Carnegie Mellon University

School of Music

Where artistry and innovation share center stage

Music Minors

The School of Music offers several Music Minor options for students who have a strong interest in music studies. Prospective students who plan to minor in music do not need to submit an application to the School of Music as part of the admission process.  After a student has arrived on campus as a first year student, they can apply for a music minor using the application below.

Non-music majors interested in a music minor, please direct questions  to Katherine Heston, Associate Director of Music Admission and Student Services, at kshields@andrew.cmu.edu 

Music majors
who would like to add a music minor to their current music studies should contact Sharon Johnston, Director of Student Services at slj@andrew.cmu.edu 

More information about minors offered in the College of Fine Arts can be found here.

Minors for Music Majors

Collaborative Piano Minor
for piano majors only

This sequence is for candidates who are piano majors and would like to develop collaborative piano skills.

Admission Requirements
The student must apply to enter the program in the office of the Director of Student Services (HOA 141).

Required Courses - 36 Units

Course Number Course Name                                                        Number of Units
57-381 Collaborative Piano I 6
57-382 Collaborative Piano II 6
57-383 Collaborative Piano III 6
57-384 Collaborative Piano IV 6
57-385 Collaborative Piano V 6
57-386 Collaborative Piano VI 6

Electives (choose from the followingn courses) - 18 units

Course Number Course Name                                            Number of Units
57-220 English Diction 3
57-221 Italian Diction 3
57-222 French Diction 3
57-223 German Diction 3
57-332 Introduction to Conducing 6
57-336 Instrumental/Choral Conducting 6
57-412 Opera Since Wagner 9
57-431 Italian Literature and Repertoire 3
57-432 French Literature and Repertoire 3
57-433 Musical Theatre Literature and Repertoire 3
57-434 Musical Theatre Literature and Repertoire 3
57-435 German Literature and Repertoire 3
57-436 English/Contemporary Literature and Repertoire 3
57-459 Score Reading/Keyboard Harmony 6
57-607 Vocal Methods 3

Minimum units required: 54

Download .pdf of requirements

Conducting Minor
for music majors only

This sequence is for music majors who are interested in developing their conducting skills and who have leadership and organizational aptitude.

Admission Requirements

1. The student must apply to enter the program in the office of the Director of Student Services (HOA 141) and have an interview with a member of the conducting faculty.

2. A 3.0 cumulative overall QPA and good academic standing are required for acceptance into the minor in conducting. Note that only a limited number of students can be accepted into the program.

3. In addition to the prerequisite courses listed below, the student must display superior solfege skills, by completing Advanced Solfege I and II with “A” or “B” grades or by demonstrating the equivalent level of skills.

4. Introduction to Conducting and Instrumental/Choral Conducting must be completed during the sophomore year with “A” grades before the student can register for the advanced conducting courses.

5. Conducting Practicum must be taken during the same semester as Independent Study in Conducting.

6. A 3.0 cumulative overall QPA is required for graduation with the minor in conducting.

Prerequisite Courses - 30 units

Course Number Course Name                                                                 Number of Units
57-152 Harmony I 9
57-153 Harmony II 9
57-161 Eurhythmics I 3
57-162 Eurhythmics II 3
57-189 Introduction to Repertoire and Listening for Musicians 3
57-191 Keyboard Studies 3
Required Courses - 45 units
Course Number Course Name                                                                 Number of Units
57-332 Introduction to Conducting 6
57-336 Instrumental/Choral Conducting 6
57-408 Form and Analysis 6
57-257 Orchestration I 6
57-271 Orchestration II 6
57-459 Score Reading/Keyboard Harmony 6
57-364 Conducting Practicum 3
57-618 Independent Study in Conducting 6
Elective Courses (choose from the following courses)
Course Number Course Name                                                                 Number of Units
57-220 English Diction 3
57-221 Italian Diction 3
57-222 French Diction 3
57-223 German Diction 3
57-258 20th - 21st Century Techniques 6
57-337 Sound Recording 6
57-338 Sound Editing and Mastering 6
57-360 Brass Methods 3
57-361 Percussion Methods 3
57-363 String Methods 3
57-362 Woodwind Methods 3
57-431 Italian Literature and Repertoire 3
57-432 French Literature and Repertoire 3
57-435 German Literature and Repertoire 3
57-607 Vocal Methods 3
57-227 Jazz Ensemble 3
57-228 Chamber Music 3

Minimum units required: 57

Download .pdf of requirements

Please see the Music Education Certification page for more information.

Music Technology Minor
for music majors 

Admission Requirements
The student must apply to enter the program in the office of the Director of Student Services (HOA 141).

Required Music Courses for all minors - 25 units

Course Number Course Name                                                                 Number of Units
57-161 Eurhythmics I 3
57-180 or 181
Basic Solfege I *  or Solfege I 3
57-149 or 152 Basic Harmony I * or Harmony I 9
57-173 Survery of Western Music History 9
57-188 Repertoire and Listening for Musicians 1

* Basic Harmony I and/or Basic Solfege I are required of students who do not qualify for entrance into Harmony I and/or Solfege I, based on their scores on the theory and solfege placement tests.

Music Technology

Sound Recording Courses

Course Number Course Name                                                                 Number of Units
57-337 Sound Recording 6
57-338 Sound Editing and Mastering 6
57-438 MultiTrack Recording 9

Music Technology/Sound Courses (choose 3) - 21 units
Choose three courses. One of the three courses must be either Introduction to Computer Music or Electronic and Computer Music. (Note that 15-100 or 15-110 is a prerequisite for 15-322; 57-101 or 57-171 is a prerequisite for 57-347.) 

Course Number Course Name                                                                 Number of Units
15-322 Introduction to Comuter Music 9
15-323 Computer Music Systems and Information Processing 9
57-347 Electronic and Computer Music 6
33-114 Physics of Musical Sound 9
54-509 Advanced System Design 9
54-666 Production Audio 6

Minimum units required: 67

Download .pdf of requirements

Music Theory Minor
for music majors

Required Music Courses for all minors - 25 units

Course Number Course Name                                                                Number of Units
57-161 Eurhythmics I 3
57-180 or 181
Basic Solfege I * or Solfege I 3
57-149 or 152 Basic Harmony I or Harmony I 9
57-173 Survery of Western Music History 9
57-188 Repertoire and Listening for Musicians 1

* Basic Harmony I and/or Basic Solfege I are required of students who do not qualify for entrance into Harmony I and/or Solfege I, based on their scores on the theory and solfege placement tests.

Advanced Theory Courses for music majors (choose 3) - 21 units
See theory courses on the Music Support Courses Two-Year Rotation list. Click on Music Support Course Two-Year Rotation. A graduate course may be taken with the permission of the instructor

Graduate Theory Course for music majors (choose 1) - 6-9 units
See graduate theory courses on the Music Support Courses Two-Year Rotation list. Click on Music Support Course Two-Year Rotation. The course is to be chosen with the advisor’s approval.

Support Courses for music majors - 18 units

Course Number Course Name                                                                Number of Units
33-114 Physics of Musical Sound 9
57-377 Psychology of Music 9

Minimum units required: 70

Download .pdf of requirements

Minors for Non-Music Majors

Music Minor
for non-music majors

Admission Requirements
Students must have declared a major in their home college and have at least a 2.75 overall QPA.  The application for the Music Minor is available online.

Prerequisite Course for all minors for non-music majors - 0-3 units
Beginning Piano is required of students who do not pass a piano proficiency test.

Course Number Course Name                                                                Number of Units
57-329 or 330 Beginning Piano or 3
57-294 Beginning Piano Test 0

Required Music Courses for all minors - 25 units

Course Number Course Name                                                                Number of Units
57-161 Eurhythmics I 3
57-180 or 181
Basic Solfege I * or Solfege I 3
57-149 or 152 Basic Harmony I or Harmony I 9
57-173 Survery of Western Music History 9
57-188 Repertoire and Listening for Musicians 1

* Basic Harmony I and/or Basic Solfege I are required of students who do not qualify for entrance into Harmony I and/or Solfege I, based on their scores on the theory and solfege placement tests.

Required Studio Courses (studio fee is charged)

Course Number Course Name                                                                Number of Units
57-xxx Elective Studio 6
57-xxx Elective Studio 6
57-xxx Elective Studio 6
57-xxx Elective Studio 6

Elective Courses - 18 units
Elective courses are to be chosen from those courses listed for the School of Music in the current course catalog. 

Minimum Units Required: 67

Download .pdf of requirements

Musicology Minor
for non-music majors

Admission Requirements 
Students must have declared a major in their home college and have at least a 2.75 overall QPA.  The application for the Music Minor is available online.

Prerequisite Course for all minors for non-music majors - 0-3 units
Beginning Piano is required of students who do not pass a piano proficiency test.

Course Number Course Name                                                                Number of Units
57-329 or 330 Beginning Piano or 3
57-294 Beginning Piano Test 0

Required Music Courses for all minors - 15 units

Course Number Course Name                                                                Number of Units
57-161 Eurhythmics I 3
57-180 or 181
Basic Solfege I * or Solfege I 3
57-149 or 152 Basic Harmony I or Harmony I 9

* Basic Harmony I and/or Basic Solfege I are required of students who do not qualify for entrance into Harmony I and/or Solfege I, based on their scores on the theory and solfege placement tests.

Required Musicology Courses - 36 units

Course Number Course Name                                                                Number of Units
57-283 Music History I 9
57-284 Music History II 9
57-285 Music History III 9
57-190 Repertoire and Listening for Musicians I 3
57-289 Repertoire and Listening for Musicians II 3
57-290 Repertoire and Listening for Musicians III 3

Advanced Musicology Course (choose 1)  - 6 units
See musicology courses on the Music Support Courses Two-Year Rotation list. Click on Music Support Course Two-Year Rotation. A graduate course may be taken with the permission of the instructor.

Elective Courses - 9 units
Elective courses are to be chosen from those courses listed for the School of Music in the current course catalog. 

Minimun units required: 66

Download .pdf of requirements

Music Technology Minor
for non-music majors 

Admission Requirements 
Students must have declared a major in their home college and have at least a 2.75 overall QPA.  The application for the Music Minor is available online.

Prerequisite Course for all minors for non-music majors - 0-3 units
Beginning Piano is required of students who do not pass a piano proficiency test.

Course Number Course Name                                                                Number of Units
57-329 or 330 Beginning Piano or 3
57-294 Beginning Piano Test 0

Required Music Courses for all minors - 25 units

Course Number Course Name                                                                 Number of Units
57-161 Eurhythmics I 3
57-180 or 181
Basic Solfege I *  or Solfege I 3
57-149 or 152 Basic Harmony I * or Harmony I 9
57-173 Survery of Western Music History 9
57-188 Repertoire and Listening for Musicians 1

* Basic Harmony I and/or Basic Solfege I are required of students who do not qualify for entrance into Harmony I and/or Solfege I, based on their scores on the theory and solfege placement tests.

Music Technology

Sound Recording Courses

Course Number Course Name                                                                 Number of Units
57-337 Sound Recording 6
57-338 Sound Editing and Mastering 6
57-438 MultiTrack Recording 9

Music Technology/Sound Courses (choose 3) - 21 units
Choose three courses. One of the three courses must be either Introduction to Computer Music or Electronic and Computer Music. (Note that 15-100 or 15-110 is a prerequisite for 15-322; 57-101 or 57-171 is a prerequisite for 57-347.) 

Course Number Course Name                                                                 Number of Units
15-322 Introduction to Comuter Music 9
15-323 Computer Music Systems and Information Processing 9
57-347 Electronic and Computer Music 6
33-114 Physics of Musical Sound 9
54-509 Advanced System Design 9
54-666 Production Audio 6

Minimum units required: 67

Download .pdf of requirements

Music Theory Minor
for non-music majors 

Admission Requirements 
Students must have declared a major in their home college and have at least a 2.75 overall QPA.  The application for the Music Minor is available online.

Prerequisite Course for all minors for non-music majors - 0-3 units
Beginning Piano is required of students who do not pass a piano proficiency test.

Course Number Course Name                                                                Number of Units
57-329 or 330 Beginning Piano or 3
57-294 Beginning Piano Test 0

Required Music Courses for all minors - 25 units

Course Number Course Name                                                                 Number of Units
57-161 Eurhythmics I 3
57-180 or 181
Basic Solfege I *  or Solfege I 3
57-149 or 152 Basic Harmony I * or Harmony I 9
57-173 Survery of Western Music History 9
57-188 Repertoire and Listening for Musicians 1

Required Theory Courses for non-music majors - 21 units

Course Number Course Name                                                                 Number of Units
57-151 Concept and Practice of Counterpoint 6
57-153 Harmony II 9
57-408 From and Analysis 6

Advanced Theory Course for non-music majors (choose 1)  - 6-9 units
See theory courses on the Music Support Courses Two-Year Rotation list. Click on Music Support Course Two-Year Rotation. A graduate course may be taken with the permission of the instructor.

Elective Courses for non-music majors - 18 units
Elective courses are to be chosen from those courses listed for the School of Music in the current catalog.

Minimum units required: 70

Download .pdf of requirements