Graduate Admissions

Audition Days

 Friday, January 31, 2025 (morning only)
Saturday, February 1, 2025 (afternoon only)
 *Saturday, February 15, 2025 (all day)
  • Graduate Applications: The deadline for all degree programs and specializations is December 15, 2024.
  • Required Auditions: All required auditions, whether in-person or video, must be completed by 5 p.m. February 15, 2025.
  • Graduate Assistantships and Fellowships: All graduate applicants are automatically considered for graduate assistantships and fellowships. No separate application is required. 
  • Summer MM-Music Education Fellowships: The priority consideration deadline is May 1, 2025.
*Preferred graduate audition day 

Application Checklist - Specific Requirements

Begin by applying online at http://go.unl.edu/gradapp.

  1. Create an account.
  2. Complete your application.
  • You will be asked to upload scanned copies of your transcripts showing all postsecondary coursework completed, including all studies for which credit was granted (e.g. summer institutes such as Aspen or Interlochen). Further information can be found at https://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/admissions/requirements#transcripts. We require: Undergraduate GPA = 2.75/4.00 scale.
  • Students whose native language is not English or who have not previously earned a degree from an institution at which English is the official medium of instruction must enter their TOEFL or IELTS score and upload a copy of their score report. Official scores should be sent directly to UNL. Further information can be found at https://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/prospective/international/english. We require: TOEFL iBT 79 or IELTS 6.5 overall band score.
  • You will need to provide contact information, including an email address, for each person from whom you wish a reference. For each recommender, click the Submit Recommendation Request button to send a letter request to your reference writer. A minimum of three letters of recommendation is required; four recommendation letters are recommended.
  • You will need to submit any “Prepared Creative /Scholarly Materials Requirement” marked with an asterisks (*) below as part of the initial application process.

 3. Submit your application and pay the application fee of $50 ($25  if you are currently an active student at UNL). After you’ve clicked “Submit,” validated your information, and paid the application fee, you’ll receive a confirmation email indicating that the application was successfully submitted.

4. Submit required “Prepared Creative /Scholarly Materials Requirements” (see below) marked with a bullet (•) via SlideRoom, a resource manager of The Common Application. A SlideRoom account can be created by going to https://unlarts.slideroom.com/#/login and clicking on “Apply Now.” Once the account has been created, scroll down on this page and select “GKSOM-Priority GA Graduate Application Material Submission (2022).”

 Prepared Creative/Scholarly Materials Requirements: To assist candidates in achieving success in the required audition, the following requirements have been set by the area.  Please refer to the list below in knowing how to prepare.

Jazz Studies (Performance) Audition Information

To assist candidates in achieving success, the following requirements for the audition have been set by the area.  Please refer to the list below in planning your preparation.

  1. American Popular/Jazz Standard that utilizes common ii-V-I progressions (such as:  All the Things You Are, Have You Met Mrs. Jones, Stella By Starlight)
  2. Blues (using common ii-V-I progressions or "Bird Blues") in the key of your choice
  3. A selection based on "Rhythm Changes"

Jazz Studies (Composition) Creative/Scholarly Materials & Interview Information

* A portfolio of 3-5 scores submitted in PDF format. (Note: If submitting work that does not have a score, e.g. electronic compositions, upload a PDF document outlining the technology used to compose the work in place of a score.)

• Recordings of the submitted compositions. Live recordings are encouraged, but MIDI recordings are acceptable

NOTE: The jazz composition faculty will review all Jazz Studies (composition) applications; applicants who meet prescreening requirements will be contacted by the faculty to schedule an interview. This personal interview with members of our composition faculty is required. Discussion topics may include your background as a composer and performer, your theory proficiency, and other relevant topics.

 

Master of Music

Jazz Studies Specialization

AreaCourseCredit HrsTotal Credits
Major Area Courses     19 hrs
  MUSC 867 Jazz Improvisation 3 hrs  
  MUSC 868 Jazz Pedagogy 3 hrs  
  MUSC 865 Jazz Theory 3 hrs  
  Select 6 credits from: 6 hrs  
     MUSC 837 Jazz History:  Origins to Bop (3) hrs  
     MUSC 838 Jazz History:  Post Bop (3) hrs  
     MUSC 898 ST:  Small Group Arranging (3) hrs  
     MUSC 898 ST:  Large Group Arranging (3) hrs  
  Large Ensemble 2-4 hrs  
     MUEN 845L  UNL Jazz Orchestra (0-1) hrs  
     MUEN 845M UNL Big Band (0-1) hrs  
  Chamber Music 0-2 hrs  
     MUEN 844Y  Jazz Small Groups (0-1) hrs  
  MUSR 98 Recital 0 hrs  
Other Music Studies (Music Core)     17 hrs
  MUAP/MUCP Applied Music/Composition 12 hrs  
  MUSC 836 Introduction to Graduate Studies 2 hrs  
  Select 3 credits from: 3 hrs  
     MUSC 941  Theory Pedagogy (3) hrs  
     MUSC 942  History Pedagogy (3) hrs  
  MUSR 69 - Recital Attendance (4 semesters) 0 hrs  
    TOTAL: 36 hrs