Undergraduate Admission - Supporting Materials

Some undergraduate music programs require written materials as part of the application process, either instead of, or in addition to, an audition. The supporting materials requirements for these degree programs are listed below.

Please note that all students interested in majoring in music must submit a Music Application in addition to completing a Music Theory Diagnostic Exam.

 

Bachelor of Arts in Music - Music History emphasis

• Students applying for the BA-Music History are not required to audition on an instrument to be considered for enrollment in the program.
• Prepare a brief personal statement (approx. 500 words) that describes previous musical experiences and explains the student's interest in pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Music with an emphasis on Music History.
• Students must submit an academic writing sample of 7 pages or more, preferably on a musical subject.
• Students must submit the writing samples in one of the following ways:
  • Email PDFs of both samples to Dr. Marianna Ritchey at mritchey@umass.edu after submitting the Music Application
  • Submit a cloud-based link in the Music Application to where your writing samples can be viewed. Please be sure to set your file permissions to public so that the faculty can access them.

 

Bachelor of Arts in Music - Music Theory emphasis

• Students applying for the BA-Music Theory are not required to audition on an instrument to be considered for enrollment in the program.
• Prepare a brief personal statement (approx. 500 words) that describes previous musical experiences and explains the student's interest in pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Music with an emphasis on Music Theory.
• Students must submit the personal statement in one of the following ways:
  • Email a PDF of the statement to Dr. Brent Auerbach at auerbach@music.umass.edu after submitting the Music Application.
  • Submit a cloud-based link in the Music Application to where your personal statement can be viewed. Please be sure to set your file permissions to public so that the faculty can access them.

 

Bachelor of Music - Composition track

• Prospective students applying for the BM-Composition must successfully complete and pass an audition for an applied studio (instrument/voice) to be considered for the program.
• Composition applicants must submit a portfolio of original work. Scores must be emailed as PDF documents to musicadmissions@umass.edu after submitting the Music Application.
• The composition portfolio must consist of the following:
  • A work for solo piano
  • A large ensemble piece (10 or more players)
  • One work of the applicant's choosing
• Applicants whose portfolios pass in review will be invited to a live interview with the composition faculty on the date of the audition (or scheduled via Zoom if the applicant chose the Remote Audition option).
• Click here for additional information about the Composition program.