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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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Entrepreneurship

Creating a rich environment for incubation of new ideas and approaches.

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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 alongside 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 2025

Jazz Admissions

Developing jazz professionals at the highest level

Jazz

Key Admission Dates

Fall 2025

  • Priority Deadline December 1
  • Audition Dates January 25, February 8, February 22 (other dates by appointment)
  • Final Deadline February 1
  • Decisions Released February and March
Jazz

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 Performance – Jazz Studies
  • 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.
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


Be sure to review the audition requirements for your instrument.

Jazz

Audition Requirements

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Select your instrument from the list below to view audition requirements

Jazz All jazz instruments

Auditions are accepted on the following instruments: Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drum Set

Drum Set applicants: In addition to the following list, applicants will prepare the snare drum etude “Rolling in Rhythm” from Charley Wilcoxin’s Modern Rudimental Swing Solos and may be asked to demonstrate other styles as well.

Applicants should prepare three jazz selections, one from each of the three categories listed below:

  1. Swing or Latin (select one):
    All The Things You Are
    All Of Me
    Autumn Leaves
    Doxy
    How High The Moon (or Ornithology)
    Just Friends
    Take The A Train
    There Will Never Be Another You
    Oleo (rhythm changes)
    Cottontail (rhythm changes)
    I Got Rhythm (rhythm changes)
    Blue Bossa
    The Girl From Ipanema
  2. Blues (select one):
    Blue Monk
    Straight, No Chaser
    Billie’s Bounce
    Tenor Madness
  3. Ballad (select one):
    My One and Only Love
    In a Sentimental Mood
    Polka Dots and Moonbeams

Applicants who chose to submit a recorded audition: selections should be recorded with a rhythm section or backing track if possible.

Jazz

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

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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.