Bachelor of Arts, Music Technology Option

Talent Requirements for Application

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 a personal statement, a portfolio, and plan for an interview.

1. Personal Statement: Applicants must submit an essay or personal statement (approximately 300-500 words) that includes a summary of academic achievements in music, music technology, and/or related areas, a description of interests and experiences relevant to the degree program, significant accomplishments, and career goals.
2. Portfolio: Applicants must submit an online portfolio that demonstrates their experience and readiness for the Music Technology program. The portfolio should be viewed as an opportunity to provide a greater sense of depth beyond grades and test scores, by documenting the applicant’s unique strengths, demonstrating potential for continued growth and success, and showcasing activities, interests, and accomplishments relevant to music technology. Portfolio items may include (but are not limited to) music compositions, recordings, songwriting, performance videos, music production/engineering work, etc. The portfolio must include a Table of Contents (in doc, txt or pdf format), that lists each item with a title, the date of creation, a concise description of the item and its significance, along with a link to the content itself (e.g. YouTube, Soundcloud, Google Drive) if not uploaded directly.
   • Important Guidelines for Portfolio Submission
     • Large files, such as high-resolution videos, should only be included via link to an external site. Smaller files, such as audio and text, can be uploaded directly or via external link.
     • Do not upload files in platform-specific formats. Common examples include music notation software files (MuseScore, Finale, Sibelius, Dorico, etc.) and DAW session files (Logic, Ableton, FL Studio, GarageBand, etc). All uploaded items must be in standard text/image/audio/video formats. Examples of valid formats include (but are not necessarily limited to) doc, docx, txt, rtf, pdf, jpg, png, mp3, aiff, wav, mov, and mp4.
     • If your application includes code-based projects, you may upload the code files directly, or link to an external site where the project is hosted, such as GitHub. In either case, the applicant is strongly encouraged to include a short video or set of image files that document the code project in action.
3. Interview: Applicants will participate in a short interview with members of the Composition, Theory & Technology faculty. Interview topics may include the applicant’s academic background, educational interests, and professional goals. Applicants will also have the opportunity to ask questions.

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.