Registration FAQ
All Students
Major Studio
You are required to register for major studio every semester.
If you are an undergraduate student, please register for 57-5xx (Major Studio). Co-requisite course: 57-417 (Major Vocal Performance Ensemble) or 57-418 (Major Instrumental Ensemble) or 57-419 (Chorus).
If you are a graduate student, please register for 57-7xx (Major Studio). Co-requisite course for graduate orchestral instrument majors: 57-818 (Major Instrumental Ensemble).
Major Ensemble
If applicable, you are required to register for a major ensemble every semester. Co-requisite course: 57-5xx or 57-7xx (Major Studio)
If you are an undergraduate voice major, you will register for 57-417, Major Vocal Performance Ensemble section A (for juniors and seniors) or section B (for freshmen and sophomores).
If you are an undergraduate instrumental major, you will register for 57-418, Major Instrumental Ensemble, section A.
If you are an undergraduate bagpipe, guitar, composition or piano major, you will register for either 57-419 section A or 57-418 section A.
If you are a graduate orchestral instrument major, you will register for 57-818, Major Instrumental Ensemble section A.
Chamber Music
If you need to complete the Chamber Music requirement, and you wish to request a coach for a partially formed or complete group, please submit a group or string quartet Chamber Music Request Form. If you need to complete the Chamber Music requirement, and you are not part of a group, a chamber music coordinator will place you in a group.
If you are not required to take Chamber Music, you may choose to request Chamber Music for elective credit. Supplemental information regarding Chamber Music registration will be emailed.
In any case, please initially register for the applicable course number and section. See below. All course numbers are the same for undergraduate and graduate students.
Brass Chamber Music | 57-670 Z |
String Quartet Chamber Music | 57-671 Z |
Woodwind/Mixed Chamber Music | 57-672 Z |
The School of Music will add the final course number and section to your schedule. Chamber Music may be arranged only with a coach who is approved by the School of Music.
The Chamber Music deadline applies: You may not register for Chamber Music after the announced deadline without special permission.
Independent Study
Please complete and submit an Independent Study Request Form. The School of Music will add the course to your schedule. An Independent Study may be arranged only with a full-time faculty member.
The add deadline applies: You may not register for Independent Study after the 10th day of the semester without special permission.
Music Support Courses
Music Support courses can only be academic courses inside of the School of Music (Graduate only: must be 57-7xx, 57-8xx, 57-9xx). A performance course may not be taken as a music support course.
HINT: Look at the Music Support Courses List and the Music Support Courses Descriptions under Registration on the Current Students webpage.
Elective Courses
Elective courses can be any courses inside or outside of the School of Music (Graduate only: must be xx-7xx, xx-8xx, xx-9xx).
HINT: Look at the University Schedule of Classes.
Collaborative Piano (Piano Majors Only)
Undergraduate and graduate piano students: please complete and submit a Collaborative Piano Request Form. The School of Music will add the course to your schedule.
Graduate piano students only: you must fulfill this requirement by submitting a request form for Collaborative Piano or Chamber Music.
The add deadline applies: You may not register for Collaborative Piano after the 10th day of the semester without special permission.
Keyboard Studies (Non-Piano Majors Only)
Graduate Composition Majors Only: You must fulfill this requirement by registering yourself for a space in Keyboard Studies (57-791 for 6 units), if you will be in your first semester of the class, or for Keyboard Studies (57-792 for 6 units), if you will be in your second semester of the class. (See Kate Ganczarz for more information.)
Undergraduate Non-Piano Majors Only: If you are registered for 57-191 for the fall semester, register for 57-192 for the spring semester. If you are registered for 57-193 for the fall semester, register for 57-194 for the spring semester.
Production (Voice Majors Only)
If you are a junior or a senior, and you have been cast in a production, please register for 57-471 section A in the fall semester (for the production in the fall), or 57-473 section A2 in the fall semester and 57-473 section A3 in the spring semester (for the production in January), or 57-472 section A in the spring semester (for the production in the spring).
If you are a graduate student, and you have been cast in a production, please register for 57-771 section A in the fall semester (for the production in the fall), or 57-773 section A2 in the fall semester and 57-773 section A3 in the spring semester (for the production in January), or 57-772 section A in the spring semester (for the production in the spring).
Vocal Coaching (Voice Majors Only)
Undergraduate Only
Project/Recital
Undergraduate Only: If you are planning to complete your senior composition project or junior or senior recital requirement, please register for the indicated course number.
Senior Project | 57-597 A2 or A4 |
Sophomore Recital | 57-596 A2 or A4 |
Junior Recital | 57-598 A2 or A4 |
Junior Recital Voice | 57-588 A2 or A4 |
Senior Recital | 57-599 A2 or A4 |
Senior Recital Voice | 57-589 A2 or A4 |
Please note the procedures and the deadlines.
Repertoire and Listening for Musicians
Global/Cultural/Diverse Perspectives Course
· Any English course 76-200 or higher (Highly recommended: 76-207, 76-278, and 76-327)
· Any History course 79-100 or higher
· Any Modern Languages course 82-100 or higher (Highly recommended: 82-283)
Cognition, Choice, and Behavior Course (Music and Technology Majors Only)
Designated Computer Courses
You must fulfill this requirement by passing Introduction to Music Technology (57-101, a music mini-course, or 57-171, a self- paced music mini-course), and Computing @ Carnegie Mellon (99-101, a university mini-course).
HINT: A mini-course is indicated by the section letter. A1 is 1st-half fall, A2 is 2nd-half fall, A3 is 1st-half spring, and A4 is 2nd-half spring.
HINT: If you’re wondering whether to take 57-101 or 57-171, please read the following information.
The expectations are identical between the two classes. The difference is that 57-101 has three times the class time to cover the same material as 57-171. The pace of 57-171 is fast; there is just enough time to cover the minimum requirements for the assignments. The pace of 57-101 is slower; there is more time to cover an additional side lesson or two, and usually time for open lab and questions.
The recommendation is to not take 57-171 unless you fit certain criteria: you have previous experience with some of the software involved; you generally are very strong with computer technology, pick up skills quickly AND have some musical training; you cannot take the course during the other section times. If you're unsure, register for 57-101.
HINT: If Computing @ Carnegie Mellon is offered only during the first half of the semester, you have two options: 1) schedule it during the first half of the semester and Introduction to Music Technology during the second half of the semester (possibly at the same time), or 2) schedule it and Introduction to Music Technology during the first half of the semester. You would be done with both classes by the middle of the semester.
First-Year Writing Course
All undergraduate students at Carnegie Mellon University must fulfill this requirement by completing one of two pathways in their first year:
- Pathway 1 requires two half-semester mini courses from the following three options: 76-106 Writing About Literature, Art, and Culture; 76-107 Writing About Data; and/or 76-108 Writing About Public Problems.
- Pathway 2 requires a single, full-semester course, typically 76-101 Interpretation and Argument.
More information on these pathways, planned course offerings, and course descriptions can be found on the Department of English website here.
General Studies Courses
Performance for Composers (Composition Majors Only)
Please complete and submit a Performance for Composers Request Form. The School of Music will add the course to your schedule. Performance for Composers may be arranged only with a full-time composition faculty member.
The add deadline applies: You may not register for Performance for Composers after the 10th day of the semester without special permission.
Performance Elective Courses (Piano Majors Only)
Performance elective courses can be Chamber Music, Collaborative Piano, Jazz Piano, or Performance Ensembles.
HINT: Find a Performance Elective course on the Music Course Schedule
Can undergraduate students take graduate courses?
Graduate Only
Project/Recital
Graduate Only: If you are planning to complete one or more of the following requirements, please register for the indicated course number.
Graduate Composition Project | 57-796 A2 or A4 |
Graduate Recital (first year, for piano and strings) | 57-798 A2 or A4 |
Graduate Recital (second year, for all except voice) | 57-898 A2 or A4 |
Graduate Recital (second year, for voice) | 57-897 A2 or A4 |
Advanced Music Studies Recital | 57-990 A2 or A4 |
Artist Diploma Recital (first year, fall or spring) | 57-991 A2 or 57-992 A4 |
Artist Diploma Recital (second year, fall or spring) | 57-993 A2 or 57-994 A4 |
Outreach Performance | 57-790 A2 or A4 |
Comprehensive (Analysis) conducting/performance majors | 57-793 A2 or A4 |
Comprehensive (Notes) conducting/performance majors | 57-794 A2 or A4 |
Comprehensive (Analysis Paper) composition majors | 57-795 A2 or A4 |
Comprehensive (Music Ed) music education majors | 57-800 A2 or A4 |
Please note the procedures and the deadlines.
Community Engagement/Comprehensives
For the Community Engagement Performance and the Comprehensives, see the information available in
the Graduate Student Handbook (download).
Please note the procedures and the deadlines.
Can graduate students take undergraduate courses?
Registration Protocols and Codes
Where can I see the university or school class schedules?
How can I see my class schedule?
See your personal class schedule on SIO.
Returning students and new graduate students: You may add and drop classes yourself.
New undergraduate students: You may not change your schedule yourself until regstration for your second semester.
What is a mini?
A mini is a class that meets for only half of the semester.
If there is a 1 [1st half fall], 2 [2nd half fall], 3 [1st half spring], or 4 [2nd half spring] after the section letter, the class is a mini.
I can't find a course I need.
I can't register / I can't register for a course I need.
You may not be able to register for one of two reasons:
1. The School of Music put you on registration hold. (See Kate Ganczarz if you have a question.)
2. Enrollment Services coded you as ineligible to enroll or put you on registration hold. (See The Hub if you have a question.)
You may not be able to register for a class you need for one of seven reasons:
1. Your home department or class level may be coded incorrectly. (Check SIO to confirm your department and class status. See Kate Ganczarz if you discover a discrepancy.)
2. You may be attempting to register for a class which is coded as having a prerequisite that you either haven't fulfilled or have fulfilled in a nonstandard manner; or which is coded as being for a different class level than yours; or which is coded as requiring special permission from the instructor. (See Kate Ganczarz for assistance.)
3. You may be attempting to register for a class that requires a request form (Chamber Music, Collaborative Piano, Independent Study, Keyboard Studies (Studio), or Performance for Composers).
4. You may be an undergraduate student inadvertently attempting to register for a class by using the graduate course number, or a graduate student inadvertently attempting to register for a class by using the undergraduate course number. This results in your being placed on a wait list. (Check the course number.)
5. You may be attempting to register for a class for which you have insufficient free units. If you anticipate registering for an overload class schedule, over 60 units for undergraduate students or over 48 units for graduate students, please complete and submit a registration worksheet to Kate Ganczarz, if you’re an undergraduate student or a graduate student, BEFORE you register.
6. You may be attempting to register for a class that partially or completely overlaps with the scheduled time for a class for which you’re already registered. You will need to either drop the first class, or see Kate Ganczarz for information about how to negotiate the class time conflict.
7. You may be attempting to register for a class that is coded in error. (See Kate Ganczarz for assistance.)
I've been waitlisted. What should I do?
What you should do now or later depends on the reason:
1. The wait list is real: There are no more seats in the class. (You'll have to wait for a space to open.)
2. The wait list is semi-real: for example, for multiple-section classes like eurhythmics, solfege, and theory. The capacity for each of these classes is set low to allow for more flexibility is managing the balance of the number of students in each section. In most cases, you'll get in the section for which you're wait listed; in some cases, you'll be asked to register for a different section. (You'll have to wait for a space to open.)
3. The wait list isn't real: for example, for studio. Either the capacity is set too low, or you're an undergraduate student who inadvertently attempted to register using a graduate course number, or vice versa. (See Kate Ganczarz if you have a question.)
These reasons can also apply to wait lists for classes in other departments. (Contact that department for assistance.)