Specific Admission Procedures

After completing the general admission requirements of the university, the prospective music student must report to the Department of Music to complete the performance audition and the diagnostic examination in music theory. Officially, all freshmen are admitted to University College and must complete that college’s requirements before entering a degree- granting program. However, students who plan to major in music must begin taking music courses in their first semester. All students admitted into University College planning to declare a major in music must complete a performance and diagnostic examination, and must be advised jointly by University College counselors and music faculty advisers.

The performance audition should demonstrate the student’s current and highest possible level of proficiency in voice or on a standard musical instrument. The auditioning student should prepare and perform compositions appropriate to their skill level and degree interest. While considerable latitude in the choice of performance selections is given, students are encouraged to prepare carefully for the audition so that an accurate assessment of potential and talent may be rendered. For fall acceptance, prospective students must contact the department for spring audition dates.

For spring acceptance, prospective students must contact the department for fall auditions. Students that have not completed the formal audition upon arrival will be required to complete the audition process by the end of the first week of classes. For additional information, please contact the chair of the Department of Music. Current ASU students who wish to become music majors must undergo, in addition to the university’s change of major process, the audition and diagnostic examination procedures as outlined in this section.

The diagnostic examination in music fundamentals tests the students’ written and aural skills in the following areas (1) major and minor key signatures; (2) major scales; (3) minor scales in the natural, harmonic and melodic forms; (4) intervals and triads; (5) rhythm; and (6) aural identification of intervals, major and minor scales, triads, and rhythmic and melodic fragments.

Those who pass the performance audition and have completed the diagnostic examination are accepted into the Department of Music. Students who do not satisfy either of these requirements may be admitted conditionally for two semesters, at the end of which time the student will be advised concerning continuation in the music program. The Department of Music has the prerogative to deny continuation in the music program to a student in conditional status who, after two semesters of conditional status, fails to demonstrate, at the department’s sole discretion that he/she meets the criteria to be moved to full admission.

Students should review the Department of Music’s website for more detailed audition and admission criteria and procedures.