Music Admissions: Undergraduate

Audition Days | Freshman | Minors/Transfers | Deadlines | Special Auditions | Scholarships/Contact Info | Special Events

Acceptance into the Music Program requires both a successful audition and academic acceptance by the University. Music majors work toward either a Bachelor of Music degree (BM) or a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree (BA). Students may also minor in music.

High school seniors, college transfer students, and current UMass Amherst students are accepted into the music program (as music majors or minors) on the basis of auditions which are held on campus. Incoming students (new freshman and transfers) must additionally meet the University Admission standards.

Music Audition Days for Fall 2020 entry will be released later this summer!

Click here for audition requirements by instrument.
 

APPLICATION PROCESS FOR INCOMING FRESHMAN MUSIC MAJORS

1. Prospective students must be accepted into the University before requesting an audition date. Applications for admission to the University are available at the Admissions web page or by contacting the Admissions Center via phone, (413) 545-0222, or email at mail@admissions.umass.edu. Please note the summary of deadlines below. It is highly recommended that prospective music students complete their application by either the Early Action or Priority Deadline.
2. After acceptance is confirmed, a Music Application will appear in your application file (you will also receive an email link to the form). This includes audition day sign-up.
   Please note: The Audition Request Form found on the departmental website is NOT to be used by incoming freshman majors.
3. After you complete the Music Application, the Music Admissions Director will contact you at least 3 weeks before the chosen audition day to confirm an audition time. Requests to change the scheduled time and preferred audition date must be communicated directly to the Music Admissions Director (unless you are making a Special Arrangement audition, see below).
4. Applicants are asked to arrive no later than 30 minutes before their audition time to check in and warm up.
5. All prospective freshman music majors must also complete the Undergraduate Diagnostic Entrance Examination in Music Theory as part of their audition. The diagnostic covers rudiments, including note reading, scales, key signatures, rhythm reading, and meter signs.

 

APPLICATION PROCESS FOR MUSIC MINORS, CURRENT UMASS STUDENTS, AND TRANSFER STUDENTS
Audition Request Form

1. New students (transfers or incoming freshman intending to minor in music) must complete an application to the University. Applications for admission to the University are available at the University Admissions web page or by contacting the Admissions Center via phone (413) 545-0222 or email at mail@admissions.umass.edu. Please note the summary of deadlines below. The Priority Deadline to complete the application is applicable to transfers and prospective minors planning to attend an audition day.
2. Complete the Audition Request Form on the Music & Dance website. This includes selecting a preferred audition date. Forms may be completed at any time during the application process, but preferably no later than 3 weeks before the intended audition date. Please note: This form is NOT meant for incoming freshman music majors.
3. For students attending the audition days, the Music Admissions Director will be in contact at least 3 weeks in advance of the chosen audition day to confirm the audition time. Requests to change the scheduled time and preferred audition date must be communicated directly to the Music Admissions Director (unless you are making a Special Arrangement audition, see below).
4. Applicants are asked to arrive no later than 30 minutes before their audition time to check in and warm up.
5. All prospective music students must also complete the Undergraduate Diagnostic Entrance Examination in Music Theory. The diagnostic covers rudiments, including note reading, scales, key signatures, rhythm reading, and meter signs. Current UMass Amherst students and prospective music minors typically complete the diagnostic exam as part of their audition. Transfer students must complete placement examinations that evaluate academic standing in both music theory and aural skills. These transfer examinations are typically administered during Transfer New Students Orientation (Transfer NSO) in the summer.

 

SUMMARY OF DEADLINES, 2018-19 Admissions Cycle

October 1, 2018 - Application deadline for spring 2019 entry (freshman and transfer students).

November 5, 2018 - Early Action deadline for University applications for fall 2019 entry.

December 8, 2018 - Priority Deadline for music applicants for fall 2019 entry. All incoming music majors are encouraged to have their University application completed by this date. For applications filed after this deadline, the Music & Dance Department may not be able to schedule your preferred audition date.

January 15, 2019 - Regular Decision deadline for University applications for fall 2019 entry. It is possible that music applicants filing by this date may have limited options for audition dates/times.

March 1, 2019 - Final day for incoming freshman auditions by special arrangement, including video and recorded auditions.

March 1, 2019 - Priority application deadline for transfer students. Learn more about the Transfer admissions process here. MassTransfer info here (from Mass. community college).

April 15, 2019 - Deadline for transfer student applications & credentials for fall 2019 entry.

May 1, 2019 - Candidate reply date for incoming freshman.

May 1, 2019 - Final audition date for minors and transfer applicants for fall 2019 entry.

June 1, 2019 - Candidate reply date for transfer students.

 

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT AUDITIONS & VIDEO/RECORDED AUDITION POLICY

If students have unavoidable conflicts with the scheduled audition dates, or are auditioning for spring 2019 semester entry, they may contact the appropriate faculty member to request a Special Arrangement audition. Students must indicate this option on their Music Application / Audition Request Form. Please note that all auditions for fall 2019 entry incoming freshman music majors must be completed by March 1.

Live auditions are required for all students; video recorded or streamed auditions are only accepted under exceptional circumstances. Learn more about the policies on Special Arrangement and Recorded/Streaming auditions here.

 

SCHOLARSHIP AND CONTACT INFORMATION

All incoming freshman music major students who are accepted into the Music Program are considered for special Department scholarships upon recommendation by the studio faculty and selection by a committee. These scholarships are separate from, and in addition to, University funding. Only students who audition by the March 1, 2019 deadline are eligible for recommendation and consideration.

There is no separate application for music scholarships. Music minors and transfer students are not normally considered for Department scholarships.

For questions about the Music Audition process or the Music Program in general, or to arrange a Department visit, please contact the Music Admissions Office, Nathaniel Gowen, Director: musicadmissions@umass.edu, (413) 545-6048.

 

The University of Massachusetts Amherst prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, national origin, mental or physical disability, or veteran status, in any aspect of the admission or treatment of students or in employment.

 

SPECIAL EVENTS FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
(2019-20 event dates coming soon)

Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018: Voice Area Open House & Mock Auditions

Friday, Oct. 18 & 19, 2018: Multiband Pops Concerts (10am school concerts for young people)

Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018: Band Day, Gillette Stadium, Foxboro

Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018: Western Mass. Flute Day

Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019: Honor Band Festival & Concert

Saturday, Mar. 30, 2019: Saxophone Festival

Saturday, April 6, 2019: High School Jazz Festival