Prospective Students FAQ

If you do not find your answer here, contact the main office at (408) 924-4673 or email music@sjsu.edu.

• How do I gain admission to the School of Music?

  • Admission and acceptance to the School of Music is a multi-step process. The first step is to apply to the California State University system through CalState Apply. The next is to fill out the "Music Major Interest Form" for the School of Music.  You can find this form on the JOIN page. This will give the School information to be able to communicate with you about your audition.  The final step is the audition.  Each year, the audition dates change, so make sure to check out the audition information.

• How do I apply?

  • Apply to the California State University system through CalState Apply. The next is to fill out the "Music Major Interest Form" for the School of Music.  You can find this form on the JOIN page. This will give the School information to be able to communicat with you about your audition.  The final step is the audition.  Each year, the audition dates change, so make sure to check out the audition information.

• When are auditions held?

  • We recommend that all prospective students audition during the regularly scheduled scholarship auditions. If you live beyond the 250-mile radius of San José, or cannot attend the regularly scheduled auditions, please contact the Area Coordinator for your area of emphasis.

•  May music majors and minors audition for scholarships?

  • SJSU awards annual merit-based scholarships ranging from $200-$9,000 per year. All music majors are eligible, while minors can receive scholarship assistance dependent upon the needs of the School.

•  How often do I receive lessons?

  • Lessons are scheduled weekly. Bachelor of Music Performance and Music Education majors receive one-hour lessons; Jazz Studies majors receive half-hour lessons as freshmen and sophomores, and one-hour lessons as juniors and seniors. Composition majors receive half-hour lessons as freshmen and sophomores in both their major instrument and in composition, and one-hour lessons in composition as juniors and seniors.

• How many students are enrolled in the School of Music & Dance?

  • Approximately 350 music majors are currently enrolled in the School of Music.

• How many ensembles do you have?

  • The School offers the following major ensembles:

    Chamber Choir, Collegium Ensemble, Concert Choir, Gospel Choir, Jazz Orchestra, Laptop EnsembleLatin-Jazz Band, Mariachi Ensemble, New-Music Ensemble, Opera Workshop, Spartan Marching Band, Spartan Pep-Band, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Women’s Chorus.

    We also have several smaller ensembles: Brass Ensemble,  Chamber Music Ensembles, Guitar Ensemble, Jazz Combos, Horn Ensemble, Jazz Singers, Percussion Ensemble, Saxophone Ensemble,  Trombone Choir, Trumpet Ensemble.

    In addition, we offer a number of weekly masterclasses, such as Composition Master Class, Music Technology Master Class, Piano Master Class, Voice Master Classes, and more.

• May non-majors play in the ensembles?

  • Yes, all ensembles are open to all students on an audition basis.

• Am I assigned to a specific teacher?

  • For music majors: based on your audition, you will be placed into a specific studio.

• Can I double major in two instruments/voices?

  • Students may petition to study two primary instruments/voices.  Please contact Dr. Cohen.

• Are chamber music opportunities available?

  • Several chamber ensembles are available in each area. Students are encouraged and supported in their collaboration with other artists, both within the School and in the community at large.

    Brass: brass quintet, horn choir, trombone choir, trombone quartets, trumpet ensemble, tuba/euphonium ensemble, and brass ensemble.

    Woodwinds: saxophone ensemble, saxophone quartets, flute choir, clarinet ensemble, bassoon quartets, chamber music.

    Strings: chamber orchestra, string quartets, and mixed chamber music with winds, voice, and piano.

    Voice: Choraliers (chamber vocal ensemble) and multiple student-run vocal ensembles including Pitch, Please! and the Spartones.

• May I visit the school?

  • Yes! You are invited to tour our campus, meet with faculty, and sit in on classes and ensemble rehearsals. Please contact us to set up a visit. Additionally, Be a Music Major for a Day provides an opportunity for prospective students to take a look at the campus, sit in on classes, play in the music ensembles, and experience a little of what it is like to be a student at the School of Music.  Please refer to the "Be a Music Major for a Day" on this website. 

• Is there a marching band?

  • Learn all about the Spartan Marching Band, directed by Dr. Grant Knox.

• May students check out school-owned instruments?

  • Yes, instruments are available to music students and may be used for any of the School ensembles or music education fundamentals classes.

• Are lockers available?

  • Yes, lockers are available for music students based on the size and number of instruments needing to be stored.  Please see Mr. Paul Olivo in the Music Building.

• May I play in more than one ensemble?

  • Yes, you may play in more than one ensemble.

• What degrees do you offer?

  • The School offers a Bachelor in Music degree in several areas:

    Performance (piano, harp, organ, violin, viola, cello, string/double bass, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, percussion, voice);

    Music Education;

    Composition/Electro-Acoustics; and

    Jazz Studies.

    We also offer a Bachelor of Arts degree in general music and music technology.

    The School offers the Master of Music degree with emphases in Composition, Conducting, Jazz Studies, Music Education, Musicolog, and Performance.

• What music organizations are on campus?

  • The SJSU School of Music sponsors two large music social organizations: Mu Phi Epsilon and International Music Fraternity. We also have a fraternal honor society, Kappa Kappa Psi. In addition, the School hosts chapters of the California Music Educators Association, the American Choral Directors Association, and the American String Teachers Association.

• How many full time faculty members do you have?

  • There are currently 16 full-time faculty members in the School of Music in addition to 57 part-time faculty members.

• What is the faculty-to-student ratio?

  • There are seventeen students to every one faculty member. This excellent faculty/student ratio means that professors are more readily accessible, and private instruction is provided only by experienced faculty members rather than graduate students or teaching assistants.

• Do you have a large library of music available to students?

  • SJSU and the city of San José jointly operate the eight-story Martin Luther King Jr. library, which has a large selection of materials available to students. In addition, located on the fifth floor of the library is the world-renowned Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies, which contains the largest number of Beethoven artifacts outside of Europe. The Music Building also houses a resource center, which contains an abundance of music available to students.

• What performance opportunities are available on campus?

  • Most major ensembles perform a minimum of two concerts per semester. All smaller ensembles perform at least one concert per semester. In addition, Music students are featured in twice-weekly Listening Hour performances, open to the public every Tuesday and Thursday.

• What performance opportunities are available in the surrounding community?

  • The Silicon Valley is home to numerous professional musical organizations that often hire School of Music students.

• What live music venues are in the San José area?

  • Opera San José and Symphony San Jose are located only a few blocks from San José State University. The downtown area—home to SJSU's Hammer Theater—is a thriving community of live concerts featuring both classical and jazz performances. San Francisco, located only one hour north of San José, features some of the best live music in the country.

• Do the ensembles tour throughout the year?

  • Major ensembles typically tour regionally and/or nationally each year. The Choraliers travel overseas every other year.

• What time can I buy tickets?

  • Tickets may be purchased online, and typically go on sale about 6 weeks before the event. For purchases at the door, the Box Office opens about a half-hour before the concert begins. Most concerts start at 7:30pm.

• Is photography allowed in the Concert Hall?

  • No flash photography is allowed during the concert.

• Are special priced student or senior tickets available?

  • Yes—see the online ticket sale website for details.

• Where is the SJSU campus located?
  •  

    Directions to SJSU

• How do I find the concert hall?

  • The concert hall is located on the west side of the Music Building, directly across the hall from the main entrance. The Music Building is in the center of campus. The closest parking structure is the 7th St/San Salvadore Garage. For special accommodations, contact the main office at (408) 924-4673 or email music@sjsu.edu.