5
TIPS AS YOU PREPARE
TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
Eastman School of Music Admissions Office
INTRODUCTION 1
WHAT IS THE RIGHT NUMBER OF SCHOOLS TO APPLY TO? 2
LOOKING AHEAD TO YOUR APPLICATIONS 6
RESUME GUIDELINES FOR UNDERGRADUATE APPLICANTS 10
ORGANIZING YOUR APPLICATION 13
AUDITION CALENDAR 17
RESOURCES 22
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
INTRODUCTION
Matthew Ardizzone
Associate Dean of
Admissions and
Enrollment Management
Eastman School of Music
University of Rochester
The music school application process is
complex and has many components beyond
the regular college application process. In
short, a student applying to music school
must do everything any college applicant
must do (online application, letters of
recommendation, personal statement,
resume, etc.) plus the audition and possibly
even a pre-screening recording. This e-book is a
guide for preparing for this process. We also en-
courage you to be in touch with the admissions
offices of the schools you apply to. We always wel-
come the opportunity to talk with you in person.
In the meantime, I wish you the best with your
college search, and happy practicing!
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
1
The standard advice is that seniors should apply
to between six and eight schools. These applica-
tions, seniors are counseled, should fall into three
categories:
• Two or three “reach” schools, which the appli-
cant would like to attend, but where admission
is not a sure thing due to higher selectivity
• Two or three “match” or “probable” schools,
which are schools where it seems likely that the
student will be admitted
• Two “safety” schools, where the student is near-
ly certain of being admitted
You’ve probably heard this advice before. However,
it can be a bit bewildering for music students who
can’t necessarily use grade point averages and test
scores to gauge their chances of admission to any
As high school students start their college
search, the question often arises: how many
schools should I apply to? What is the right
number for your “short list”? The answer to
this question is as individual as each student,
but we would like to offer some guidance here
that may be useful.
WHAT IS THE RIGHT NUMBER
OF SCHOOLS TO APPLY TO?
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
RIGHT NUMBER OF SCHOOLS
1
particular school. Grades and tests may be a factor,
but the quality of your audition is likely to have a
bigger impact on your chances of being admitted.
So, music students are left wondering “what are
my chances?” and “what’s a safety, and what’s a
reach?” At Eastman we frequently hear questions
about how many openings will be available for a
particular instrument in a given year. Unfortunate-
ly, these questions don’t help the student much.
Even if you know that your first-choice school is
looking to enroll X number of kazoo players (in-
sert your instrument here), that still doesn’t tell
you whether that means your chances are good.
These numbers could even mislead you about your
chances, and discourage you from applying to a
school that could be a great fit for you. Top mu-
sic schools receive applications from all over the
world, and students don’t really have an effective
way to judge how they compare on a national or
international level—ultimately, that’s what the au-
dition process is for!
Here are a few ideas that can help alleviate this
problem:
1. Visit at least some of the colleges/conservatories
that you are thinking of applying to. If you can
take a lesson with a professor during your visit,
set that up well in advance. During the lesson,
ask if the professor thinks you are on the right
track, or if there are specific things you should be
working to improve as you prepare to audition.
The quality of
your audition
is likely to
have a bigger
impact on
your chances
of being
admitted.
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
RIGHT NUMBER OF SCHOOLS
1
2. While on campus, try to listen in on a rehearsal
or attend a concert so that you can hear the level
of music-making going on at the school. (Keep
in mind that you may be hearing upperclassmen
or graduate students, so don’t get spooked if that
is the case!)
3. Talk to current students during your visit to get
a feel for the campus culture. You can also ask
about their admission experiences and why they
decided to attend.
4. Be as involved as possible in the top musical
groups in your area. For many students this means
performing in youth orchestras, All-County, All-
State, and the like. These types of activities are
common among successful applicants to music
schools, but keep in mind that getting into All-
State ensembles does not automatically translate
to acceptance at your preferred music school.
Talk to your
current music
instructors
about the
schools you are
considering.
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Keep looking for opportunities that will stretch you, in-
cluding competitions, recitals, and professional gigs.
Talk to your current music instructors about the schools
you are considering. They will likely be able to guide you
and help to tailor your list.
Don’t be too focused on the question of “where will I get
in?” Instead, focus on creating a targeted list of schools
which will offer the kinds of experiences that are most im-
portant to you—in other words, schools that will be a great
fit for you. That might mean regular access to full-time
resident faculty, small class sizes, lots of ensemble oppor-
tunities, a high-quality curriculum, a close-knit community
of students, or any other number of factors that will shape
your next four years.
So, this leads us back to the original question of how many
schools to apply to. For many music students, submit-
ting between five and ten applications is a good number,
even if the schools on your list can’t be easily categorized
as “reaches,” “matches,” or “safeties.” Applying to a
much larger number of schools may seem like a tempting
strategy to hedge your bets, but it can backfire if it leads
you to spread yourself too thinly with applications and au-
ditions. Ultimately the right number for you depends on
how well you have done your research on each school, and
your unique situation. However, I hope these suggestions
provide some helpful guidance as you finalize your list.
RIGHT NUMBER OF SCHOOLS
1
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
your list and review the application process. Think-
ing now about what you will need to do during your
senior year will help you to avoid surprises and pit-
falls. Here is a quick guide to ensuring a rela-
tively smooth application process:
Read the instructions first. The importance
of this step can’t be overstated. Every school
you are applying to will have its own unique
requirements, and you must read the in-
structions to know what is expected.
Choose your preferred audition dates
carefully, and mark them on your cal-
endar before you submit your appli-
cation. If you successfully pass the
pre-screening round (or if pre-screen-
ing is not required for your program)
2
LOOKING AHEAD TO
YOUR APPLICATIONS
Most applications are online, and will go live
in early September, for applicants applying
to enroll the following September. Even if you
are a sophomore or junior in high school and
your admissions cycle hasn’t started yet, visit
the admissions webpages of the schools on
Read the
instructions
first.
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
YOUR APPLICATIONS
2
most schools will try to schedule your audition on
your first or second choice date option if at all pos-
sible. Keep those dates open to prevent date con-
flicts. If a conflict comes up, let Admissions know
right away, even if you are still awaiting pre-screen-
ing results.
Talk to your recommenders early. Most recom-
mendation letters can now be submitted online.
However, you should still contact each of your rec-
ommenders before adding their names to your ap-
plication. It is a professional courtesy to ask first
whether they are willing to write on your behalf,
and they may need a helpful reminder about the
great work you have done. Don’t wait until the
deadline is here to reach out to them. If you need
to send them a reminder, you can often do that
from your application status page after submitting
your application.
Requesting your transcript. You can either scan
and upload your transcripts within your application
Talk to your
recommenders
early.
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
YOUR APPLICATIONS
2
or send them by postal mail to the Office of Admis-
sions. In either case you need to request them well
in advance of the school’s deadline to make sure
they arrive on time.
If a pre-screen recording is required for you, treat
it like an audition. Pre-screening is a preliminary
round of auditions, and should be treated very se-
riously. Make sure your recording reflects your best
performance ability, and that you are thoroughly
prepared to record. While you do not necessari-
ly need to go to a professional recording studio,
you do want to be sure to use quality equipment
to make your recording, and do it in a space that
is free of background noise or distractions. If you
don’t own good recording equipment, consider
borrowing some from a teacher or friend. Also be
sure to test your recording files for quality before
uploading them. Each selection should be record-
ed in a separate file, and each file can be no larg-
er than 1GB in size. It’s a good idea to have your
teacher review your recording before you submit it.
Proofread and spell-check every document you
submit. The resume and personal statement that
you submit with your application are reflections
of your writing skills. Take the time to spell-check
them and proofread them, or better yet ask some-
one else to proofread.
Make sure your name appears consistently on
every document. Make sure your name is written
the same way on your application and on every
Proofread and
spell-check
every document
you submit.
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
document you submit. Consistency is key: if you
put your legal name on your application but mail
in additional documents under a nickname, it may
be difficult for the Office of Admissions to match
your items together. If your name has changed,
please make sure that the Office of Admissions is
aware of any former names to be watching for.
Let Admissions know if you have questions. We
know that it is stressful trying to get everything
completed by the application deadline. Keep it all
in perspective, and remember that the people who
work in admissions offices at the schools you are
applying to are there to help you.
YOUR APPLICATIONS
2
Keep it all in
perspective.
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
3
RESUME GUIDELINES FOR
UNDERGRADUATE APPLICANTS
General Notes:
• All items should be listed in reverse chronologi-
cal order within their sections.
• Resumes should not exceed two pages.
• Keep font consistent.
• Print should be point size 12 or higher.
Good fonts for a resume include:
Times New Roman
Arial
Helvetica
Regardless of whether or not applications
have gone live, it’s never too soon to begin
crafting your resume. The following section
will outlines some guidelines to follow when
creating a music-specific resume.
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
MUSIC RESUME GUIDELINES
3
All students should include on their resume:
• Your name, address, phone number, e-mail
address, and the program(s) to which you are
applying
Applicants to all programs should include the
following:
• The name(s) of your current and most recent
private teachers. Include the dates you studied
with them, and their phone numbers and e-mail
addresses, if known.
• A list of all music organizations with which you
perform, and the dates of your participation.
This can include school ensembles, youth or-
ganizations, and ad hoc ensembles you formed
yourself.
• A list of any music competitions in which you
participated and all related awards or recogni-
tion you have received while in high school, with
dates indicated. This can include school, local,
state, and national level awards.
• A list of any related experience, such as ensem-
ble officer or manager, teaching, theatre or
dance experience, or community service arts
programs, that you feel completes the pic-
ture of you as a musician.
SECTION II:
Music-specific
information and
experience
SECTION I:
Contact
Information and
Objective
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Applicants to jazz programs should list the
following:
• Any classical training, listing teachers, program,
duration and location
• Jazz ensemble experience (large ensemble/big
band; small group/combos/chamber jazz)
• Other jazz instruments played (briefly describe
level of playing proficiency)
• Jazz composition and arranging experience
• Jazz improvisation/theory/aural training (list
courses and/or teachers)
• Jazz workshops, seminars, festivals, and sum-
mer camps in which you have participated
• Teaching experience, if any
• A list of activities and awards related to
academics, athletics, or leadership within
your school or community
• A list of any community service in which you
have participated
• A list of any work experience you have had
while in school
Section III:
Non-Music
information and
experience
RESUME GUIDELINES
3
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
4
ORGANIZING YOUR APPLICATION
Each music school to which you will apply
will have its own set of requirements. When
applying to five to ten different schools, it can
be helpful to organize the items each school
requires for its application. Keep in mind, each
school will define a different set of materials
best suited to help determine whether or not you
will be a good fit for that institution. For example,
a music school with a strong non-music component
in its curriculum may require you to submit a letter
of reference from a non-music source, such as a
physics teacher. Even though this letter may not be
a requirement for other schools, it is usually import-
ant to the school requesting this particular letter.
Six to eight applications to different music schools
means six to eight lists of audition repertoire for you
to prepare. Consider laying out the entire required
audition repertoire for all of the schools to which
you are applying and identifying overlapping rep-
ertoire. For example, two different schools might
both be asking applicants to prepare two contrast-
ing movements from a Bach sonata. Checking the
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
ORGANIZING YOUR APPLICATION
4
SCHOOL
Final Deadline
Dec. 1
Special
Deadlines
Nov. 1
Application Fee
$125/$75
Fee Waiver
Yes
Fee Waiver
Deadline
Nov. 29
Pre-Screening
Online Upload /
Mailing Address
Online
Pre-Screening
Repertoire
repertoire in advance will allow you to prepare pieces that will work for multiple au-
ditions. Color-coding or labeling repertoire that appears for multiple schools can also
help you organize your audition plan.
The following chart is designed to help you organize all of the requirements for your mu-
sic school applications. Fill it out carefully with the information from all of the schools
to which you are applying, and use it to help prepare and learn the audition repertoire.
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
ORGANIZING YOUR APPLICATION
4
SCHOOL
Personal
Statement/Essay
Essay 2
Resume
Transcripts
Test Scores
Recommender 1
Recommender 2
Recommender 3
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
ORGANIZING YOUR APPLICATION
4
SCHOOL
Extras
Extras
Audition Date(s)
Audition
Repertoire
Audition Day
Forms
Audition Day
Forms 2
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
members to interact with you regarding your reper-
toire if necessary. Some might even provide some
brief instruction which can be applied in real time.
Auditioning at multiple music schools will require
you to be expertly organized when it comes to your
schedule. Using a calendar early on can be an
easy way to avoid double-booking and possible re-
scheduling fees. Here are some things to consider
when setting up your calendar:
1 Are there any major performances that you CAN-
NOT miss during the months auditions are be-
ing held? Make note of senior recitals, All-State
concerts, and major competitions you will not
be willing to miss.
2 It might be helpful to highlight various audition
day options for schools before selecting your first
5
AUDITION CALENDAR
It is most preferable to audition in-person,
if at all possible. Auditioning in person on
the campuses of the music schools you are
considering will typically permit you to be
face-to-face with faculty members. Auditions
conducted in person also allow for faculty
Auditioning
at multiple
music
schools will
require you
to be expertly
organized.
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
AUDITION CALENDAR
5
and second choices or committing to a day. Seek out the specific options
for your instrument. For example, a school may have auditions every Friday
in February, but auditions for your instrument might only be held on three
of the four Friday audition days.
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
30
Audition
Option for
School A
1
Audition
Option for
School B
2
Audition
Option for
School B
3 4 5
Audition
Option for
School C
6
Audition
Option for
School D
Option for
School A
Option for
School A
7
Audition
Option for
School D
8 9 10 11 12
Audition
Option for
School C
13
All-State
8 am-7 pm
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
AUDITION CALENDAR
5
4 As audition dates are confirmed by each school, note any details that might
be helpful when booking your travel and hotel arrangements. It is advisable
not to book your flights or hotel until your audition date is confirmed.
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
30
Requested
Audition
Date:
School A
1
Requested
Audition
Date:
School B
2 3 4 5
Audition
Option for
School C
6
Requested
Audition
Date:
School D
Travel time
to B:
2 hours
Travel time
to D:
5 hours
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
30
CONFIRMED
Audition for
School A
Check-in at
10 AM out
by 1 PM
1
Requested
Audition
Date:
School B
2 3 4 5
CONFIRMED
Audition for
School C
Check-in at
9 AM out by
6 PM
6
Requested
Audition
Date:
School D
Travel time
to B:
2 hours
Travel time
to D:
5 hours
3 When lining up different schools in one trip, be sure to note the travel time
between schools. You should plan to be available for the entire duration of
time the school requests of you, and you will also want to be realistic about
how long it will take you to arrive at the next school.
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
AUDITION CALENDAR
5
5 If you find yourself double-booked or decide that you are no longer going
to audition for a school, contact that school’s Admissions Office as soon as
possible. The later you wait to reach out, the less an Admissions Represen-
tative might be able to do to help you. If for example, you need to leave a
little earlier to catch a flight, it will be easier to accommodate with advance
notice.
On the following pages you will find a calendar outline that can be utilized to
organize your music school auditions schedule.
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
AUDITION CALENDAR
5
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
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6 STEPS IN PREPARING TO APPLY TO MUSIC SCHOOLS
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
RESOURCESRESOURCES
Eastman School of Music
Admissions Office web site
Institute for Music Leadership
E-Theory
Speed Lessons
ESM YouTube channel
ESM Facebook page
Fastweb.com
