The University of Kentucky’s School of Music – internationally recognized for excellence in performance, music education, and research in music – has played an important part in the development of musical life in Kentucky and beyond since 1918.
The School of Music offers degree programs within five areas of study as well as Minors in Music Performance and Music Theory & History. Our performance areas are brass, keyboards, percussion, strings, voice, and winds; each boasting world-class faculty on a variety of instruments. Additionally, we have research programs for scholars and professional training for teachers.
Stanley Pelkey, Director
Lori Hetzel, Associate Director
The UK School of Music is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). Visit the NASM website for more information.
Explore Our Programs
BM
Admission to the Bachelor of Music program in music performance is granted only after the successful completion of an audition in the student’s performance area.
BA
The Bachelor of Arts in Music provides the flexibility multidisciplinary students need with a grounding in music theory, history and performance. Popular with students pursuing double majors, the BA in Music provides a liberal arts approach to the study of this fine arts discipline.
BMME
Music Education majors may choose between a vocal/elementary general music track or an instrumental (band/orchestra) track.
Minor
The Music Minor is an excellent option for students from any college to continue with playing an instrument or vocal performance without a major in the School of Music.
Minor
The Music Minor is an excellent option for students from any college to continue with playing an instrument or vocal performance without a major in the School of Music.
MM
The School of Music offers the Master of Music (M.M.) with specialty areas in performance including an MM in Sacred Music.
MA, PhD
The School of Music offers several graduate degree options in Musicology/Ethnomusicology: an M.A., a Ph.D., or a combined M.A./Ph.D.
MM
The University of Kentucky School of Music houses Kentucky’s first and only graduate program in music therapy.
MA, MM, DMA, PhD
The five full-time faculty members of UK theory & composition are engaged in active creation and research with distinction in popular music studies, pedagogy, Schenkerian studies, 19th-century music, and commissioned compositions.
MM, DMA
Students at the UK School of Music enjoy hundreds of opportunities each year to perform in solo recitals, chamber groups and our more than 30 diverse instrumental and vocal ensembles. Our ensembles have performed at prestigious venues including the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall and have enjoyed international tours to China, Italy, France, Spain and more.
MM, PhD
UK subscribes to the philosophy that training in music education should be as practical and hands-on as possible.
Graduate Certificate
Students will study anatomy and physiology of the singing voice, voice disorders, and more.
Graduate Certificate
The division offers extended training in theory pedagogy for DMA and other doctoral students students in performance, composition, and other areas of emphasis; preparing them for faculty appointments that include duties in teaching theory. The program involves individual mentoring with theory faculty in addition to coursework.
Graduate Certificate
Orff Schulwerk is “Music for Children”, a way to teach and learn music using poems, rhymes, games, songs, and dances as basic materials.
Graduate Certificate
Dalcroze Eurhythmics is an approach to music education created by Emile Jaques-Dalcroze. The Dalcroze Institute at the University of Kentucky emphasizes music-teaching strategies to develop imagination, coordination, and expression.
Undergraduate Certificate, Graduate Certificate
The School of Music Certificate in Baroque Trumpet develops performance and interpretation skills for the natural trumpet.
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