Music admission polices and practices: The music student enters the NASM accredited instution of higher education

Abstract

A questionnaire was sent to music administrators at 275 institutions of higher education that are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and responses have revealed an inconsistency in music admission practices. The predominant policy combines music and academic requirements, but some institutions have separate music --or only academic-- requirements for freshmen who have chosen music as a professional career. Admission criteria range from an open door policy at most state institutions to selective evaluation and personal scrutiny at private colleges. The institutions surveyed included junior, tax-supported, and private colleges, private and tax-supported universities, and a theological seminary. The names used in the study for music settings within an institution were Department, School, Conservatory, or Division of Music, but responses indicate that there are 6 other titles also in use. Recommendations to improve current music admission practices include the use of standardized titles for music settings, the inclusion of comprehensive music questions in the College Entrance Examination Board Test for all students, the shifting of responsibility for counseling musically-oriented high school students from counselors to music educators, less rigid academic admission standards for talented music students, and the establishment of admission policies that coincide with institutional philosophy and objectives. (WM)