Admission Requirements
For application and admission information, contact admissions
Bachelor of Music 
Applicants must meet CMU's regular admission requirements and perform an entrance audition on their primary instrument (voice included) in order to gain entry into the music degree program.
Bachelor of Music Therapy
All students wanting to pursue the 4-year Music Therapy degree must first audition and be accepted into the School of Music for two years of music studies. Applicants may apply for entry into the Bachelor of Music Therapy program at the end of their second year of study. The admission requirements, needing to be met after two years of study in the School of Music, are: a minimum grade of "C" in MUSC-2010, MUSC-2110, a minimum grade of "C+" in PSYC-1010 and PSYC-1020, a minimum grade of "B" in MUSC-2800, an interview, an audition, and testing of competencies in keyboard, guitar, and voice.
2025 Music Therapy Audition Dates:
- March 2025 – by appointment (current CMU students only)
- April 2025 – by appointment (non-CMU students)
Priority for the audition dates listed above will be given to students who have submitted their Music Therapy Application Package by January 15, 2025. After January 15, please contact admissions
CMU Music Students who have successfully completed all prerequisites should complete the Music Therapy Program Application for Current Students of CMU. This can be found on the student hub.
Non-CMU students (Transfer or After-Degree students) must first apply and gain general admission to CMU before becoming eligible to audition. For application and admission questions, contact admissions
Bachelor of Music Therapy, two-year After Degree
Applicants who have completed a Bachelor of Music (or its equivalent) with a minimum GPA of 2.5 may apply for entry into the Bachelor of Music Therapy, two-year after degree program. The admission requirements are: a completion of PSYC-1010 and PSYC-1020, an interview, an audition, and testing of competencies in keyboard, guitar, and voice.
2025 Music Therapy After Degree Audition Dates:
- March 2025 – by appointment (current CMU students only)
- April 2025 – by appointment (non-CMU students)
Priority for the audition dates listed above will be given to students who have submitted their Music Therapy Application Package by January 15, 2025. After January 15, please contact admissions
CMU Music Students who have successfully completed all prerequisites should complete the Music Therapy Program Application for Current Students of CMU. This can be found on the student hub.
Non-CMU students (Transfer or After-Degree students) must first apply and gain general admission to CMU before becoming eligible to audition. For application and admission questions, contact admissions
Bachelor of Arts, three or four year, with a Major in Music
Applicants must meet CMU's regular admission requirements. A student must earn a minimum grade of "C" in six credit hours of introductory music to declare a major in this field.
Audition Information
2025 Audition Dates
- Thursday, February 13 (afternoon)
- Thursday, March 13
- Friday, March 14
- Saturday, March 29 (Merit Scholarship applicants must audition before March 31, 2025)
- Friday, May 16
Schedule an Audition
- Auditions can be scheduled through a form on the application portal (only available once the application to CMU has been submitted).
Audition Information for Bachelor of Music Applicants
All applicants hoping to pursue either the Bachelor of Music degree or the Bachelor of Music Therapy degree are required to perform an audition on their primary instrument (voice included) in order to gain entry into the music degree program.
Auditions are held between February and May. Audition dates later in spring or summer may become available as space allows. Out-of-province applicants may submit a recording, due by May 31. However, an audition remains incomplete until the in-person music skills evaluation, interview, and the music theory placement test have been completed. Auditions can be recorded for Merit Award purposes, if requested.
Entrance Auditions consist of:
- A performance of two contrasting pieces (or movements of different works) on the instrument or voice you plan to study at CMU. Song choices can be in different styles/genres, all on 1 instrument or on 2 different instruments. Song choices can include but aren't limited to original songs, cover songs, classical works, improvisation/jams, hymns, cover songs etc.
- A music theory placement test, including:
- melodic and rhythmic dictation
- notation of scales (major, minor, whole tone) in various keys, in treble, bass, or alto clefs
- identification and notation of intervals in treble and bass clefs
- notation of triads and seventh chords in various inversions in treble and bass clefs
- Aural skills testing, including melody sing back, sight singing and reading, and rhythm recognition.
- A short conversation with members of the CMU School of Music faculty.
* Upon request, a pianist can be available for the audition (however, not for rehearsal).
Audition Information for Non-Music Students Wanting to Take Individual Applied Music Studies
Individual Applied Music Studies (IAMS) are music lessons for credit, for which students must formally register and audition. IAMS are open to all CMU students who are enrolled for at least one course each semester at CMU.
Non-music students registering for IAMS for the first time must complete a placement audition in order to be placed with an instructor. Placement auditions are held during the September registration week. Students auditioning for 5 or 3 credit hour instruction (60- or 45-minute lesson) are asked to prepare two contrasting pieces, and one piece for 2 credit hour instruction (30-minute lesson).
Further details regarding IAMS arrangements and requirements (including early withdrawal and refunds) are found in the Music Student Handbook.
Ensembles Auditions
CMU offers a wide variety of ensembles which are open to all CMU students taking at least one course each semester. Click here for a list of the ensembles CMU offers. Ensemble members are not required to be music majors. However, all music students must participate in ensembles.
Students must register and audition for ensembles. Ensemble auditions are held during the September registration week. Acceptance into the music program does not automatically qualify a student for placement in CMU Ensembles. Students are asked to prepare one piece to play or sing, as is appropriate to their intended ensemble. A pianist is provided where needed.
Students who would like to be full participants in ensembles, but do not wish to receive credit, may register according to audit procedures. However, the same course requirements (full participation and attendance at all events) apply. Students who have registered for ensemble credit, but who are not chosen to participate, will be fully reimbursed.
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Dr. Janet Brenneman, Dean, School of Music; Associate Professor of Music
