.

References - As part of the Entrance Expo registration process, prospective students will be asked to supply names and contact information (email and phone) for two references who can speak on their behalf (e.g., band teacher, private lesson instructor, camp director, etc). Be sure to ask permission and obtain contact information (email & phone) before starting the registration process (see below).

Entrance Expo - Dates

Due to COVID-19, all Music Major Entrance Expos for the Music Department will be held online via Zoom, including each of the following dates:

Saturday, December 12, 2020
Saturday, January 16, 2021
Saturday, February 13, 2021
Saturday, March 13, 2021
Saturday, April 10, 2021 (entrance only - not for scholarship)

Entrance Expo - Registration (Sign-Up Form)

To schedule a Music Major Entrance Expo at UW-River Falls, please sign up via Google Forms - click HERE to get started.

Individual schedules and links (Zoom invitation, Music Theory Placement Exam, etc) will be emailed approximately one week prior to scheduled Entrance Expo dates. If you have not heard from us in accordance with the timeline indicated above, please contact us at music@uwrf.edu or 715-425-3183.

Music Major Scholarships - Incoming Students

All prospective music majors who successfully complete their Music Major Entrance Expo on or before March 15, 2021 will be considered for music scholarships; applicants who complete their Music Major Entrance Expo after March 15, 2021 will not be eligible for scholarship consideration.

Notifications - Entrance and Music Scholarships

Notifications regarding (a) Entrance into the Music Department and (b) scholarship awards will be communicated via email, using these approximate timelines:

Entrance to the Music Department: Letters of Entrance into the Music Department will be sent via email approximately two weeks after each Entrance Meeting date.
Music Scholarships: Notifications for music scholarships will be sent via email on approximately April 1, 2021.

If you have not heard from us in accordance with the timelines indicated above, please contact us at music@uwrf.edu or 715-425-3183.

Special Considerations - Performances

Performance Repertoire - Prospective music majors who choose to showcase performance as part of their Entrance Expo are encouraged to share two contrasting selections (e.g., various genres, styles, tempo markings, etc). Keep in mind that we welcome music performances from all traditions and genres. As you consider your options, please keep the following in mind:

Literature - Be sure to select music that will highlight your strengths as a musician.
Memorization - Memorization is not a requirement for auditions at UWRF; you are welcome to use music for all performance components of the audition process.
Piano Accompaniment - Although not required, vocalists are encouraged to perform with pre-recorded accompaniment (for health/safety reasons) when applicable - and all students are welcome to do so.

Instructions for Sharing a YouTube Video - Students who choose to create and share a YouTube video should follow the steps listed below:

Step 1 - Create your audition video and save to your computer
Step 2 - Sign in to YouTube at https://www.youtube.com
Step 3 - Select “Create a video and more” in the upper right corner (look for an icon of a video recorder), then click “Upload video.” Note: if you do not already have an account, you will be prompted to create one when you select “Upload video.” Follow the prompts, then proceed to the next steps below.
Step 4 - Click “Select file” and locate the file you’d like to upload OR drag the file into the popup window.
Step 5 - Follow the prompts and ensure your video is uploaded as “Unlisted.”
Step 6 - Once your video is uploaded, copy the URL (web address) - you’ll be asked to share the URL in the Google Form.

For Additional Information

We are proud of what we have to offer at UWRF, but this is only the start. The future is bright, filled with inspired teaching, exceptional music making, personal development, and opportunities to make dreams come true. We look forward to welcoming you into our music family at UWRF!

For additional information about the Music Department at UW-River Falls, contact us at music@uwrf.edu or 715-425-3183. Please also consider a campus visit, whether face-to-face or online. We look forward to visiting with you soon!

Altendorfer Award 2020
Being a student in the Music Department at UWRF has shown me that there are professors that truly care about me, my education, and my future. Every time I have a lesson or a class, I feel welcomed and valued by each professor and that’s extremely important to me. I’m so glad I chose UW-River Falls!

Marissa Altenforfer (recepient of national and state awards for excellence in Music Education)