How to Declare a Music Major

Prospective Music majors and minors are urged to approach a potential program advisor and the undergraduate student services officer as early as possible to create a program plan that allows for sufficient time to complete all academic goals.

The steps below do not need to be completed in the order given, but all are required elements of the declaration process.

Contact the undergrad student services officer to discuss your goals for the Music major and obtain links for a four-year program planing sheet and an advising agreement. The advising relationship is key in any Music major, though some programs are fairly straightforward and others may require discussion and feedback from the undergraduate student services officer. If considering a double major, you should consider whether it's realistic to complete both sets of requirements in the desired amount of time. Regardless of your concentration area or selected advisor, the undergraduate student services officer will continue to be a resource through your time in the department, and can address any questions or concerns at any time.

rleigh [at] stanford.edu (subject: Music%20Declaration%20Meeting) (Email UG Student Services Officer)

Once you have selected a concentration, review the degree requirements and map out a four-year plan to complete the major using resources like Explore Courses to determine future course offerings. Include required courses and units. Leave yourself room for university requirements and any additional majors, minors, studies abroad, or large-scale extracurricular projects you might be considering. This will help you gauge whether or not it’s possible to complete all your goals during your time at Stanford. Feel free to consult with the undergraduate student services officer or any of the departmental faculty as you weigh your options.

Based on the concentration you choose, the undergrad student services officer can send you a link to a worksheet to plan your program. Trying to choose between two concentrations, or considering a double-concentration? You can ask for more than one worksheet.

Explore Courses (Music)

rleigh [at] stanford.edu (subject: Declaration%20Questions) (Email UG Student Services Officer)

Stanford’s Music Major and Minor depend on good communication between students and advisors. Advisors approve students’ course schedules and track their progress through the Major/Minor. An advisor can also be a sounding board for a student’s intellectual concerns, academic and professional interests and aspirations, and thoughts about music more broadly. Students must meet with their advisors at least once per quarter.

Finding an academic advisor is part of the declaration process. We recommend: 1) talking to Music faculty you’ve connected with in the classroom or in private lessons; 2) learning more about our faculty from the Department of Music faculty page; and 3) speaking with the undergraduate student services officer and/or the Undergraduate Studies Committee chair. Email the undergraduate student services officer for a link to an advising agreement.

rleigh [at] stanford.edu (subject: Advisor%20Question) (Email UG Student Services Officer)

When you are certain that you would like to declare a Music major or minor, submit a request for your desired program in Axess. On your Student Services Center homepage, find the drop down menu option next to your quarterly course list that says “I want to...” and select “Declare a major or minor.” Follow the prompts to submit your request. Skip the course plan section, as you should turn in a PDF or printed form to the undergraduate student services officer. Upon approval of your course plan and receipt of your advisor agreement form, the undergrad student services officer will approve your request to add the major or minor.

Axess