Applicants for admission to the undergraduate program in composition and theory may enter the major as freshmen or sophomores.
Applicants should submit three scores and complete an audition on an instrument offered at Boston University. Work submitted for application evaluation should be in good manuscript form and should demonstrate talent, some knowledge of contemporary music, and some technical skill. Students applying to enter the major at the sophomore level must present to the department evidence of their work at a level equal to that of CFA MU 561, 562 Basic Compositional Techniques. Composition majors are required to enroll in the honors-level theory sequence.
Students in Composition and Theory must audition on an instrument offered at Boston University and according to the requirements of the Bachelor of Music in Performance.
Following the performance audition on the major instrument, the applicant is scheduled for an interview with a Composition and Theory faculty member. Before the performance audition, the applicant should submit at least one original composition in good manuscript form. Applicants should identify materials carefully with their names, the colleges from which they are transferring, and their proposed majors. Mail a photocopy of the manuscripts to the School of Music Admissions Office.