Music

Undergraduate Admissions

Music is a Dual Admit Program:
In order to pursue music studies at SMU (B.M. in Performance, Music Therapy, Music Education, or Composition; B.A. in Music or Music Minor), you must be admitted both to the Meadows School of the Arts (via your audition), as well as to SMU (via your undergraduate application for admission).

Interested in observing a music class/ensemble rehearsal, and/or scheduling a sample lesson? Review our Prospective Student Visit Information below.

Admission checklist for Music applicants

1. Review 2019 – 20 Audition Dates and Recorded Audition Information here

   • Saturday, December 7*
     Students registered for the December 7 audition must complete either the Early Action, Early Decision I, or Spring Transfer application by November 1, or else their audition slot is subject to cancellation.
   • Saturday, January 25*
   • Saturday, February 1*
   • Saturday, February 22*

   *Vocalists: pre-screening is required. Review details here.

   All voice applicants wishing to participate in the live Dallas auditions must first review the note at the end of this page⁺⁺ about Meadows submission and then submit a pre-screening video here (selecting "Meadows Portfolio"). Voice applicants wishing to attend the December 7 audition must submit a pre-screening video by November 1. Voice applicants wishing to attend the January or February auditions must submit a pre-screening video by December 7. All submissions will be evaluated by faculty, and email notification from the Division of Music will follow with instructions on registering for a live audition for candidates who are approved for a live audition in Dallas. Notifications are typically sent within 2 weeks after pre-screening submission deadline.

   Music Composition applicants: review Music Composition admission requirements.

   Can't attend one of the audition dates above? Click here to review instructions for how to Submit a Recorded Audition.

   Recorded Auditions

   While we strongly prefer that a prospective applicant audition in person, we accept auditions through a video recording.

   1. Early Action/Early Decision I/Spring Transfer applicants must submit recording by December 7 for admission and artistic scholarship consideration. Regular Decision/Early Decision II/Fall Transfer applicants must submit recording by January 15 for admission and artistic scholarship consideration.
   2. Review the note at the end of this page⁺⁺ about Meadows submission and then submit YouTube/Vimeo link(s) to your video recordings online through our Recorded Audition Submission Form (selecting "Meadows Portfolio").
   3. Audition repertoire must comply with the stated requirements.
   4. Music faculty may choose an interview or follow-up visit with candidates before reaching an admission decision.

2. Determine which application deadline is right for you: Click here for guidelines

   Which is right for me: Early Action, Regular Decision, or Early Decision?

   In general, we encourage students to apply when their application will be most competitive and to audition when they will be most prepared. Early Action, Regular Decision, and Early Decision applicants are considered equally for artistic scholarships, since we do not begin awarding artistic scholarships until mid-March.

   Early Action: Apply by November 1, audition by/on December 7. The benefit of applying Early Action is that a student will receive their audition results and their SMU admission decision by mid-December. If you apply Early Action, but do not complete your audition by/on December 7, your application to SMU will be deferred until Regular Decision. Early Action is not binding.

   Regular Decision: Apply by January 15, audition in January or February. Regular Decision is appropriate for students who plan to audition in January or February and/or those students whose applications will be more competitive with the inclusion of their first semester senior year grades. Regular Decision applicants typically receive their audition results by early March and their SMU admission decision by mid-March.

   Early Decision is a binding application whereby students commit to attend SMU if admitted: Be sure to review the Early Decision FAQ. Early Decision I: Apply by November 1, audition by/on December 7, receive audition results and SMU admission decision by mid-December. Early Decision II: Apply by January 15, audition by the end of January, receive audition results and SMU admission decision by early March.

   Information for Transfer students:

   Fall Transfer: Apply by April 1 - audition during the posted on-campus audition dates or by recorded audition.

   Spring Transfer: Apply by November 1, audition by/on December 7.

   Note that all transfer students are required to complete college algebra or a college-level math course before transferring to SMU. We strongly encourage you to plan ahead and check with your transfer admission counselor to ensure that you have satisfied this admission requirement. Plan ahead to optimize your possibility of earning a Transfer Scholarship, and check out the Transfer Equivalency Guides.

3. Register online for your audition here

   Click on your area of study below to get to the appropriate audition-scheduling page and, once there, use the calendar to select your desired audition date.

   • Winds, Brass, or Percussion
   • Strings
   • Piano or Organ
   • Voice (Review details here.)

   All voice applicants wishing to participate in the live Dallas auditions must first review the note at the end of this page⁺⁺ about Meadows submission and then submit a pre-screening video here (selecting "Meadows Portfolio"). Voice applicants wishing to attend the December 7 audition must submit a pre-screening video by November 1. Voice applicants wishing to attend the January or February auditions must submit a pre-screening video by December 7. All submissions will be evaluated by faculty, and email notification from the Division of Music will follow with instructions on registering for a live audition for candidates who are approved for a live audition in Dallas. Notifications are typically sent within 2 weeks after pre-screening submission deadline.

4. Review the Test Optional Policy here and determine whether or not to submit test scores with your application

   Test Optional Policy for Dual Admit Applicants to SMU Meadows School of the Arts:
   An SAT or ACT score report is not required for admission consideration from applicants who are seeking admission to Dual Admit programs in the Meadows School of the Arts [Music, Theatre, Dance, Art, Film-BFA]. Applicants should only submit an SAT or ACT score report for academic merit scholarship consideration: The recommended combined score to be considered for academic merit scholarships is 1330 on the SAT or 29 on the ACT.

   Note that students who do not submit test scores will be considered only for artistic scholarship and need-based aid; they will not be considered for scholarships based on academic merit.

   Students who do not submit test scores should list their Meadows major first on their application for admission. Students not admitted to Meadows via their portfolio or audition, but who still wish to be considered for admission to SMU, will be required to submit test scores at that time.

5. Apply to SMU. Review the guidelines in #2 above

6. View and prepare the required undergraduate audition repertoire

7. Complete the Undergraduate Theory Assessment prior to your audition day. You will receive instructions in a separate email after registering to audition

8. Review the Audition Day FAQ sheet

9. Register for the optional Pre-Audition Day: Click here for details

   All SMU On-Campus Music Auditions are offered on Saturdays. The Saturday audition day schedule also includes an information session with student performances and optional campus tours offered by current music students.

   We welcome all candidates to begin their visit to SMU on the Fridays preceding auditions, during the optional Pre-Audition Day, to become better acquainted with our facilities, students and faculty before their audition experience.

   View the Pre-Audition Day Schedule here.

   Please RSVP here to let us know you’re planning to attend the Pre-Audition Day. Also, if you wish to go to the SMU Admission Information Session at 9:30 a.m. and the Campus Tour at 10:00 a.m., please sign up through the SMU Daily Visit form. In order to maximize your involvement in Music on Pre-Audition Day, do not register for the 2:15 p.m. SMU Admission Information Session or the 2:45 p.m. Campus Tour.

10. Complete the Teacher Request Form by February 22 (not required for students in areas with only one faculty member)

11. Review the Financial Aid Process and submit the CSS Profile and the FAFSA, or, the Meadows Waiver Form as soon as possible

Prospective Student Visit Information

All students who attend a Pre-Audition Day will have the opportunity to observe a music class and ensemble rehearsal.

If you are unable to attend a Pre-Audition Day, see instructions below on how to schedule your music class visit and/or sample lesson.

Observing Music Class/Ensemble Rehearsal:

• Make sure to avoid campus breaks by checking the SMU Academic Calendar before you schedule your visit.
• Review our Undergraduate Music Class Schedule and Meadows Music Rehearsal Calendar
• Email musicadmission@smu.edu at least two weeks prior to your visit date with the class(es)/rehearsal(s) that you want to attend, indicating clearly your name, major interest, and the day of your visit. Our staff will notify the faculty member teaching the class to check for availabilities, and you will receive an email from musicadmission@smu.edu confirming your class/rehearsal attendance.

Scheduling a Sample Lesson:

• Make sure to avoid campus breaks by checking the SMU Academic Calendar before you schedule your visit.
• Search by instrument to find the faculty member in your discipline on our Music Faculty List.
• Contact the faculty member directly, cc'ing musicadmission@smu.edu at least two weeks prior to your visit date, to request and schedule your sample lesson. Note that sample lessons are subject to faculty availability.