Other Important Information & Additional Application Materials

B.A. Scholarship & Applied Auditions

All music majors in the B.A. In Music program require a successful Applied Area Audition in order to start taking lessons in their primary area of study. Students only do this once. Once in lessons, students follow the applied jury schedule depending on their entry level.

It is required for all B.A. in Music majors to successfully take at least 4 semesters of lessons. Students need to plan accordingly in order to not delay their graduation.

The Music Department hosts Scholarship & Applied Area Auditions in October/November (for the following Spring semester), and February/March (for the following Fall semester). All incoming applicants and current students will be notified of the exact audition dates / times via email.

Live auditions are preferred, but we also welcome online submissions if you are unable to travel to Hayward. If you can’t be present for a live audition, please be ready to submit links to a high-quality video of your performance in which we can see you and instrument fully, and the audio quality allows us to hear your tone clearly. You may also share links from platforms such as YouTube, Google Drive, Dropbox, or similar.

Audition Expectations per area

B.A. in Music, Classical Performance (in an instrument or voice)

Classical Performance, Piano

Two or three works of contrasting styles, at least one of which needs to be memorized. Pieces need to be chosen from the standard Classical repertoire and last no more than ten minutes in total. 20th- and 21st-century works are welcome. Individual movements of multi-movement works (such as sonatas or suites) are acceptable.

Classical Performance, Voice

Two contrasting selections of music 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 theater selections are preferred. Selections should be memorized and sung with accompaniment.

Classical Performance, Percussion

Two contrasting works totaling no more than ten minutes (sections of works are acceptable in order to stay within the ten minute timeframe) Show a contrast of musical instruments (i.e. snare drum and marimba, etc. . .)

Classical Performance, All Other Instruments

Two contrasting works totaling no more than ten minutes (sections of works are acceptable in order to stay within the ten minute timeframe)

B.A. in Music, Jazz Performance (in an instrument)

Jazz Performance, Drums

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). Bluetooth access will be provided for backing tracks.

Jazz Performance, All Other Instruments

Two contrasting works totaling no more than ten minutes (sections of works are acceptable in order to stay within the ten minute timeframe). You will also be required to demonstrate improvisation skills. Bluetooth access will be provided for backing tracks.

B.A. in Music, Composition

Two original compositions (scores and recordings) that best represent your musical potential and creativity. The scores should be submitted as a PDF, and the MIDI/Audio recordings as either an mp3, wma, wav, or aiff

B.A. in Music, Music Production

Two original songs (audio only) that best represent your musical potential and creativity. Links from platforms such as SoundCloud and Youtube are preferred, though you may also upload the MIDI/Audio as either an mp3, wma, wav, or aiff.

M.A. in Music

Applicants must meet both the university admission requirements and the Music Department’s requirements to be admissible to Cal State East Bay as a classified graduate student.

University Admission Requirements

Information on CSU East Bay’s graduate admissions requirements can be found on the Office of Admissions website. 

Please note, California residents and U.S. citizens with international transcripts are classified as "international students" for admission evaluation purposes and will be processed by the International Admissions Office, though they pay resident fees provided they meet the residency requirement to be considered a California resident.

Music Department Admission Requirements

The music department graduate program requires applicants to have a bachelor’s degree in Music from an accredited institution and to be in good academic standing at the last college or university attended. In rare circumstances, students with degrees in non-music areas who demonstrate artistic potential for graduate study in Music may be admitted to the program.

Application Process

1. Apply to Cal State East Bay via Cal State Apply
2. All transcripts must be submitted to the Office of Admissions to complete the application for review. Request official final transcripts from all colleges and universities attended be sent to Cal State East Bay’s Office of Admissions. This includes all institutions before and after your bachelor’s degree. Be sure to submit your documents by the published deadlines. View how to submit documents.
3. Music Department Application. During the application process, you will be asked to submit the following:
   1. A Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Résumé
   2. Two (2) letters of recommendation. These references should be teachers or colleagues who can assess your readiness to undertake graduate study.
   3. A Statement of Purpose (two pages in length) describing your objectives for pursuing a graduate degree in music, as well as your short and long-term goals.
   4. Evidence of your abilities in the area of emphasis you wish to pursue as a graduate student. See below for more information:
      • Classical Performance: Submit a video recording (or link) that includes at least two representative works from the applicant’s Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Music senior recital or comparable repertory. Three or four pieces drawn from multiple style periods are expected. Specific Requirements for:
        • Pianists: Representative works from the applicant’s Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Music senior recital or comparable repertory. Three or four pieces drawn from multiple style periods are expected, including a complete sonata by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, or contemporaries. Memorization is required. 
        • Vocalists: Include each of the following: 1. a Baroque aria (sacred or secular) or an operatic aria in Italian; 2. a song by a German Romantic composer or a French song by Debussy, Ravel, Fauré, Poulenc, Duparc, or Chausson; 3. a song composed after 1950. Memorization is required.
      • Jazz Performance: Submit a video recording (or link) that includes: (a) a blues melody and solo on 3-5 choruses; and (b) the melody and solo on 1-2 choruses of either a song from the Great American Songbook (e.g. “Stella,” “All The Things You Are,” “Like Some In Love,” etc.) or a jazz standard (e.g. “Moments Notice,” “Stablemates,” “Along Came Betty,” etc.).
      • Choral Conducting: Submit a video recording (or link) featuring at least 15 minutes of a rehearsal with a vocal ensemble and/or choir. You may optionally include a video of a concert performance in addition to the rehearsal video. Final candidates will be invited to campus to audition.
      • Composition: Submit scores (.pdf) and audio recordings (.mp3) of 3-4 representative compositions for various combinations of instruments/voices. In the case of electroacoustic/tape music, submit a PDF information page in which you list the titles of the pieces, the software used, and a brief description of the compositional process.

Music Education Graduate Certificate

The Certificate can currently it may be obtained in two ways:

1) While pursuing a Bachelor of Art (B.A) in Music at CSUEB. Students must be admitted into the B.A. in Music degree in order to start this certificate, and follow the B.A. in Music application requirements listed above.

2) As a stand-alone graduate-level certificate, for all applicants already in possession of a Bachelor's degree. These applicants apply directly through CSUApply. These applicants will be asked to provide the following:

- Curriculum Vitae (CV/Resume).

- Contact information for two (2) references, who will later submit recommendation letters on your behalf.

- A statement of purpose (2-3 double-spaced pages) describing your formal background and training in music, and your reasons for wanting to become a K-12 music teacher.

- Unofficial Transcripts from previous higher education institutions.