re you interested in majoring in music but uncertain how and where to begin your college search? Selecting the right music school from hundreds of possibilities can be a daunting task. While the college selection process you will go through is similar to that of others with different majors (see Planning Your College Search and Planning Your High School Academic Program, publications of the DePauw University Admission Counseling Service), music schools look for additional qualifications from their applicants, and certain aspects of the admission process
are markedly different.

Selecting a School of Music

Planning

As an applicant to a music program, you will generally have to please two sets of admission personnel who will be evaluating different aspects of your academic and extracurricular record. Most schools require approval by both the university admission office and the music school or department. The ideal applicant is a well-rounded individual who has pursued a rigorous college preparatory curriculum in high school, has been active in a variety of extracurricular and community service activities and has demonstrated excellence in music through participation in activities such as musical ensembles and solo and ensemble competitions. In addition, the applicant who has studied his or her instrument privately is looked upon more favorably.

The most important element of the application process for a music student, however, is the audition. A well-played audition can make up for shortcomings in an applicant's record to some extent. Likewise, a poorly played audition can keep a terrific student out of the school of his or her choice!

Conservatory

Your next choice becomes conservatory, school or department: What type of institution is right for you?

The conservatory focuses on performance by providing rigorous musical training. Students at a conservatory immerse themselves in an environment of practice and take courses that are often limited only to musical subjects. Although most American conservatories do offer liberal arts courses, they are viewed as supplemental to the more important music curriculum.

Some conservatories are also able to offer a wide variety of liberal arts courses through arrangements made with other academic institutions. In order to take the liberal arts classes that are required for a bachelor's degree, however, a conservatory student will have to balance the schedules of each institution and allow time for travel between the two campuses.

School of Music

The school of music, attached to a college or university, provides flexibility in a musical education. As part of a university, schools of music not only offer a full range of music classes but also offer general education classes through their parent institution. In addition, a school of music enjoys the support and facilities of its parent institution, including residence halls, extracurricular activities and greater opportunities to pursue double majors. Schools of music vary in size and quality dramatically - from fewer than 100 students to more than 1,000. Degree offerings can also vary greatly. Schools of music offer degrees in music, which are often necessary for musical study on the graduate level, and students who earn bachelor's degrees are prepared for a variety of employments outside of music or in academic fields. This environment is ideal for the student who desires a wide variety of career options.

Department of Music

The department of music, a part of a university or college, is typically somewhat more limited in size and scope than a conservatory or school of music. While a department of music may offer a professional degree in music, it often focuses on the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in music and/or a music minor.

A goal of many departments of music is to provide course work and performance opportunities in music for students seeking degrees in other fields. The variety of music course offerings, performance ensembles and specialists for instruction in applied music is often less extensive than in conservatories or schools of music. Students in departments of music enjoy all of the advantages, such as libraries and residence halls, of being a well integrated part of the parent institution.