Entrance Audition Process


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 2012 and one overflow date:

Friday, February 3, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012

* May 4, 2012 (overflow only - this date will only have auditions scheduled if department determines there to be a need)

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 Undergraduate 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 list above by calling the Department of Music at 978-934-3850 on Monday, Wednesday or Friday and ask for Mary Harrington.

Applicants should be aware that acceptance into the Department of Music is a competitive, selective process and there are limited audition spaces.  It is recommended that serious applicants prepare for, and schedule an audition on the earliest possible audition date.

All students will be notified of their status by April 8th

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 Diagnostic Examination

All entering music majors are required to take a theory diagnostic 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 Diagnostic 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:

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.

For additional practice, you may wish to try MusicTheory.net.

The fall semester Music Theory 1 course will begin with an intensive study of music fundamentals, followed by a mid-term examination given in the fifth week of classes. Since the successful completion of the course requires a demonstrated understanding of fundamentals, those who do not pass the mid-term examination should consider dropping the course.


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Department of Music - 35 Wilder St., Suite 3, Lowell, MA 01854
Phone: 978-934-3850 Fax: 978-934-3034 Contact Us