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Graduate Admissions

Whether you are looking to advance in your current career path or perhaps make a career change, our graduate programs provide the opportunities to focus your studies even further. Take your education to the next level in one of dozens of programs available.

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Choose your area of study to see all relevant admission details.

Choose your area of study

Arts Administration

Providing an education in arts management and leadership.

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Brass

Fostering limitless experiences and connections.

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Commercial Music

Providing hands-on experience as performers, engineers and producers.

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Conducting

Gaining leadership and entrepreneurial skills for the 21st Century.

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Jazz

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Keyboard

Offering exceptional training for performers and teachers.

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Liberal Arts in Music

Pursuing a passion for music along with other academic interests.

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Music Education

Preparing tomorrow’s teachers and researchers.

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Music Therapy

Building careers using music in service to and rehabilitation of others.

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Musicology

Training socially responsible scholar-musicians of the highest caliber.

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Percussion

Building skillsets for successful, competitive musicians.

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Piano Technology

Providing valuable experience in repair and restoration situations.

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Strings

Preparing students to excel as a versatile, modern musician.

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Theory & Composition

Training musicians through outstanding instruction and mentorship.

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Voice & Opera

Developing students for a multitude of performing opportunities.

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Woodwinds

Preparing students for diverse careers in teaching and performance.

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Fall 2024

Brass Admissions

Offer students the highest level of applied instruction, ensemble experience and diverse selection of coursework.

Brass

Key Admission Dates

Fall 2024

  • Application and Prescreening Deadline December 1
  • Prescreening Results Released December 15
  • Audition Dates January 27, February 10, February 24 (other dates by appointment)
  • Decisions Released February and March
Brass

Application Requirements

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1

1 Apply to Florida State University


Complete the Florida State University Application and pay the $30 application fee.

Grade Point Average

In order to meet the Florida State University requirements for graduate admission, applicants must have earned a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree. Applicants not meeting this requirement may be considered for admission, but only by special exception.  To determine your upper-division GPA, please consult the  GPA calculation worksheet.  If your upper-division GPA is below a 3.0, please be sure to address this deficiency in your Statement of Purpose.  You are also encouraged to have your referees address your academic preparedness for graduate study in their letters of recommendation.

International Students

The College of Music admissions requirements exceed University minimum standards. Official English Language Proficiency results are required of all international applicants whose native language is not English, including applicants who have already studied in an English speaking country for any length of time.

For admission, attain the minimum required score on one of the following exams:

Additionally, to be eligible for a graduate assistantship:

  • Students must score a minimum of 26 on the speaking portion of the IBTOEFL or;
  • Achieve a score of 50 on the SPEAK Test (offered by FSU) to qualify for a graduate assistantship.
2

2 Apply to the College of Music


Complete the College of Music Supplemental Application and any additional materials required for your program. The Supplemental Application allows you to select your audition date, and will be added to your Application Checklist within 1-2 hours of submitting your application to FSU.

Master of Music in Brass Performance
  • Submit prescreening recordings (instructions below) by December 1.
  • Comprehensive Solo Repertoire List
    • This is a list of all significant solo works you have studied to date.
  • Vita/Resume
    • Include education, background, experience, honors and awards, publications, names of former teachers, and any other important information.
  • Statement of Purpose
    • There is no required format or prompt for the Statement of Purpose. Most are 1-2 pages in length and discuss the applicant’s background, career goals, and potential for success in the program. This may be formatted as a cover letter to accompany the Vita/Resume.
  • Letters of Recommendation (3 required)
    • You will enter your recommenders’ contact information through the Application Status Check.
Doctor of Music in Brass Performance
  • Submit prescreening recordings (instructions below) by December 1.
  • Comprehensive Solo Repertoire List
    • This is a list of all significant solo works you have studied to date.
  • Vita/Resume
    • Include education, background, experience, honors and awards, publications, names of former teachers, and any other important information.
  • Statement of Purpose
    • There is no required format or prompt for the Statement of Purpose. Most are 1-2 pages in length and discuss the applicant’s background, career goals, and potential for success in the program. This may be formatted as a cover letter to accompany the Vita/Resume.
  • Scholarly Writing Sample
    • Acceptable scholarly writing sample may include either
      • A paper of at least 5 pages submitted for an MM-level course, including proper citations and appropriate bibliography; or
      • Program notes for the pieces to be performed for the audition (same criteria for minimum length, citations and bibliography apply)
    • Please note that an anti-plagiarism monitoring program to ensure the originality of the work may be used to check papers.
  • Letters of Recommendation (3 required)
    • You will enter your recommenders’ contact information through the Application Status Check.
3

3 Submit transcripts from all previously attended institutions


For the purposes of the admission review, transcripts may be official or unofficial. Prior to matriculation, entering students are required to submit final, official transcripts.

4

4 Complete your audition


For those who pass the prescreen round only – be sure to review the audition requirements below for your instrument.

Brass

Audition Requirements

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Select your instrument from the list below to view audition requirements

Brass Trumpet
Prescreening Requirements (MM and DM):

Video recording, one take, in the following order:

  • Charlier, Etude No. 6, measures 1-35 on B-flat trumpet
  • Handel, Suite in D Major, Movement I, unaccompanied on A piccolo trumpet
  • Haydn, Concerto in E-flat, Movement I, exposition only, measures 37-83 on E-flat trumpet, unaccompanied

Orchestral Excerpts:

  • Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition, Promenade
  • Stravinsky, Petrouchka (1947), Ballerina Dance, Begin 4th measure of rehearsal #134
  • Respighi, Pines of Rome, Off-Stage Solo, Mvt. II
Audition Requirements (MM and DM):
  • Two contrasting solos (one movement each from two contrasting separate works)
  • One étude from either Brandt, Charlier, or Bitsch
  • Orchestral Excerpts:
    • Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition, Promenade
    • Stravinsky, Petrouchka (1947), Ballerina Dance, Begin 4th measure of rehearsal #134
    • Respighi, Pines of Rome, Off-Stage Solo, Mvt. II
    • Ives, Variations on “America”, Variation V, Letter “O” to Letter “P”
  • An example of small horn playing – either E-flat or piccolo or both.

Applicants who have questions about appropriate audition repertoire please contact Dr. Chris Moore.

Brass Horn
Prescreening Requirements (MM and DM):

Video recording to include:

  • Mozart Horn Concerto #2, K. 417: 1st movement exposition or #4, K. 495: 1st movement exposition (MM applicants may choose either, DM applicants must choose K. 495)
  • Orchestral excerpts (in one take, in an order of your choosing):
    • Shostakovich Symphony #5 – Horn 1, mvt. 1, Rehearsal 17 to one measure after 21
    • R. Strauss: Till Eulenspiegel – Horn 1, Beginning to rehearsal 1
    • R. Strauss: Ein Heldenleben – Horn 1, Beginning to rehearsal 5
    • One high excerpt
      • Bach: Brandenburg Concerto #1 – Horn 1, mvt. 4, Trio 2
      • Beethoven Symphony #7 – Horn 1, mvt 1, 25 before C to two measures after C or Wagner Gotterdamerung – short call
Audition Requirements (MM and DM):
  • Mozart Horn Concerto #2, K. 417: 1st movement exposition or #4, K. 495: 1st movement exposition (MM applicants may choose either, DM applicants must choose K. 495)
  • Contrasting solo
  • Orchestral Excerpts:
    • Brahms: Symphony #3 – Horn 1, mvt. 3, one measure before F to 12 after F
    • Shostakovich Symphony #5 – Horn 1, mvt. 1, Rehearsal 17 to one measure after 21
    • R. Strauss: Till Eulenspiegel – Horn 1, Beginning to rehearsal 1
    • R. Strauss: Ein Heldenleben – Horn 1, Beginning to rehearsal 5
    • One high excerpt:
      • Bach: Brandenburg Concerto #1 – Horn 1, mvt. 4, Trio 2
      • Beethoven Symphony #7 – Horn 1, mvt 1, 25 before C to two measures after C or Wagner Gotterdamerung – short call
  • Sight reading

Applicants who have questions about appropriate audition repertoire please contact Prof. Michelle Stebleton.

Brass Tenor Trombone
Prescreening Requirements (MM and DM):
  • Submit a one- to three-minute video recording on which you verbally introduce yourself and discuss your musical interests, teaching experience, career goals, and reasons for applying to FSU’s College of Music.
  • Solo work (one movement or a shorter piece, with or without piano)
  • Contrasting solo work or etude (with or without piano)
  • Three orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire of contrasting style.
Audition Requirements (MM and DM):
  • Four works (a movement counts as work) of contrasting styles from the following list:
    • Jacques Castérède – Sonatine
    • Enrique Crespo – Improvisation No. 1
    • Dorothy Gates – Servant of Peace
    • Launy Grøndahl – Concerto
    • Frank Martin – Ballade
    • Henri Tomasi – Concerto
  • 5 orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire
  • Scales and sight reading may be asked

Applicants who have questions about appropriate audition repertoire please contact Dr. Hana Beloglavec.

Brass Bass Trombone
Prescreening Requirements (MM and DM):
  • Submit a one- to three-minute video recording on which you verbally introduce yourself and discuss your musical interests, teaching experience, career goals, and reasons for applying to FSU’s College of Music.
  • Solo work (one movement or a shorter piece, with or without piano)
  • Contrasting solo work or etude (with or without piano)
  • Three orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire of contrasting style.
Audition Requirements (MM and DM):
  • Four works (a movement counts as work) of contrasting styles from the following list:
    • Eugene Bozza – New Orleans
    • Daniela Candillari – Extremely Close
    • Eric Ewazen – Concerto
    • Thom Ritter George – Concerto for Bass Trombone
    • David Gillingham – Sonata
    • Ralph Vaughan Williams – Tuba Concerto
  • 5 orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire
  • Scales and sight reading may be asked

Applicants who have questions about appropriate audition repertoire please contact Dr. Hana Beloglavec.

Brass Euphonium
Prescreening Requirements (MM and DM):

Video uploads, unedited, from within the last two years:

  • Rochut: Melodious Etude #52
  • Grainger: Molly on the Shore, measures 71-99
  • Sousa: Stars and Stripes Forever, entire piece with no repeats
  • Schuman: New England Triptych – When Jesus Wept, measures 4-28
Audition Requirements (MM and DM):
  • Two solo works of contrasting styles from the following list:
    • Cosma: Concerto for Euphonium
    • Curnow: Symphonic Variants
    • Ellerby: Concerto for Euphonium
    • Gillingham: Blue Lake Fantasies
    • Horovitz: Concerto for Euphonium
    • Sparke: Pantomime
    • Sparke: Harlequin
    • Stevens: Soliloquies
  • One etude from Mead New Concert Studies: Court, “”Reflections”” or Curnow, “”Flying High””
  • Four standard wind band excerpts from the following list:
    • Grainger: Molly on the Shore
    • Holst: First Suite for Military Band
    • King: The Melody Shop
    • Makris: Aegean Festival Overture
    • Schoenberg: Theme and Variations
    • Shostakovich: Festive Overture
    • Smith: Festival Variations
    • Sousa: Stars and Stripes Forever
    • Sullivan: Pineapple Poll
    • Tchaikovsky: Finale from Symphony No. 4 (trans. Safranek)

Applicants who have questions about appropriate repertoire please contact Dr. Matt Hightower.

Brass Tuba
Prescreening Requirements (MM and DM):

Recording uploads, unedited, from within the last two years (video required, CD or DVD recordings will not be accepted):

  • Snedecor: Low Register Etude #4
  • Wagner: Overture to Die Meistersinger, Rehearsal J to Rehearsal L
  • Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5, First Movement, Rehearsal 3 to Rehearsal 6
  • Berlioz: Hungarian March, Rehearsal 4 to four measures after Rehearsal 5
Audition Requirements (MM and DM):
  • Two solo works of contrasting styles from the following list:
    • Broughton: Sonata
    • Daugherty: Reflections on the Mississippi
    • Hindemith: Sonata
    • Kraft: Encounters
    • Penderecki: Capriccio
    • Plau: Concerto for Tuba
    • Vaughan Williams: Concerto for Tuba
    • Williams (John): Concerto for Tuba
  • Snedecor Low Register Etude #5 or #6
  • Four standard orchestral or wind band excerpts from the following list:
    • Berlioz: Hungarian March
    • Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
    • Grainger: Lincolnshire Posy
    • Hindemith: Symphony in B Flat
    • Holst: First Suite for Military Band
    • Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5
    • Sousa: Stars and Stripes Forever
    • Vaughan Williams: Toccata Marziale
    • Wagner: Overture to Die Meistersinger
    • Wagner: Ride of the Valkyries

Applicants who have questions about appropriate repertoire please contact Dr. Matt Hightower.

Brass

Audition Day Itinerary

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Time
Location
Description
Time: 8:00 AM
Location: HMU 214
Check-In
Time: 8:30 AM
Location: Various
Audition Appointments
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Opperman Music Hall
General Information Session

Meet Associate Dean Liz Avery and key staff members from the College of Music. Learn more about the programs and opportunities for graduate students, including details regarding the admission process, student funding, and life in Tallahassee. Question and answer session with current students will follow.

Time: 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM
Location: Allen Music Library (HMU)
Tours of the Warren D. Allen Music Library
Time: All afternoon
Location:  KMU 214
Drop in to chat with Admissions

Have all of your final questions answered! Speak one-on-one with an admissions representative.

Common Questions

Expand All
How do I apply for a scholarship or graduate assistantship?

Everyone who completes the application process (including interview and/or audition, if required) is automatically considered for scholarships and assistantships, and no additional application is necessary.  Only graduate students interested in auditioning for accompanying or group piano teaching assistantships are required to take an additional audition.  Contact College of Music Admissions for further details.

Is a prescreening recording required?

Prescreenings are required for the following instruments/degree programs:

  • MM or DM in Brass Performance
  • MM or DM in String Performance (Violin only)
  • MM or DM in Woodwind Performance
  • MM or DM in Voice Performance
  • MM or DM in Piano Performance
  • MM in Piano Pedagogy
  • MM or DM in Accompanying
  • MM in Opera Coaching

Prescreening submissions are due by December 1 and results will be released by December 15. Applicants who are successful in this first round will be invited to campus for a full audition on one of the dates listed above. (Music Theatre will have a second round via Zoom, followed by a final round on campus).

Is an accompanist provided?

An accompanist is provided, free of charge, for all voice and music theatre auditions on campus. Rehearsal time is not provided, however, and scores should not be submitted in advance. Please bring neat copies, in a book or organized in a binder, in the appropriate key(s). Students may bring their own accompanist to the audition if they wish.

Instrumental auditions will be unaccompanied.

How many times may I audition?

Students are allowed a maximum of three audition attempts per instrument/voice, per degree level (bachelors, master’s, doctoral). Applicants are allowed one audition per application.