Auditions for Fall Entry

Students should apply to the University of Iowa as a Music Interest major. Upon admission, the Music Supplemental Application will be available in the Admission Profile in MyUI. Audition requirements are listed by instrument area in the Future Students section. 

Students must be admitted to the University of Iowa and successfully audition for the School of Music before they may become music majors. Students are encouraged to apply and audition in the early spring of the senior year of high school.

Entering first-year and transfer students who plan to major in music must be accepted into a performance area through audition either in person or by recording before they register.  All entering students, including transfer students, must complete a theory placement exam and a piano proficiency exam to determine appropriate placement in related courses.

In addition to the application and audition, one letter of recommendation is required. The letter should be written by the applicant's private teacher or their band/choir/orchestra director. The letter may be mailed directly from the writer or the student may bring it in a sealed envelope to the audition.

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If you have questions about applying, please e-mail music-admissions@uiowa.edu.

Transfer students

Transfer students admitted into the School of Music must complete a minimum of one year of applied music (lower- or upper-level) and one year of major ensemble at the University of Iowa in order to earn a degree in music. Transfer students who currently have a scholarship must complete a Transfer Release Form  before they may be offered a University of Iowa School of Music scholarship.

Candidates for the Composition/Theory Area

Submit either a composition or a theory analysis to the head of the area, and audition with an applied faculty member.

Candidates for the Music Therapy degree program

Audition with an applied faculty member.

Candidates for the Music K-12 Teacher Licensure

Any student who, upon graduation from high school, has a 3.0 high school GPA and who has been accepted into a music studio will be directly admitted into the K-12 Music Licensure Program and will enter the BA in music education program. This admission is contingent upon submission and acceptance of official verification of the music students’ high school GPA prior to the start of freshman year, and completion of required paperwork (application form and 10 volunteer hours in K-12 school) prior to the start of the second semester freshmen year.

All other students will apply to the teacher education program after their freshman year. Please contact Jeremy Manternach, music education area head, for more details.