FAQs

What are the audition dates?

To view a list of upcoming audition dates:
2007-8 Music Audition Dates

How do I sign up for an audition?

Call the School of Music at 607-274-3366, e-mail the School of Music, or ask for a registration card to be sent to you.

Do I need to apply to Ithaca College before I schedule an audition?

No, you may schedule your audition any time you decide what date is best for you. But you need to get your main application in before the date you perform your audition.

Will I need a music recommendation?

Yes, you will get information about the recommendation form once you sign up for an audition. At least one is required, but applicants often send in more than one so that the private teacher and the school music teacher can write on your behalf.

I am interested in the recording degree. What do I need to know about that?

For the sound recording technology degree you must perform your audition at Ithaca. Besides your musical audition, you will also be interviewed by our recording faculty. You must pass your musical audition first and foremost.  For that degree you are just as much a music major as anyone else; it is not just a technical degree. 

Do I need an accompanist for my audition?

Only students auditioning on voice need an accompanist; we require instrumentalists to be unaccompanied. If you audition on voice, you will receive information upon registration about possibly using one of Ithaca's accompanists.  For more information, call us at 607-274-3366. If you are a vocalist and audition off campus, you must provide your own accompanist.

Is an audition required for every degree at Ithaca?

No, students interested in the composition degree can choose to do an instrumental or vocal audition. If you perform an audition, it means you want to study that instrument while pursuing your composition degree. If you decide not to do an audition, your focus will be composition only. In either case, an interview must be scheduled on one of the on-campus dates, and you must submit at least two scores for consideration by the composition faculty.

How early do I have to be there for my audition at Ithaca?

We register you between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m., so generally students that travel a distance come in the night before. The School of Music practice rooms are open for your use that evening. If you would like hotel suggestions, please call us at 607-274-3366. Please plan on being at the College for most of the day, as there are certain areas that do not finish until approximately 3:30 p.m.

How long before I hear the results of my audition?

In most cases, decisions are made in the music school the week after the audition. Once we make our decision in the music school, then the College's admission office reviews all of your application materials and makes the final decision. You will receive one decision from the Ithaca College Office of Admission anytime between your audition and April 15. Most applicants receive their admission decision within about six weeks from the time they audition.

Can I get feedback on the audition?

No. Neither the School of Music nor the Office of Admission provides any feedback about the audition.

Can I pick a teacher I would like to study with if I am accepted?

Yes. In areas where there are multiple faculty members, incoming students can make a request for the teacher with whom they would like to study. The dean of the School of Music makes all of the teacher assignments and in most cases is able to honor requests, but this is not guaranteed. Students who would like to make a formal request must do so in writing between May 1 and June 1 in the year they will be enrolling.

I would really like to take a look at Ithaca before I register for my audition. Is that possible?

Yes, we do information sessions most weekdays and we encourage you to visit with the director of music admission to gain information about the school and to see our facility. Please call us at 607-274-3366 to get on the calendar. You may also visit our web page to find out about open house dates.

Can I transfer to the School of Music?

Yes, the School of Music considers transfer applicants for all degree programs except the bachelor of music in sound recording technology. The admission process is exactly the same for transfer applicants as it is for freshman applicants. You apply formally through the Office of Admission and schedule an audition. For specific questions about transfer credits, please contact the director of music admission at 607-274-3366.

If I am not accepted to the School of Music, but I am accepted to Ithaca College, should I come to Ithaca anyway? Could I enter the Exploratory Program and try again the following year for the School of Music?

This is a very personal decision but is not ideal for most students given the following:

1. Given the competitive nature of admissions in the School of Music, there is no guarantee that an applicant will get into the School of Music the second time. So there is some real risk involved in choosing this option. If students are denied admission to the School of Music the second time, they are put in a difficult position: deciding whether to stay at Ithaca College in another major, or to leave Ithaca altogether and attend an institution where they can study music.
   
   
2. Even in the best case scenario, when students are accepted into the School of Music that second time, they are then considered first-year students in the School of Music, even though they may have spent a full year in another major at the College. That means they would then have to spend four and a half to five years at Ithaca to complete a four-year music degree.

These are important considerations to make if presented with this option by the Office of Admission.