Terms Every Music Major (and Parent) Needs to Know!
BY: INSIDE MUSIC SCHOOLS
Our goal at Inside Music Schools is to help students and parents navigate the college admissions process successfully. A large part of this is gaining an understanding of common words and phrases you might come across on a website or hear from admissions counselors. So, we’ve compiled a glossary of some of the most common terms. This is not an exhaustive list; if you’re interested in further information, you can refer to the NACAC.
Admissions Glossary
Admission Requirements
A set of specific requirements determined by schools that applicants must meet to be considered for admission. Admissions requirements vary widely from school to school and are outlined on each school’s website. They can include transcripts, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, etc. Music applicants may have additional requirements such as prescreening videos, auditions, portfolios, etc.
Common Application (Common App)
An online application accepted by 800+ colleges/universities. Typically, music conservatories do not use or require the Common App, but always check. Some schools also accept the Coalition Application, but not nearly as many as the Common App.
Conditional Admission
An offer of admission with specific conditions attached. Those conditions can be any number of things, from maintaining a certain grade point average to taking specific coursework, completing a summer program, or taking a TOEFL exam.
Deferred
When an applicant who applied early (i.e., Early Action) is not admitted as part of the early pool but is reconsidered as part of the Regular Decision pool.
Deferred Enrollment
A decision by the student to postpone enrollment. Not all schools offer this option. Typically, this option may be used to take a gap year or further study before starting college.
Early Action (EA)
A non-binding program. Applications are submitted by an early deadline (e.g., November 1), and applicants get their admission decision earlier than the school’s Regular Decision date. Applicants have until May 1 to respond to their offer of admission. REA (Restrictive Early Action) may be offered with slightly different restrictions on applying to other schools under special programs like ED, EA, etc. Some music/performing arts programs may offer this option.
Early Decision (ED)
A binding decision program. Applications are submitted early to an applicant’s first-choice school. If offered admission, the student must withdraw all other applications and accept the offer of admission earlier than May 1. ED I and ED II may be offered with different submission and response deadlines. Many music/performing arts schools do not offer this option. This option should be carefully considered as it carries serious implications.
FAFSA
Stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is the official form students submit to be considered for federal financial aid, such as PELL and other grants, loans, work-study, etc.
Financial Aid
Money offered to a student to help cover the cost of their education. Financial aid can be need-based or merit-based. It can include loans, grants, work-study money, and/or merit scholarships, among others. Schools can be need-aware, need-blind, and need-sensitive.
Holistic Review
A common term schools use to describe the process of considering all materials in an applicant’s file rather than focusing on one specific factor (e.g., test scores) to make an admissions decision.
May 1
National College Decision Day is the response date for high school seniors to decide which school they will attend and deposit at that school. Students should deposit at one school.
Personal Statement
An essay submitted with your application. Your personal statement is a chance to make yourself stand out from other applicants to the admissions reader. You should “show,” not “tell” about yourself.
Priority Date/Deadline
The date/s by which you must submit all application materials. Each school may have its own deadlines, and deadlines vary depending on which admission program you apply under (ED, EA, RD). Adhering to stated deadlines is very important, and many schools do not offer any flexibility with submission dates.
Regular Decision (RD)
A non-binding program. Applicants submit their application materials by the school’s deadline and are notified within the RD timeline. Applicants have until May 1 to respond to an offer of admission. It’s worth noting that music schools that are part of universities or liberal arts schools may have earlier deadlines than the rest of the university.
Rolling Admissions
Some schools may have flexible (or Rolling) deadlines and notification dates. Applications are reviewed as they become complete, and not all applicants will be notified during the same timeframe. While Rolling deadline dates might extend into early spring, those dates are often not made public.
Standardized Test
Standardized tests include the SAT or the ACT and typically have sections for reading, math, science, and essay/writing. Some colleges/universities may require them, while other schools may be test-optional, test-blind, or test-flexible.
Superscore
The total of your highest scores on the different subject areas from multiple tests of the SAT/ACT.
TOEFL/IELTS
Tests used to assess the English language proficiency of non-native English speakers. It may be required by some schools. Others may conduct their own assessment through written tests or interviews.
Waitlist
This is not an initial offer of admission or denial but an opportunity to have your application materials reviewed again at a later time and be considered for admission if the school has space available. Many schools use waitlists to help manage enrollment.
Music-Specific Terms to Music Majors
Audition
A live, online, or recorded performance on your instrument/voice for studio/instrument faculty. Audition requirements will be on the school’s website.
Aural Skills
A group of skills relating to hearing and producing certain aspects of music. Courses may include sight singing, melodic/harmonic/rhythmic dictation, ear training, etc.
Combo
A small group of jazz musicians, usually from three to seven members.
Degrees
Music students typically pursue a Bachelor of Music degree. Other options, depending on the type of school, major, and outside interests, are a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and even a Bachelor of Science.
Ensembles
Performance groups that music students participate in to gain experience playing with other students. They range from traditional ensembles like orchestras, band/wind groups, and choral groups to jazz bands and combos. Schools that offer contemporary or modern music programs will also have bands and possibly songwriter ensembles.
Concentration
A track or specialized area of study within your major.
Major
A major is a specific field of study with a set curriculum within a degree program.
Minor
An area of secondary study not nearly as comprehensive as a major. A minor typically includes 12 or more credits in a particular subject area.
Placement Exams/Auditions
Music schools often require students to take placement exams in areas such as music theory to determine which course level they place into. Aural skills assessments may also be required. Placement auditions for ensembles and studios are fairly common as well.
Portfolio
A submission could include media, video, audio files, scores, and/or other documents and formats. A portfolio is usually required for programs like composition, film scoring, music production, and technology. Each school will have specific requirements, and they should be followed precisely.
Pre-screen (pre-screening videos)
A video submission of you performing on your instrument/voice following the requirements the school has specified. Prescreening videos are usually submitted at the time of application and are the first step in the audition process. You must pass the prescreening round to be invited to audition. This is a significant part of the application process and should receive your attention and best efforts.
Principal Instrument
The primary instrument, which can be voice, is the instrument a student studies and uses in ensembles. You might think of it as the instrument you’ve had the most training on and spend the most time playing.
Private Lesson
Sometimes referred to as applied lessons. Usually, a weekly one-hour lesson on your instrument/voice with a faculty member or Teaching Assistant.
Repertoire List
List of all the pieces/songs/excerpts, etc., you have studied. In most formal repertoire lists, you track which rep you have performed live, memorized, etc. Some schools may ask for a comprehensive list, and some may only ask for a repertoire list of what you will perform at your audition.
Resume / Artistic Resume
A resume for a music applicant should summarize your music background, experiences, and training in an easy-to-read format. The resume can include sections like music training (lessons, ensemble experience, music theory courses, etc.), awards/accomplishments, summer programs, performance experience, and academic and extracurricular activities outside of music. In general, you should include activities representing a significant experience or growth.
Secondary Instrument
Some students might be accomplished on an instrument/voice other than their principal instrument. At some schools, students can take a secondary lesson or participate in ensembles related to their secondary instrument. In many cases, the piano is considered the secondary instrument since almost every music curriculum includes class piano, where students must become proficient in piano.
Studio
The instrumental/vocal studio where you take lessons with a particular teacher.
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