Music

Admission to the Department of Music is by audition—but before arranging an audition, all prospective students must apply to SUNY New Paltz first. For undergraduate majors, contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission for information on applying to the college. For graduate music therapy, contact the Office of Graduate Admission.

First-year students must be accepted into the college before auditioning.

Transfer students must apply to the college and receive a student ID number before auditioning, and then pass the audition before being accepted into the college. After applying to the college and receiving your student ID, you should schedule an audition as soon as possible. If you have questions about scheduling an audition, please contact Lee Degnan by phone at 845-257-2700 or by email at degnanl@newpaltz.edu. The college will make a final admission decision after your audition.

Current New Paltz students who are not Music majors may transfer into the department, and should schedule an audition in the first half of a semester. If you have questions about scheduling an audition, please contact Lee Degnan by phone at 845-257-2700 or by email at degnanl@newpaltz.edu.

Once you have been accepted into the college—or, if you are a transfer student, once you have applied—please request your audition via this form.

No. Students do not have to decide immediately on a concentration.

All auditions include a meeting between prospective students and faculty. Prospective students will also be asked to complete a music theory placement test. Scores on the music theory test are used to place students in the correct courses, and do not affect admission decisions.

Audition requirements differ between concentrations. Find detailed information for each concentration below:

Classical Voice: Please be prepared to sing one piece in Italian and one piece of your choice in the classical style (of known works). You will need a piano accompanist for your audition; if you do not have an accompanist of your own, please contact Lee Degnan at degnanl@newpaltz.edu and an accompanist will be provided for you. If you have questions on pieces you would like to perform, or need more information on a concentration you’re interested in, please contact Professor Kent Smith at smithk@newpaltz.edu.

Classical Piano: Please choose and perform two works from the classical/known works or contemporary repertoire that allow you to demonstrate musicianship and proficiency. If you have any questions, please contact Professor Alex Peh at peha@newpaltz.edu.

Classical Strings: Please choose and perform two works from the classical/known works or contemporary repertoire that allow you to demonstrate musicianship and proficiency. If you have questions, please contact Professor Christiana Fortune-Reader at readerc@newpaltz.edu.

Classical Instrumental: Please prepare two 3-5 minute solo pieces that demonstrate your highest level of musical attainment. These pieces can be single movements of a larger solo work (i.e. concerti, sonatas, etc.), or an etude. You do not need an accompanist for your audition.  If you have questions, please contact Professor Adam Fontana at fontanaa@newpaltz.edu.

Jazz Vocal: Please choose and perform two works from the jazz repertoire that allow you to demonstrate musicianship and proficiency. If you can find a piano (or other) accompaniment recording to sing with, please bring the recordings with you to the audition on a cell phone or other MP4-playing device. Otherwise, you may sing a capella if you are comfortable doing so. If you have questions, please contact Professor Mark Dziuba at dziuba@newpaltz.edu.

Jazz Instrumental or Percussion: Please choose and perform two works from the jazz repertoire that allow you to demonstrate musicianship and proficiency. You can bring accompanying recordings to the audition on a cell phone or other MP4-playing device, or you can solo if preferred. If you have questions, please contact Professor Mark Dziuba at dziuba@newpaltz.edu.

Recording & Electronic Music: Please email two musical works to demonstrate your musical practice to Professor Phyllis Chen at chenp@newpaltz.edu:

• 1. A produced song/piece in your choice of DAW. Please make a video of the music playing back in your DAW. You are welcome to include a finished MP3, but the session view is helpful. 
  2. A short video of you playing on your primary instrument (original, cover, standard, or any musical piece to give us a sense of your instrumental ability).

If you have questions, please contact Professor Phyllis Chen at chenp@newpaltz.edu.

Composition Concentration: Please be prepared to...

1. 1. Present an original work (no style, duration or notation requirements—whatever represents you​).
   2. Play any piece on your primary instrument.

In the composition program, we often read and play peer works to learn how to write for other instruments and foster peer support. As part of your audition into the program, you will also be asked to sight-read a short exercise on your instrument.

If you have questions, please contact Professor Phyllis Chen at chenp@newpaltz.edu.

Graduate Music Therapy or Undergraduate Clinical Musicianship Concentration: Please see above for audition information pertaining to your choice of instrument. If you have questions regarding the undergraduate clinical musicianship concentration, and/or how this concentration will prepare you for our graduate music therapy program after you receive your bachelor’s in music—or if you have obtained your degree elsewhere—please contact Professor Kathleen Murphy at murphyk@newpaltz.edu.

Auditions usually take 10-15 minutes.

Our auditions are in person. If you have any questions regarding other accommodations, please contact Lee Degnan at degnanl@newpaltz.edu, or contact any of the professors in the area in which you want to apply.

No. You may audition on just one instrument, which will be your primary instrument in the program and the instrument with which you will be taking applied lessons. You can also be your own accompaniment (a voice audition while also playing piano, for example).

Music majors can take one semester of applied lessons on another instrument. If you are interested in ways to explore work in more than one instrument while attending SUNY New Paltz, please discuss this with your advisor.

Please contact the professor associated with your desired concentration for specific information to ask whether pop or original music are acceptable for the area you would like to audition for.