Musicology application information

All undergraduate applicants must apply to the University of Colorado and complete a College of Music Admission Application. Applications may be obtained online through the Admissions section. Undergraduate auditions will not be scheduled until both applications have been received. Graduate students need only complete the graduate application.

Undergraduate application instructions听

Application requirements

For prospective majors in musicology (including Western music history and world music), the audition process has several parts:

  1. You must submit a short research paper (7-12 pages double-spaced) no later than Feb. 1 via your applicant portal. This paper will be evaluated for clarity, accuracy听and critical acuity. It need not be on music but should rather represent your best work in any field and show your ability to research a topic and evaluate information critically.
  2. You must submit a short music essay responding to one of the following prompts:
    1. Tell us why you would like to be a music major, describe your most powerful musical experience鈥痑nd list your future goals as a musician. Comment on your musical background and share anything else you would like us to know.
    2. 鈥淢usic lets you rediscover your humanity, and your connection to humanity.鈥 -Hans Zimmer. In what ways do you believe music can or should connect people across difference?
  3. You must pass an audition on an orchestral or band instrument; classical guitar; piano or harpsichord; voice; or jazz styles at the appropriate level.鈥疶he audition will be evaluated jointly by a minimum of two musicologists and two applied faculty in relevant performance area or areas.

Applicants may choose to audition in-person or remotely. To audition remotely, applicants must complete both听of听the following:

  1. Submit a recording
  2. Register for a Zoom interview with faculty.

More information about the audition process and recording specifications can be found .

Degree sheets

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Graduate application instructions

Historical performance + research听

Master of Music (MM)鈥

Audition (20 minutes)

  • 1 English pavan and galliard鈥揃yrd, Bull or Gibbons
  • 1 toccata鈥揋irolamo Frescobaldi
  • 1 17th/18th-century French suite constituted by the applicant鈥揕. Couperin, D鈥橝nglebert, F. Couperin or Rameau
  • 1 Prelude and fugue (WTC I or II)鈥揓.S. Bach

In addition to the required resume, personal statement, transcript and letters of recommendation, applicants to the MM in historical performance + research must also submit a writing sample that is an academic paper demonstrating research and writing skills.

Writing sample: An academic paper demonstrating ability in critical thinking, research techniques and skill in the cogent use of English.听

Musicology

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Historical Musicology and Ethnomusicology听

  • A writing sample (term paper) is required of all PhD musicology applicants. The document should demonstrate ability in critical thinking, appropriate research techniques and skill in the cogent use of English. Writing samples should be uploaded to your application in the digital portfolio tab.

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