Printer Friendly- General audition information for all applicants
- Theory placement examination
- Entrance audition requirements
In addition to meeting the general UMass Lowell admission requirements, students applying to any of the music programs also must fulfill specific requirements that prove their musical ability and knowledge, including an audition and a music theory examination.
General Entrance Audition Information for All Applicants
There are three audition dates scheduled for 2010 and one overflow date:Friday, February 5
Friday, March 5
Friday, April 9
Friday, May 7 (overflow date; this date will only have auditions scheduled if needed)
CRITICAL INFORMATION
FOR ALL STUDENTS APPLYING TO PROGRAMS
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
Sound Recording Technology
Music Business
Music Performance
Music Studies (Preparatory Degree for our
Master of Music in Music Teaching)
Admission to the Department of Music is by entrance audition only. All entering freshmen and undergraduate transfer students who have been admitted to the University are required to pass an entrance audition and take a theory placement examination.
The admissions process is a two-part process:
Step 1
Submit an application to the University’s Admissions Office.
Step 2
As soon as a applicant receives an acceptance letter from the University’s Admissions Office, he/she should schedule an entrance audition on one of the scheduled auditions dates: February 6, March 6, or April 10 by calling the Department of Music: 978-934-3850 or by e-mailing: Norma_Lajoie@uml.edu, using the subject line “entrance audition.”
Applicants should be aware that there are limited spaces for each instrument, particularly guitar and percussion, so preparing for, and scheduling an earlier audition date is recommended.
It is expected that students will spend extensive time in preparation for the entrance audition process: private instrumental or vocal instruction is essential. Students auditioning must demonstrate sufficient technical and musical skill on an instrument or in the vocal area to provide evidence of readiness to undertake college level instruction.
FOR ALL STUDENTS APPLYING TO PROGRAMS
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
Sound Recording Technology
Music Business
Music Performance
Music Studies (Preparatory Degree for our
Master of Music in Music Teaching)
Admission to the Department of Music is by entrance audition only. All entering freshmen and undergraduate transfer students who have been admitted to the University are required to pass an entrance audition and take a theory placement examination.
The admissions process is a two-part process:
Step 1
Submit an application to the University’s Admissions Office.
Step 2
As soon as a applicant receives an acceptance letter from the University’s Admissions Office, he/she should schedule an entrance audition on one of the scheduled auditions dates: February 6, March 6, or April 10 by calling the Department of Music: 978-934-3850 or by e-mailing: Norma_Lajoie@uml.edu, using the subject line “entrance audition.”
Applicants should be aware that there are limited spaces for each instrument, particularly guitar and percussion, so preparing for, and scheduling an earlier audition date is recommended.
It is expected that students will spend extensive time in preparation for the entrance audition process: private instrumental or vocal instruction is essential. Students auditioning must demonstrate sufficient technical and musical skill on an instrument or in the vocal area to provide evidence of readiness to undertake college level instruction.
Applicants will be required to complete a short theory placement exam on their audition day. The results of this examination do not affect acceptance.
Theory Placement Examination
All entering music majors are required to take a theory placement examination on the scheduled audition day that tests their level of musical knowledge. This knowledge includes the following:- Standard notational practices in treble, bass and c clefs.
- Conventional beaming practices in simple and compound meters.
- Identification of commonly used meters.
- All major and minor (natural, harmonic, and melodic) scales.
- The spelling and recognition of simple intervals.
- The key signatures of all major and minor keys.
- The spelling and recognition of major, minor, and augmented triads.
The Theory Placement Examination determines students who are at risk of not performing well in Music Theory 1. For those students, and students unable to take the examination, we recommend doing one of the following before entering:
- Complete the basic Music Theory course, usually offered in the summer session through Continuing and Corporate Education.
- Complete a similar course at another school.
- Pursue self-study from one of the texts listed below.
For self study, we recommend the purchase of one of the following:
- Practica Musica, Jeff Evans. ARS Nova Software.
- Paul Harder and Greg Steinke. Basic Materials in Music Theory. Allyn and Bacon.
- John Clough and Joyce Conley. Scales, Intervals, Keys, Triads, Rhythm and Meter. W.W. Norton.
You may also wish to go to this site for additional practice: http://www.musictheory.net/index.html
The fall semester Music Theory 1 course will begin with an intensive study of music fundamentals, followed by an examination given in the fifth week of classes. Students failing this exam will be withdrawn from Music Theory 1 as well as from Aural Skills 1. Any student unable to pass Theory 1 on the second attempt will be considered not to be making sufficient progress as a music major and required to change majors.