Admissions and Auditions
贵础蚕鈥檚
I just submitted my application through CalStateApply, indicating I want to major in music. 听 Am I done?
No! 听There are two steps: you need to get admitted to the University and you need to pass your audition for the School of Music. 听 Shortly after submitting your application through , you will get emails with information about the School of Music, as well as how to audition.
When I filled out my application through CalStateApply, it only said, 鈥淏.A. Music.鈥 听I want to pursue a B.M. in Performance. 听What do I do?
All prospective music students are designated simply as B.A., Music, whether they want to get a B.A. in Music Education, a B.M. in Performance or Composition, etc. 听 Once you鈥檙e enrolled, we will put you in the right concentration.
How do I find out about the audition?
Once you submit your application, it usually takes a week or two for your information to be processed by the CSU to make its way over to the School of Music. 听 Once we have you in our database, you鈥檒l start getting emails from us with all sorts of information about the program, auditioning, etc.
Do I have to audition on an instrument, even if I鈥檓 not interested in performance?
Yes. 听All prospective undergraduate students in the School of Music must show proficiency as a singer or on an instrument in order to be admitted.
Are there different standards for students who want to audition in performance vs. education?
Not really. 听One of the reasons our education majors have a 100% employment rate is that school districts know our students are held to high standards for both their pedagogy and their playing or singing.
Can I audition on two instruments?
You can, but you do have to indicate which is your primary instrument. 听Once you鈥檙e accepted, you鈥檒l get lessons on that primary instrument.
I鈥檝e heard there are pre-screening requirements. 听How does that work?
For Fall 2021 auditions, the pre-screening requirements for Jazz Rhythm, Classical Guitar, and Voice have been replaced with a two-step virtual process. 听You should submit your video audition between January 6 and February 14. 听 If all goes well, you鈥檒l be asked to participate in a Zoom audition in front of the faculty that will most likely include some testing of your musicianship.
Other instruments/areas are only requiring a single video audition, submitted sometime between January 6 and February 27.
Check out the specific audition pages for voice or your instrument for more information. You鈥檒l also get emails with all sorts of information about the process once the School of Music has you input in our database.
What about Scholarships and Financial Aid?
Go to /financialaid/
for more information on applying for financial aid.
The School of Music also offers scholarships to exceptional incoming students. 听So go practice!
I鈥檓 a composer who works primarily on my computer. 听Do I still have to audition?
Yes. 听All prospective undergraduate students in the School of Music must audition.
I鈥檓 not interested in 鈥渃lassical鈥 music. 听 听Can I audition playing or singing something else?
It depends. 听 We have an excellent instrumental jazz and commercial program, and you鈥檙e welcome to audition for that. 听 We offer jazz instruction on a variety of instruments, including piano, guitar, drumset, bass, trombone, trumpet, etc.
But if you鈥檙e a budding Taylor Swift or Kendrick Lamar, do understand that the bulk of your instruction will be classical in focus. 听That鈥檚 not a bad thing 鈥 many singers, from Billie Eilish to Pat Benatar, studied 鈥渃lassical鈥 singing. 听 And while we do have a Jazz Choir, all voice majors are required to sing in one of our major choirs.
Do you offer a program in music production?
We don鈥檛 offer a major in music production at this time, but we do offer courses in it.
I鈥檓 an instrumentalist. 听Can I still sing in a choir at CSUF?
Yes! 听And if you鈥檙e a singer, you can still play in an ensemble.
Where do I go for more information?
If you can鈥檛 find the answer on our website contact Matthew Thomas, Undergraduate Admissions Coordinator. 听
