Graduate Admissions
Click here for Undergraduate Admissions
Click to download the Graduate Music Student Handbook (Word doc)
General Admission Requirements
Graduate Degree Programs/Areas of Concentration
Audition Dates
Music Application/Audition Request Forms
Departmental Contacts
Audition Requirements
Come and Visit Us
Scholarships and Financial Aid
General Admission Requirements
Acceptance into a Music Department Graduate program requires academic acceptance by the University as well as acceptance by the Music Department. The Music Department part of the application process includes an audition (for degrees with a performance component) or submission of appropriate scores and documents (for degrees which have no performance component) Please see below for clarification.
Academic application forms for admission to graduate study are available from the UMass Amherst Graduate School web page or from the Graduate Admissions Office:
GRADUATE ADMISSIONS OFFICE
University of Massachusetts Amherst
530 Goodell Building
140 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003-9333
(413) 545-0722
E-mail: gradadm@grad.umass.edu
Academic applications must be submitted by October 1 for spring admission and January 15 for fall admission.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, national origin, mental or physical disability, or veteran status, in any aspect of the admission or treatment of students or in employment.
Dance: The Music & Dance Department does not offer graduate degrees in Dance. See http://www.umass.edu/dance/ for descriptions of the undergraduate degrees offered. For information about graduate dance programs in the area, see the Five College Dance Department site or the Smith College MFA in Dance site.
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Graduate Degree Programs
As well as applying through the UMass Amherst Graduate School, graduate applicants in Music should notify the Music & Dance Department Graduate Program Director, T. Dennis Brown (413-545-6135) of their intent to apply. Applicants may also contact the appropriate area-of-concentration program director (see below) if more specific information about the degree program and its requirements is desired. Information is also available in the Music Programs & Degrees page of this website and the Graduate Handbook.
Not all graduate music degree programs require an audition for acceptance.
Graduate programs which DO require an audition (before March 1st):
Masters in Music:
- Performance (all instruments/voice)
- Collaborative Piano
- Music Education / Applied
- Music Education / Conducting (Choral or Instrumental)
Ph.D. in Music:
- Music Education / Applied or Conducting
Graduate programs which DO NOT require an audition:
Masters in Music:
- Music Theory
- Musicology
- Music Education / Research
- Music Education / Classroom Methods
- Jazz Composition and Arranging
Ph.D. in Music:
- Music Theory
- Music Education / Research or Classroom Methods
If your degree program does not require an audition, you may elect to perform an audition if you would like to be considered for a Teaching Assistantship (TA) that includes performing. Ensemble auditions are always required for placement in ensembles. You must submit any required scores or other documents to the Graduate Program Director, T. Dennis Brown.
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Audition Dates
UMass Amherst Audition dates for 09-10: (for graduate or undergrad applicants)
All instruments (except String family instruments):
Saturdays:
December 5, 2009 (Suggested date for "early action" applicants)
February 6, 2010 (Includes strings)
February 20, 2010
March 6, 2010 (Suggested last date for non-transfer Fall 2010 applicants)
March 27, 2010 (Suggested date for Transfer applicants)
Violin, viola, cello, double bass:
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 (Suggested date for "early action" applicants)
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010 (Suggested date for Transfer applicants)
Students should schedule an audition as early as possible, and may do so even before submitting the application for academic acceptance. Auditions may take place prior to academic acceptance to the University; however, Music Department faculty cannot hear an audition unless a University application has been submitted.
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Music Application / Audition Request Form
The form is available online (submitted electronically). Alternatively, the Department can mail you the appropriate forms to fill out and mail back; contact the Admissions Director (413-545-6048, cthornley@music.umass.edu) to request the form.
To access online forms:
MUSIC APPLICATION / AUDITION REQUEST FORM
Audition Requirements
When an audition is required for admission to a Graduate Program (see above), applicants are expected to perform in various period styles within the repertory of their instrument/voice, before March 1st. Please visit the Graduate Audition Requirements page for specific repertory, general audition guidelines, and studio professor contact information.
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Departmental Contacts
Graduate Program Director
Professor T. Dennis Brown
Department of Music and Dance, Fine Arts Center Room 265 East
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003-9330
Phone: 413-545-6135
e-mail: tdbrown@music.umass.edu
Music Theory: Professor Gary Karpinski, garykarp@music.umass.edu, 413-545-4229
Musicology: Professor Miriam Whaples, whaples@music.umass.edu, 413-545-1247
Jazz Composition & Arranging: Professor Jeffrey Holmes, jwholmes@music.umass.edu, 413-545-6046
Performance: Contact the Professor who teaches your instrument/voice (See Music Faculty by Discipline/Instrument) For the Graduate String Quartet Program, contact Kathryn Lockwood.
Collaborative Piano: Professor Nadine Shank, shank@nadineshank.com, 413-545-0053
Music Education: Professor Benedict Smar, bsmar@acad.umass.edu, 413-577-1214
Additional information or mailed forms may be obtained from the Music & Dance Department Director of Admissions:
Christopher Thornley, Director of Admissions
cthornley@music.umass.edu
(413) 545-6048
Fine Arts Center Room 273
UMass Amherst
Amherst, MA 01003-9300
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Come and Visit Us
We welcome visits by prospective students and their families and can arrange meetings with faculty and students, attendance at classes and rehearsals, and tours. Please contact the Department (Chris Thornley, cthornley@music.umass.edu, 413-545-6048) in advance to schedule an appointment.
Useful links:
Music Department Travel Directions & Map (pdf)
UMass Amherst Robsham Visitors Center
Parking Information
UMass Amherst Travel Directions
Campus Map
Area Lodging
Campus Tours
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Scholarships and Financial Aid
Click here for a list and descriptions of Music & Dance Department scholarships and awards.
UMass Amherst Financial Aid Services
255 Whitmore Building
Box 38230
Amherst, MA 01003-8230
(413) 545-0801
www.umass.edu/umfa
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