About the School
The School of Music prides itself in the individualized attention it provides to students majoring in liberal arts, music business, music education, music composition, music therapy, music performance, collaborative piano, and graduate conducting.
- Majors
- Minors
- Graduate
- Studios
- Non-Majors
- Auditions
Music Business
The sequence is intended for those who wish to pursue a career in business professions related to music.
Music Composition
Students who enjoy improvising or learning about how music is put together may be composers.
Music - Composition/Theory Emphasis
Majoring in music composition with a theory emphasis will prepare a student to write music as a way of understanding its structure from the inside out.
Music - Jazz Studies
The Jazz Studies program is designed to develop abilities as jazz performers, composers, and arrangers.
Music - Liberal Arts
The Bachelor of Arts in Music and the Bachelor of Science in Music are for those students searching for a broad-based academic degree.
Music - New Media Composition
The New Media Composition sequence is designed for students interested in creating original music composition content for new media.
Music Performance
Performance majors are excited to spend the majority of their academic career rehearsing and practicing for the numerous performance opportunities here and at local performance venues.
Music Teacher Education
Illinois State University is the largest teacher training institution in Illinois, and music faculty cooperate closely with professors in the College of Education.
Music Therapy
The curriculum for the bachelor's degree is designed to impart entry level competencies in three main areas: musical foundations, clinical foundations, and music therapy foundations and principles.
Jazz Performance
The minor in Jazz Performance at Illinois State University focuses on the instruction of jazz for musicians who play the saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, keyboard, bass, and percussion.
Music
The Music-Liberal Arts minor is for those students searching for a broad-based academic minor.
Music - Collaborative Piano
The Master of Music in Collaborative Piano focuses on accompanying and chamber music, collaborating with a wide range of instruments and voice, plus the opportunity to play in large ensembles and in operatic settings.
Music - Jazz Performance
The Master of Music in Jazz Performance program helps students develop their professional abilities as jazz performers and improvisers with private jazz instruction, small and large ensemble participation, improvisation courses, and other traditional academic music courses.
Music - String Pedagogy
The Master of Music in String Pedagogy trains students to become qualified and knowledgeable string teachers.
Music Composition
The Master's degree in Composition is a good program for students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in composition and would like to build their portfolio, or for students who are interested in pursuing teaching as a career.
Music Conducting
Graduates of the conducting program often go on for doctoral studies in conducting, continue as conductors in school and community college settings, and/or conduct church or community choirs.
Music Performance
All Music Performance Majors at Illinois State University are afforded the opportunity of intensive study in their medium with a highly qualified and professionally accomplished artist-teacher.
Music Teacher Education
While studying current issues in the profession, the student is given the opportunity to develop a specialized area of concentration.
Music Therapy
The Master of Music in Music Therapy is designed to produce highly qualified and knowledgeable music therapists who have advanced training in music and its therapeutic applications.
Flute
Flute studio members develop into a musical family-like experience pursuing similar passions.
Oboe
Oboe studio members share their musical growth through performance and around the reed making table.
Clarinet
Clarinet studio membership is fun, fulfilling, and foundational for the future you pursue in music.
Saxophone
Saxophone studio membership is comprised of a vibrant and talented group of students.
Bassoon
Studio membership for bassoonists enhances your passion for performing and appreciating the instrument.
Horn
Alumni of the horn studio are Fulbright Scholars and orchestrators/arrangers for the Academy Awards and American Idol, as well as the third Hobbit film.
Trumpet
Excellence in performance is a hallmark of the trumpet studio.
Trombone
Trombone studio students experience the pursuit of excellence in purposeful preparation for a lifetime of music making.
Tuba & Euphonium
The tuba and euphonium studio is a tight knit, supportive, positive musical environment that strives to help students achieve their highest level of performance possible.
Percussion
Percussion studio members strive to develop musicianship and technical proficiency in performance and pedagogy in a myriad of styles and idioms.
Voice
Voice students are surrounded by positive and creative faculty members encouraging proper vocal development and performance.
Piano & Keyboard
Diverse pianists and organists comprise the piano studios where students celebrate their craft.
Guitar
Guitarist studio members relish in honing their classical guitar performance skills both as a solo musician and in ensemble work.
Violin
Celebrating a long history of excellence in performance, the violin studio offers enrichment for future music professionals.
Viola
The viola studio is comprised of ambitious learners with diverse perspectives.
Cello
The cello studio includes students with a wide range of backgrounds and interests in the arts.
Double Bass
The double bass studio offers student musicians a broad range of training and experiences to encourage well-rounded musical development.
Choirs, Orchestra, & Bands
All School of Music ensembles are open to all university students by audition. All ensembles are registered courses for which grades are given and tuition is paid. Auditions occur just prior to the beginning of the semester. Music is provided for instrumental musicians. Vocalists must prepare one piece from memory.
To schedule a non-major ensemble audition or for more information, please contact:
- Band Office - (309) 438-2166
- Director of Choral Activities - (309) 438-2012
- Director of Orchestras - (309) 438-2540
Music Classes
Piano, guitar and voice lessons are open to all majors, as are choirs, orchestra and bands! Classes in black music, history of jazz and world arts in music can be taken to fulfill general education requirements!
Admission Auditions
How to be an Undergraduate Music Major or Minor
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Apply to the University! On the University application you will be asked to choose your audition date. Current students can reserve their audition using My.IllinoisState.
- September 26, 2020 (for spring 2021 only)
- December 5, 2020
- January 16, 2021
- January 22, 2021
- January 23, 2021
- February 5, 2021
- February 6, 2021
- March 27, 2021 (not for scholarship consideration)
- If you live outside of Illinois, you may provide a recorded audition.
- Review ‘Suggested Repertoire’ for your specific instrument (listed on the individual studio pages) to prepare for your audition.
Once your audition date has been confirmed by the School of Music, you will be asked to upload additional material which includes:
- letter of recommendation
- a music resume
- your audition music for the accompanist (for vocalists only)
- your recorded audition (for applicants living outside of Illinois)
- signed Transfer Acknowledgement Form (for transfer students transferring from a 4-year institution only)
Fall 2020 Wind/Brass/Percussion Unified Ensemble Auditions
Unified Auditions
Students auditioning in woodwind, brass, percussion unified ensemble auditions will be considered for all major ensembles: Wind Symphony, Symphonic Winds, Symphonic Band, and Symphony Orchestra. All students regardless of major are welcome to audition for all major ensembles. All students participating in unified ensemble auditions are required to prepare all provided excerpts. Music majors are required to participate in the unified ensemble auditions.
Major ensembles covered in unified auditionsSymphonic Band Only
Symphonic Band only auditions are open to students who are not music majors and wish to be considered only for Symphonic Band. Students participating in Symphonic Band only auditions will prepare select excerpts as indicated in the audition packet. These auditions will take place at the same time as unified auditions. Music majors and percussionists are not permitted to use this audition option.
University Band
University Band: W; 7-9:50 p.m. (1 concert); MUS 181A03/281A03/481A03
Before You Audition
- Download and prepare the audition music which will be available no later than July 15. Audition music will be available on the School of Music website and in the
Fall 2020 Ensemble Audition Packets folder (accessible via ILSTU email only).
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Register for the ensemble that you believe is your most likely ensemble placement. Should you be placed in a different ensemble, you can change this later. If you are unsure of what class in which to enroll, you can contact your academic advisor, Professor Marinello, and/or your applied faculty member for guidance.
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Complete the online survey by Monday, August 10 in order to notify us of your plans to audition for any of the ensembles listed above. Students indicate their preference of Unified or Symphonic Band Only Audition. University Band, BRMM, and Pep Band members should NOT complete the survey.
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Students should arrive 30 minutes before their audition block to check-in and sign up for an audition letter with the proctor at Cook Hall room 212. Students can then use Cook Hall room 305 as a warm up/practice room. Students are asked to stay in Cook Hall room 305 until they have completed their audition.
Audition Schedule
All auditions are held in Cook room 212 unless otherwise specified. Cook Hall rooms 305 and 308 will be available as warm up rooms. Students should arrive 30 minutes before their audition block to check-in and sign up for an audition letter.
Thursday, August 13
Friday, August 14
Tuba: 7 p.m.-8 p.m. (Andy Rummel)
Saturday, August 15
Bassoon: 10 a.m.-11 a.m. (Michael Dicker)
Please contact Tony Marinello with any issues or questions.
Jazz Auditions for Spring 2020
Open Jazz Ensemble Auditions (all instruments)
Centennial East room 12 (Professor Marko's office in the basement)
- Tuesday, November 19: noon-1 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 20: 2-3:30 p.m.
- Thursday, November 21: 11 a.m.-1:40 p.m.
If you cannot make any of these times work, please email Tom Marko to set up an alternate time.
If you do not improvise yet, or do not have access to any jazz lead sheets but are interested in playing, please audition anyway. Neither of these are requirements for being placed in an ensemble. Please consider the following rehearsal schedule as you plan your classes:ISU Jazz Ensembles Rehearsal Schedule
- Jazz Ensemble I (top group) meets Tues/Thurs noon-1:50 p.m. (MUS 139A70 section 1)
- Jazz Ensemble II meets M/W/F 2-2:50 p.m. (MUS 139A70 section 2)
- Combos are scheduled individually according to availability of members
Spring 2020 ISU Symphony String Auditions
Violins: 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Basses: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Spring 2020 Choral Placement Auditions
Auditions will be blind, with the auditioner(s) behind a screen, in Cook Hall 109. All students with voice as their primary instrument are expected to attend a spring choral ensemble placement audition.
The audition will consist of:
- 30 second excerpt of a song of one's choosing
- Sight-singing
- Tonal memory
Please review the available slots and sign up through our spring choral ensemble auditions page.
Direct all inquiries to Karyl Carlson, director of Choral Activities.
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Music News
Taking flight: American Cancer Society volunteer earns McLean County Full Tuition Scholarship
The American Cancer Society is just one of the many volunteer efforts that enabled Hannah Quaid to be selected this year as one of seven recipients of the McLean County Full Tuition Scholarship at Illinois State University.
Afternoon of Brass
Location: Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall