Bachelor of Arts, Music Technology Option

Talent Requirements for Application

When applying to the University of Illinois, prospective first-year and transfer students should select the “Music” degree option, and specify the “Music Technology” option on the supplemental music form. The link to your supplemental music form will be emailed to you 24-48 hours after you submit your University application. In addition to completing the university application, applicants should submit an essay, a portfolio, and plan for an interview.

1. Submit an Essay: Applicants must submit a 300-500 word essay that provides a summary of academic achievements in math and/or computer science, and a description of music-technology related experiences, accomplishments, and goals.
2. Submit a Portfolio: Applicants must submit an online portfolio that demonstrates their experience and readiness in Music Technology. The portfolio should include a Table of Contents, as a Word doc or pdf document, which will include a listing of all online materials included in the portfolio. Each item should be listed with​:
   • title
   • date(s) the content was created
   • detailed description of the portfolio item (people involved and in what capacity, instruments/hardware/software utilized, why the item is significant, and any other noteworthy information)
   • a web link to the content itself (e.g. YouTube, Soundcloud, Vimeo, Google Drive, Dropbox, your own personal webspace, or another public hosting service). Items presented in the portfolio may include, but are not limited to: audio files, video files, digital image files, text or pdf documents, programming code, websites you’ve designed, engineering schematics or diagrams, etc. Portfolio items should highlight the applicant’s unique strengths and experiences relating to Music Technology, and clearly demonstrate potential for continued growth and success.
3. Participate in an Interview: Applicants must participate in a 15-minute interview with members of the Composition, Theory & Technology faculty. This virtual interview will only be scheduled once the applicant’s essay and portfolio have been received. During the interview, our faculty will engage the applicant in a discussion of their musical background, educational interests and long-term professional goals. In addition, applicants will be given a brief set of ear training and musicianship questions pertaining to musical intervals, scales, chord qualities, etc. in order to gauge ability and readiness in the core music curriculum. Applicants will also have the opportunity to ask the faculty questions about the degree program to which they are applying, the various courses of study at the School of Music, and the university experience in general.

About Bachelor of Arts, Music Technology

The Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Music is a 120-hour degree that is designed for students who wish to pursue a music degree with curricular flexibility to complete coursework in secondary and complementary areas of study. The BA in Music requires students to select a specific area of study, called an “option.” The goals of the Music Technology option include:

• To treat the study of technology and music as equal subject areas, adopting a broad, multi-disciplinary approach to the curriculum.
• To frame music technology within the larger contexts of historical trends, social transformation and ethical responsibility.
• To give students a technical understanding of computers and a familiarity with how computers mediate work in different disciplines across the arts and sciences.
• To transform students from consumers of digital media into informed producers of content.
• To provide an education relevant to contemporary career paths

Some examples of career paths in Music Technology include music production, recording/live sound engineering, sound design, multimedia and game design, hardware/software design, film and media scoring, music business, and music education. Beyond the required Music Technology courses, students may select from a broad range of electives in order to tailor the degree to their specific interests. In addition, students pursuing the Music Technology option will develop proficiency in music theory and ear training through the core music curriculum. Outside of coursework, Music Technology students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience assisting with concert recording and production for the School of Music.