Academics

students hold instruments and laugh against a burnt orange mural

Each year, the Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music provides coursework and training to approximately 350 undergraduate music majors, 300 graduate music students, and over 2,500 non-music majors.

The World is Listening

Members of New Music ensemble pose with instruments and a toy piano

Students at the Butler School of Music enjoy more than 600 performance opportunities each year through participation in solo recitals, chamber groups and instrumental and vocal ensembles. Students perform on campus and tour nationally and internationally with our major ensembles: The University of Texas Wind Ensemble, Longhorn Band, Symphony Orchestra, New Music Ensemble, Jazz Orchestra, Chamber Singers and Butler Opera Center.

 


Explore Ensembles

Distinguished Faculty

Professor Omar Thomas headshot

The faculty of the Butler School of Music is comprised of 100 of the most outstanding performers, composers and scholars in their fields. They perform internationally with ensembles like the London Symphony Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. They collaborate with living legends that range from Andrea Bocelli to Willie Nelson. They have been recognized with awards from the Fulbright, MacArthur, Rockefeller and Guggenheim Foundations. Together, Butler School of Music faculty offer their students a wealth of knowledge from the world's leading conservatories and universities. 

 

Meet the Faculty

 


 

Performance Spaces

The school operates 4 major performance halls: The 650-seat Bates Recital Hall with its magnificent 5,315-pipe Visser-Rowland tracker organ, the 400-seat McCullough Theatre, the 320-seat Jessen Auditorium, and the 175-seat Recital Studio. Special events also take place in the 3,000-seat Bass Concert Hall, the flagship theatre of Texas Performing Arts

 

VIEW PERFORMANCE HALLS

Practice Rooms

Students have access to 125 high-quality, soundproof practice rooms, including dedicated practice rooms for organ, harp and percussion, as well as 60 practice modules equipped with grand pianos.

Private lessons are given in the individual studios of our renowned performance faculty.

 

 

Instrument Collection

  • 1,000+ items for use in traditional, early music and non-Western ensembles
  • 220+ pianos, including 48 Model B 7-ft. and 12 Model D 9-ft. Steinway grand pianos
  • 5 harpsichords, 1 clavichord and 1 fortepiano
  • 6 organs, including 3 large organs and 3 practice organs
  • Kyahi Rosowibowo "The Majestic One" Gamelan

 


 

 

Professor Tamara Sanikidze works with two opera students in her studio

 

 

Programs of Study

Performance
Music & Human Learning
Bachelor of Arts in Music
Composition
Jazz Studies
Chamber & Collaborative
Conducting
Musicology & Ethnomusicology
Theory

 

 

 

Learn about Our Programs

 

 


 

Degree Requirements

Find in-depth degree requirements, timelines and contact information for all of our offered degrees. 

 

 

 


 

Research Centers

A conductor conducts a violin section in Bates Recital Hall

Center for American Music

Seeks to advance the teaching, scholarship, and performance of music from all traditions in the Americas through research, educational, and performance programs of the highest quality.

 

A student teacher assists a young violinist with playing position during a lesson.

Center for Music Learning

Investigates the processes of human skill development, bringing together expert teachers, performers, composers, psychologists, neuroscientists, and physiologists, with a goal to inform the curricula, instruction, and assessment.

 

A singer in a red dress is surrounded by other singers on stage

Butler Opera Center

Provides performance training and background for singers, opera directors, opera coaches interested in professional and educational careers. Graduates are well prepared for professional careers in opera, and education.

 

 


 

Student Resources

CHAMBER MUSIC
Info for students wishing to participate in the fall Chamber Music course. 

MUSICIAN'S HEALTH
Helpful information for protecting your mental and physical health.

CAREER SERVICES
Visit the College of Fine Arts' Career Services Center.

 

 


 

 

A UT student, hanging out on a staircase on the UT Campus

 

Non-Majors

Non-music majors are invited to be a part of the Butler School community.  All students from across the university can register for coursework, audition to participate in ensembles, and register to take private lessons.  

 

Opportunities for Non-Majors