How to Apply

Applications for Fall 2023 are due April 1st, 2023

All applicants apply to the CSUEB Music Department through Cal State Apply. Please visit the CSUEB Admissions Office for updated information on general university requirements.

CSU Apply

Applicants will be asked to demonstrate their musical interests, abilities, and potential by submitting examples of their work after completing their CSUApply application. See below for details on these additional requirements based on your area of interest.

  1. Once your CSUApply application is processed by University Admissions, you will receive a Music Department Application email.
  2. After you've completed this Music Department Application, you will receive information on what and how to submit additional materials and/or audition into our programs.

IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR CSUAPPLY APPLICATION BUT HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION FROM THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US ASAP:

Music Department Additional Requirements

The Department of Music at CSUEB welcomes students eager to engage in serious music study within a liberal arts university setting. Find your area of interest below to learn more about what you will be asked to perform:

Instrumentalists (Classical Piano and Percussion, see below). Perform an audition showcasing two contrasting selections lasting no more than ten minutes total. Show a contrast of musical styles choosing from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Modern eras. Jazz Instrumentalists should also demonstrate improvisation skills in addition to the requirements for all instrumentalists.

Percussion: Perform an audition showcasing two contrasting selections lasting no more than ten minutes total. Show a contrast of musical styles and musical instruments (i.e. snare drum and marimba, etc. . .) Jazz drummers should also demonstrate the following styles: Medium Tempo Swing; Up Tempo 50s Bebop; Medium Tempo Jazz Waltz; Bossa Nova (medium); Afro Cuban (medium to fast); Funk; Hip hop (any tempo).

Classical Piano: Perform an audition including two or three memorized works of different style periods lasting no more than ten minutes total. Sections of compositions are acceptable in order to stay within the ten minute timeframe. Repertoire selections could include Baroque compositions such as Bach Inventions or Sinfonias, a Prelude and Fugue from The Well-Tempered Clavier, 1-2 movements from a French Suite, English Suite, or Partita; a first movement of a classical sonata by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, or their contemporaries; a work from the Romantic period (Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Liszt); a work from the early 20th century (Debussy, Ravel, Prokofiev, Bartók) or the 21st-century.

Vocalists: Perform an audition showcasing two contrasting selections totaling no more than ten minutes. At least one song should be in a language other than English. Classical songs or arias, folk songs, and Musical Theatre selections are preferred. All songs should be memorized and sung with accompaniment.

Composers, Music Producers, and Singer/Songwriters: Submit a minimum of 2 original works that best represent your musical potential and creativity. PDF scores/lead sheets with MIDI/Audio recordings are preferred. If scores aren't available (music producers working with a DAW, for example), please include a cover letter detailing (1) the title of the piece; and (2) the software used.

Students who are not yet ready to audition or demonstrate their creative output can still apply. These students are eligible to become music majors but are not eligible to receive private lessons until they successfully complete an audition or submit successful creative materials. These applicants will be asked to submit a 2-page statement of purpose.

Transfer Students:
The Cal State East Bay Department of Music welcomes Transfer Students from other accredited institutions of higher education. Students transferring from community colleges may refer to www.assist.org for more information on transfer agreements. Students transferring from South China Normal University may refer to this document for more information on their transfer agreement. 

The Certificate in Music Education (Single Subject Matter Preparation Certificate Program) may be obtained in two ways:
  1. While pursuing a Bachelor of Art (B.A) in Music degree at CSUEB. Students must be admitted into the B.A. in Music degree in order to start this certificate. Please refer to the B.A. in Music application process above.
  2. As a post-baccalaureate applicant.
Prospective Certificate in Music Education post-baccalaureate applicants will be asked to provide the following:
  1. Curriculum Vitae
  2. Two (2) letters of reference
  3. A statement of purpose (2-3 double-spaced pages) describing your formal background and training in music, and your reasons for becoming a K-12 music teacher
  4. Undergraduate transcripts
  5. A 15-minute uninterrupted video of you teaching music in a group setting (class or rehearsal, not performance). Videos of individual lessons are not appropriate
For more information, please contact Dr. John Eros, advisor for Music Education.