Where should I apply? (Music studies without auditioning)

College Majors Music Major
1

Hey!

I’m an international student who’s going to USA this fall. My goal is to study music and major in music with a Bachelor of Arts. Although I have basic skills in piano and music theory, I am not confident I would pass an audition for a music study. Given my technical level I think specializing in composition and music theory is a safer bet than performance. From what I have heard I also think a Bachelor of Arts would be easier to keep up with than a Bachelor of Music.

Does anyone know where I could apply, where I would be admitted without having to audition? From reading online, I have heard that some schools offer a major in music (at least non-performance) without auditioning. The states I consider moving to is California, Texas and Florida.

My plan is to attend community college for 2 years, earn an Associate of Arts degree, and then transfer to a university. The community college would save me some tuition and also offer me an opportunity to take lessons and basic courses so I can catch up with other music students.

I also want to mention that in my country there are private schools where you could study music without auditioning, though they would often not give a bachelor’s degree, and often be more “hands-on”, specializing in production etc. So if there are similar options in USA, I’d like to learn more about that.

Thanks!

2

I would say, generally speaking, that most BA programs do not have auditions for admission. There are exceptions of course so check websites. There are auditions for ensembles and orchestra etc. in the fall of freshman year, but not for admission, at many schools.

So pick a college or university that you like based on things like size, location, academics, and general “vibe” and then look at the music department website.

There are too many options to list!

One other thing: for BA programs you can, if you like submit a music supplement to your application with compositions or recordings, a resume, letters of recommendation- but do that only if your talent and accomplishments justify it.

And please, composition is not a field to go into because you don’t feel your performance skills are up to par. Composition is a demanding and highly selective field so be careful of thinking it is a fallback. That said, composition can be part of a general academic music program that includes theory, music history, technology, ethnomusicology etc.

If you have other interests, be aware that you can also major in something else and still compose.

3

Are you a US citizen living overseas? Or do you intend to get a visa? I ask bc my husband first came to the US and entered a community college to improve his English and then transferred to a 4 year college. His sponsorship was done through rotary in his home country. Coming to he US can be complex with test and visa requirements. Many large universities do have overseas regional offices as well. Have you looked for resources within your country? They can assist you.

And you’re coming this upcoming fall…without a school yet? You’ll most likely need a school to get a visa. In many cases you are too late for admissions. I’m having a hard time understanding your time line or method of entry…unless you are a citizen…then you could probably enter a community college at a later date.

4

compmom: Thanks for the reply! I have been browsing a number of websites for schools that I am interested in. So far, I haven’t found a single school that didn’t have a policy that “any music major, regardless of specialization, need to audition”. Some of the schools I have looked at are CSULB, CSUF, UTSA, UFL. So if you know any specific schools that don’t have this policy, or how I could easier find these type of schools, I would be very interested.
I also want to be clear that I don’t consider composition as a “fallback”. Composition and music theory is the area that I’m most passionate about. However, I do feel like it’s safer to study because I already have more skills in this area than technical instrument skills, while I would like to study performance as well, I feel that it could be tough to catch up to other students.

bridgenail: I am not a US citizen. I will enter with a student visa. Most community colleges have a deadline at the end of june/start of july, and classes start in august/september. So there is still time left, though I am planning to take care of my application as soon as possible this week.

5

You might look at Indiana University Southeast. if you don’t have the required material for their audition, you could start without declaring a major. They have a small, but very supportive, music department. Their requirements for applying as a music major in composition are:

Acceptance into the Music Composition program is based on both an interview/portfolio review and an audition. Candidates should perform one representative work on their primary instrument/voice and also present a portfolio of a least two scores (with recordings, if possible) of their original compositions. It is important that candidates have some prior experience in written composition. Scores should demonstrate the candidate’s creativity and ability to realize his or her ideas with accuracy and in accordance to conventional notational practices. Candidates should be able to discuss their influences and musical interests as they relate to the field of composition. Some basic pitch matching exercises may be asked of the candidate.

6

Have you targeted the community college yet? If not, you may want to consider a community college that feeds into a the target 4 year school (although many in CA probably feed into the CA system - just something to ask about). But you could pick a community college in the area of the target 4 year school. In this way, you can enter the US college system and get your basic general education classes done. At the same time, you may be able to make contacts at the target school(s) and even start taking lessons privately with a faculty member. You may even be able to get your performance skills up to par at that time for a future audition.

I don’t know enough about composition nor CA nor FL to really comment on schools unfortunately. Good luck!

7

Lilac1: It seems that this school, like most other schools, assumes applicants already are at a pretty high level before applying, which concerns me. Since I have only been doing music in my free time, it’s impossible to know if my skills are at the expected level, and since moving abroad as an international student is a big investment, I can’t risk to find out that I’m not accepted. Therefore I will concentrate on finding a school where I know I can major in music without risking rejection from an audition.

bridgenail: Thanks! :slight_smile: I have found several community colleges that are interesting to me, but since I still haven’t found a university that don’t have a big emphasis on auditions, it’s not enough that my credits will transfer. The only plan I have so far is to start at a community college, take the GE classes, and start piano lessons. I will ask the teachers on their opinion whether I would be able to get up to the level of an audition at a university, and spend those 2 years to improve as much as possible. If I don’t find a school that don’t require an audition, or improve enough within those 2 years to pass an audition, I will probably just transfer to a university where my credits are transferable, and major in something else, while taking as many music courses on the side as I can.

8

@Patrick777 There are hundreds of community colleges which will not require an audition, as there are hundreds of four year universities. However, you’ve missed the deadline this year for most four year colleges, and you may not even have enough time left to apply for a visa for a Community College. It can take up to six months. The colleges you listed all have Schools of Music which offer BM degrees. Almost all BM degrees require an audition. You need a program that offers an AA (Community College) or BA in Music, or some subset. Many colleges require an audition into the major at the end of the sophomore year but allow entry as a freshman without an audition.

Here is info on the California Community College system. https://home.cccapply.org/colleges Here’s how to look for their programs: http://californiacommunitycolleges.cccco.edu/FindaProgram - Just type in music as a keyword to get started.
International admission applications

"California community colleges welcome qualified international students to their academic, vocational, and technical programs. California community college staff feel that the presence of international students enriches the academic environment for all of their students in addition to providing a quality education for students from other parts of the world. Many colleges request the following of international students:

International student application
Certification of finances
Proof of English competency

Most colleges have online information related to international students. Admission office staff at each California community college can answer questions about international students."

9

I am aware that community colleges will not require an audition, but I am yet to find a university that does not. Every school and degree I mentioned was a BA in music, not a BM - so far they all have a similar policy “every music major needs to audition”. That’s why I am very curious why I’ve heard so many people mention that there are many schools that offer a BA in music without an audition - though I am yet to hear specific schools, at least in the states that I consider.

As for deadlines, I am not going to apply to a university this fall, but a community college. They have deadlines 30th of june/1st of july. The embassy here takes on average 2 weeks to issue a student visa.

10

There are so many colleges it’s useless to list them. How good a student are you? What are your scores and grades? What can you afford? For instance, Harvard doesn’t require an audition, nor does UC Berkeley. Very few liberal arts colleges will require an entry audition. For instance in Florida and California-
Eckerd College in Florida: https://www.eckerd.edu/music/
New College of Florida: https://www.ncf.edu/academics/undergraduate-program/division-of-humanities/music/
Occidental in LA https://www.oxy.edu/music (Just spotted that Daniel Wohl is teaching there now - a composition & music production major.)
Pomona College https://www.pomona.edu/academics/departments/music

11

Look at schools that do not have a BM program. I assume the universities you listed have schools of music and that is a situation where the BA is through the music school and requires an audition.

I would still tell you there are countless music departments that do not have auditions. Many universities (especially private) and liberal arts colleges. There are honestly too many to list.

Tell us what state(s) you are most interesting in and what size you prefer, any other details, and we could be more specific. If you are looking on the West Coast, look at Pomona, Lewis and Clark, Whittier https://www.pomona.edu/academics/departments/music/prospective-students
http://college.lclark.edu/departments/music/ https://www.whittier.edu/academics/music

Note that submitting a music supplement is encouraged if your portfolio is going to help at all. If you do not have a lot of experience but do have some compositions you feel are excellent, but don’t submit if your work is not well-developed yet.

Check out the Colleges that Change Lives (a website and a book), Ivy League and “little Ivies” like Tufts, Williams, Amherst, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Bowdoin etc.

From Colleges that Change Live, Clark U. in Massachusetts has a good music program. College of Wooster:

"Courses in the Department of Music are open to students from all majors. An audition is required of any student wishing to obtain a Bachelor of Music Degree in Performance, Music Education, or Music Therapy. (See specific requirements below.) No audition is necessary for the Bachelor of Arts in Music degree. "

There really are too many to list.

Remember too that you do not have to major in music if you want to do composition. You can take lessons, work on compositions and try to have them played. Or you can major/minor, double major or double degree. Make sure to read the “Double Degree Dilemma” essay near the top of the music forum, which is really about ways in which to study music.

Give us more info and we can come up with more schools. We also don’t know how academically selective a school you might want.