Northern Illinois University
School of Music
College of Visual and Performing Arts

Admission for undergraduate and graduate music majors is a two-part procedure. Every student must be accepted by both the university for general admission and the School of Music in order to pursue a degree. A successful audition* is required for admission as a music major to all undergraduate programs and most graduate programs. While you may declare yourself as a music major when applying to the university, you will not achieve that status until you have auditioned and been formally accepted (in writing) by the School of Music.

Spring applicants should contact Brigid Findley (Crawford) at bcrawford@niu.edu to schedule their audition. Applicants must submit all application materials and complete an audition/interview prior to the December 1 spring application deadline.

The priority deadline for fall applicants to submit all application materials is: 

• Graduate Students - Wednesday, March 1, 2023
• Undergraduate Students - Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Following priority deadlines, applications and auditions will be reviewed as there is space available in studios or until May 15. Please contact Brigid Findley (Crawford) at bcrawford@niu.edu regarding appropriate next steps in the application and audition process.

On Your Audition Day

• Check-in at the Music Building for your audition
  • Travel and parking information
• Mandatory welcome meeting and overview
• Area welcome meeting
• Ability to utilize practice rooms
• Scheduled audition time
  • You will receive your time on the day of your audition. If you are aware of a time conflict on your specific date, please contact Brigid Findley (Crawford) at bcrawford@niu.edu. We will do our best to accommodate but cannot guarantee specific time requests.
• Optional campus tour

In addition to performing your prepared audition repertoire, the audition will include an aural skills assessment, which may include sight-reading and pitch matching. Please let us know if you need any special accommodations for your audition day at least one week prior.

Music Theory Information

You will complete aural skills and sight-reading exercises as a part of the audition. Music Theory credit from other institutions and/or Advanced Placement (AP) credit for Music Theory is not accepted for specific music theory credit by the School of Music.

Upon acceptance to the School of Music, all transfer music majors and minor students will complete a Music Theory Placement exam. First-year students that have completed any music theory coursework or the Music Theory AP exam are welcome to take the placement exam if interested in attempting a higher music theory placement.

• Theory placement exam guide (PDF)
• Music Theory: What to expect (PDF)

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*If your travel situation makes it impossible to be present for a live audition, you may submit a video audition with prior approval from the Admissions Coordinator. Video submissions must not be edited or enhanced to change the quality of the audition. If the video submitted is suspected of being edited or enhanced, you will be asked to submit a new audition

The School of Music reserves the right to change the format of auditions, in accordance with university, local, state, and federal guidelines and procedures to ensure the health and safety of all parties.

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