Music for non-Music Students Arts & Science

• The Music Major and Music Major with Ensemble Option programs are only available to students registered at the University of Toronto through the Faculty of Arts & Science on the St. George Campus. 
• Candidates for the B.A. must first be admitted to the Faculty of Arts & Science and complete 4.0 credits. 
• This is a limited enrolment program and requires students to pass an audition-interview, and meet the theory requirement.

1. Complete the Music Major/Specialist Student Profile which must include links to your recorded audition submission. (Deadline TBA)
2. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in Music Theory by completing the Faculty of Music Entrance Theory Exam by the posted deadline.
3. Take part in a Zoom interview in August (Date TBD)
4. If you are interested in the Ensemble Option, you must also submit a request to audition for the MUS120Y/220Y Vocal and Instrumental Ensemble course.

Once your Student Profile, video recording links, and the appropriate documents have been received, your interview time will be set. Notification of your Music Major interview time will be sent out AFTER the Student Profile Form due date.

Candidates will be notified of their audition/interview results on the Tuesday following their audition/interview. 

Audition Repertoire

Perform three (3) pieces at a Grade 8 level RCM, or higher, from different stylistic periods. 

It is your responsibility to provide an accompanist, if needed.  All instruments must audition with an accompanist with the exception of the following: Accordion, Guitar, Harp, Harpsichord, Organ, Percussion, and Piano.

Additionally, those interested in ethnomusicology and the study of world music may audition on the basis of their comparable accomplishments in a non-Western instrumental or vocal performing tradition. 

Recorded Audition Guidelines:

• Students auditioning on orchestral instruments and voice (excluding percussion) must perform with an accompanist for their audition.
• The video recording must be of good quality (although professional not required).
• Please record each piece of repertoire separately; if you have multiple movements you may stop between them, but they should be included in one video submission.
• Identify yourself at the beginning of at least one of your videos clearly stating your first and last name, and instrument.
• No edits or enhancements are permitted; each piece/movement must be performance in one take.
• The performer must appear in the video frame. For instrumentalists, the head and both hands must be clearly visible. For vocalists, the performer must face the camera and the upper body and face must be clearly visible.

At the Interview:

• You may be asked about your recorded audition video performance
• You may be asked to sight-sing a short piece in the treble clef, sing back a short melody, and identify intervals and chords, during the interview. We recommend Zooming in from a device with a larger screen to ensure you will be able to read the music on the screen that will be shared with you.
• You will answer questions from the panel to demonstrate your knowledge of and interest in music, motivation for pursuing music study, and an ability to express ideas clearly

Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in Music Theory by completing the Faculty of Music Entrance Theory Exam on these materials by no later than mid-August.

Similar to Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Level 8 Theory, materials covered on the U of T Classical Entrance Theory may include: 

• Alto/Bass/Tenor/Treble Clefs
• All major and minor scales; names of degrees of the scale (tonic, supertonic, etc.)
• Time signatures, time values of notes and rests
• Key signatures and accidentals
• Intervals (above & below a given note) and their inversions, including compound intervals and enharmonic equivalents
• Keys in which given intervals may be found
• Keys in which given chords may be found
• Basic musical terms & signs
• Dominant seventh chord & inversions
• Cadences (perfect, plagal & imperfect)
• Transposition of a given melody
• Figured bass symbols for triads and seventh chords

Students interested in pursuing the Music Major with Ensemble Option must complete an additional audition to determine placement in an ensemble (course code MUS120Y1/220Y1 - Vocal & Instrumental Ensembles).

There are two rounds of auditions available for the Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble: 

1. Audition by recording in the spring, or
2. Audition in-person during the first week of classes in September.

Interested students must request the audition by submitting the MUS120Y/220Y application form by the posted deadline in order to be considered for the ensembles.

Access the application form and required audition excerpts by instrument from the Performance Office: Ensemble Request & Audition Information for Arts & Science Students