Professor and students explain the benefits of taking music classes at BYU

Registration for the fall semester is well underway and BYU students are still trying to add, remove and edit their class schedules.

One department that is overlooked by many when considering classes is music. Even if students don’t major in music, taking music classes is a beneficial way to fill their schedule – whether it’s to complete electives or arts courses, take a fun break from heavy coursework, or develop a talent.

“It gives you a chance to delve into music at a higher university level and put that knowledge into practice,” explained Madeline Clifford, a student in the Music Dance Theater program.

All BYU students, regardless of major, have access to a wide range of music activities. The list includes:

• MUSIC 100 – Music Fundamentals
• MUSIC 101 – Introduction to Music
• MUSIC 111R – Basic vocal skills
• MUSIC 113 – The beginnings of piano playing technique 1
• MUSIC 114R – The beginnings of piano playing technique 2
• MUSIC 115 – Basic organ skills
• MUSIC 116R – Organ technique and literature
• MUSIC 117 – Basic guitar skills
• MUSIC 118R – Guitar techniques and literature
• MUSIC 123 – Preparing a harp for a large ensemble
• MUSIC 135 – Fundamentals of Conducting
• MUSIC 160R – to choose from Bassoon, Chime, Cello, Clarinet, Classic voice, A contemporary voice, Euphonium, Flute, Guitar, Harp, Harpsichord, Horn, Performance instructions: Music Technology Studio, Oboe, Organ, Drums, Implementation instructions, Piano, Saxophone, String bass, Trombone, Trumpet, Tube, Viola Or Violin
• MUSIC 166 – Organ Registration
• MUSIC 176 – Careers in Music Education
• MUSIC 186 – Songwriting 1
• MUSIC 201 – Civilization: Music 1
• MUSIC 202 – Civilization: Music 2
• MUSIC 203 – Musical cultures of the world
• MUSIC 204 – Introduction to Jazz

All classes listed are available in the Fall 2025 semester, except MUSIC 123, MUSIC 166, and three sections of MUSIC 160R – Performance Instruction, Performance Instruction: Musical Technology Studio, and Harpsichord.

In the winter of 2025, Jaren Hinckley, professor of music at BYU, will teach various sections of MUSIC 101.

“I hope they develop a love of classical music and pursue it for the rest of their lives, both in their everyday lives and in seeking live entertainment opportunities,” Hinckley said, describing his goals for his students. “Keep the art alive.”

Hinckley also wants his students to understand the diversity that classical music brings, and to expand their knowledge of musical genres, forms, styles and techniques by asking questions.

“Music improves our lives in many ways. How boring would our lives be without music?” Hinckley considered.

Senior Logan McNatt specializes in a topic that is fundamentally contrasted with music – information systems. However, this semester he is taking the contemporary voice section of MUSIC 160R.

“I had more free time and I thought, ‘I might as well do something I love,’” McNatt said.

McNatt has been a dancer since a young age and currently teaches DANCE 180 — or social dance, beginning — at BYU.

Although he devotes most of his time to studying information systems, he does not hesitate to tap into his more artistic side. With time to fill his schedule, he decided to improve his singing skills on BYU’s MUSIC 160R.

“I wanted to take voice lessons so I could audition for a musical, and maybe I could get in,” McNatt said.

McNatt explained that his wife, Leah McNatt, is an extremely talented singer and dancer and usually gets the best roles in the plays she auditions for.

“It would be great if in the future we could both… appear in a musical together,” he said.

McNatt said that when a student registers for MUSIC 160R, they are assigned a professor with whom they will work individually throughout the semester, based on the availability of the student’s schedule.

Classes lasting 30 minutes a week focus on improving vocal techniques through exercises. According to McNatt, students also work on two or three songs to perfect by the end of the semester.

Clifford is studying a field in which music takes center stage. Taking major and minor music classes, her love of music deepened throughout her college career.

In addition to Music Dance Theater classes, Clifford attended MUSIC 100 and MUSIC 113.

According to Clifford, in the MUSIC 100, Music Fundamentals course, professors teach songwriting, circle of fifths, lead music and other topics.

“I feel like as members (of the church) we grow up learning from the back of the hymnal,” Clifford noted. “But I… I had never taken a real music conducting course before and it was extremely educational. I feel like I learned a lot of new things.”

Clifford reported that MUSIC 100 is an ideal course for beginners because classes meet only once a week for an hour.

Regarding MUSIC 113, Beginning Piano Techniques 1, Clifford explained that each student sits at their own piano with headphones. Taught by BYU graduate students, classes cover the fundamentals of piano playing in a course called Piano Marvel.

“If you’ve never taken a (music) class in your life, you can start there,” Clifford stressed. “Everyone was able to grow from where they started, which was cool.”

Clifford believes that learning music in the classroom dramatically improves student performance.

“Sometimes the scariest thing is doing it in front of people and not yourself,” she said. “That’s when you feel like you’re growing the most.”

Hinckley, who earned his doctorate in clarinet performance from Florida State University, also teaches major clarinet courses. He shared why he loves teaching music.

“I love sharing my joy with others,” he noted.

Students can develop a love of music, or develop it if they already have it, by taking advantage of the variety of music classes offered by BYU. The passion that BYU music professors have to offer translates into superior teaching skills.

Music classes can be added to schedules until January 15, 2025, which is the deadline for adding classes in the fall semester.

Some classes, such as MUSIC 160R, may have additional costs other than tuition.