Conservatory of Music

We have about 380 students, 75% undergraduate students and 25% graduate students, in addition to 20 students minoring in music. We have a student/teacher ratio of 16:1.

Register for a Performing Arts tour with the Office of Admissions. These tours include a guided tour of the Conservatory of Music. After you have scheduled your visit, if you wish to meet the head of your intended program, please contact them directly via our faculty page.   See more general information about a visit to campus.

Yes, please contact our faculty directly via our faculty page.

The Conservatory of Music receives about 850 total applications for music auditions and has an acceptance rate of approximately 20%.

The Music Building is open 24 hours a day and music students are issued practice room keys.

Read more about our facilities

We offer professional degrees in music: the Bachelor of Music (MusB) and the Master of Music (MM). We also offer a postbaccalaureate Performers Certificate (PC) and post-master’s Artist Diploma (AD), which are programs reserved for accomplished students who are on the verge of major performance careers in solo, ensemble, or studio settings.

To view the course requirements, visit your intended major and select the degree from the sidebar to view the undergraduate 8-semester plans or the graduate, Artist Diploma, or Performers Certificate 4-semester plans.

• Classical Composition
• Instrumental Performance (select your instrument family followed by the degree)
• Voice and Opera Studies
• Jazz Studies
• Studio Composition
• Studio Production

Both programs have a number of courses in common, especially in the first two years, and become much more specialized in the junior and senior years.

Studio composition students focus on the craft of composing. Studio production majors go into a more technical route, focusing on technology, capturing and manipulating sound, etc., with the expectation of working on the control room side of a recording studio setting.

Both programs are offered at the undergraduate level, but only studio composition is offered at the graduate level.

Generally speaking:

Classical Composition is rooted in the tradition of western classical music that developed through the baroque, classical, and romantic eras into more contemporary and diverse cultural styles in the 20^th century. Classical composition students study classical theory, counterpoint, orchestration, analysis and keyboard skills. Students in this program generally compose music for live performances for an audience in a recital hall, and music for films.  Score based music notation is central to the Classical Composition method.     

Studio Composition is rooted in the tradition of popular music songwriting and the composition of music for commercial production, recordings, film, media, and pop/rock style concerts. Students in this program generally compose music that is produced and recorded in a studio, sometimes using live musicians, and sometimes using virtual instruments and music production software.

There is some cross-over between the two programs, which is consistent with the intersection of these styles in contemporary musical culture.

No.

Yes; for some courses, you might need to ask permission from the instructor or the head of the program.

We have seven large ensembles/orchestras, including the Purchase Symphony Orchestra and the Purchase Jazz Orchestra, in addition to 25 chamber groups, 15 jazz combos, and a variety of other ensembles.

Yes, many courses require a performance at the end of the semester. Additionally, we encourage our students to engage in additional performance opportunities throughout the year, so we expect our students to come ready and willing to perform.

Yes, we have several options for students interested in study-abroad programs taking place during the summer and winter breaks. Opportunities to study abroad for a full semester are less likely for music majors. For more information please contact the college‘s Office of Study Abroad at (914) 251- 6032 or visit their website.

Our faculty and staff are our best counselors because they are all working professionals in the area who can guide our students based on their own experience, expertise, and connections in the industry. In addition to this, Purchase College has a Career Development Center with services available to all students.

We offer a Master of Music (MM), a postbaccalaureate Performers Certificate (PC), and a post-master’s Artist Diploma (AD).

They are both graduate-level programs. However, the PC is a postbacalaureate program, for students who only hold a bachelor’s degree, while the AD is a post-master’s program, for students who hold a master’s degree. However, the coursework is the same. Both are strictly oriented towards performance; therefore, they are only offered to students in performance tracks. In this, they differentiate from the MM degree, which has an additional academic component.

To view the course requirements, visit your intended major and select the degree from the sidebar to view the undergraduate 8-semester plans or the graduate, Artist Diploma, or Performers Certificate 4-semester plans.

• Classical Composition
• Instrumental Performance (select your instrument family followed by the degree)
• Voice and Opera Studies
• Jazz Studies
• Studio Composition
• Studio Production

Our graduate programs are conceived as full-time programs. However, on occasion, we might approve one semester of part-time study, after consultation with the program director and your academic advisor. 9-credits is considered full-time status for graduate studies.

No.

Graduate students must submit a pre-screening application as well as transcripts. Please refer to our Application Instructions for details.

We offer a Bachelor of Music and a music minor.

To view the course requirements, visit your intended major and select the degree from the sidebar to view the undergraduate 8-semester plans or the graduate, Artist Diploma, or Performers Certificate 4-semester plans.

• Classical Composition
• Instrumental Performance (select your instrument family followed by the degree)
• Voice and Opera Studies
• Jazz Studies
• Studio Composition
• Studio Production

Yes–undergraduate students need to apply to Purchase College using these application instructions, and audition for the Conservatory of Music using these audition guidelines.

Yes, in addition to their music courses, students also complete the core curriculum/general education courses.

Most transfer students should be prepared to spend at least three years with us, but that may vary depending on each student’s preparation. Students will have an opportunity to meet with an academic advisor to finalize their transfer evaluations and be advised.

Yes, more information on minoring in music may be found here. Please note that you must be a matriculating undergraduate student to be eligible for the music minor.

Yes, as long as your major and minor are from different programs. You must audition and be admitted for both.

Yes, the student should consult with his or her faculty advisor about the coursework and potential scheduling issues.

Yes, but it is not easy. As a conservatory program, we expect students to dedicate a good deal of time to their craft. However, we will work with the student to make sure his or her needs and interests are addressed.

Yes, however there is an Applied Music Fee for all student enrolled in private lessons. Permission to register for MPE 4350/Private Study is required. Contact the Conservatory of Music Office for more information at music@purchase.edu.

Application to Purchase College is handled through our Office of Admissions. Please refer to their Application Instructions and direct any questions about this portion of the application to admissions@purchase.edu.

The Conservatory of Music only manages the audition process; you can view all the audition guidelines here.

Very few programs at the Conservatory of Music typically accept applications for spring admission. Please contact us in late September or early October to find out if your intended program is accepting spring applications. We can be reached at music@purchase.edu. Also, please note that we have no scholarships available for spring applicants.

If you missed the deadline, contact the main office at the Conservatory of Music: (914) 251-6700, music@purchase.edu.        

All prospective music majors and minors must audition into the program. The first step is to submit a pre-screening audition. If you pass this pre-screening, you will be invited to a live audition/interview. All audition requirements can be found here.

This page also has the exact dates for live auditions, which take place in February during the week of President’s Day, as well as information regarding placement tests and other guidelines.

Yes. It is also possible to major in one music program and minor in another. However, in each of these scenarios, you would need to submit two separate pre-screening applications.

Additionally, please note that different programs hold auditions on different days, so if you are invited to both live auditions, you might need to audition on two different days.

All prospective music majors and minors must audition into the program. The first step is to submit a pre-screening audition. If you pass this pre-screening, you will be invited to a live audition/interview. All audition requirements can be found here.

This page also has the exact dates for live auditions, which take place in February during the week of President’s Day, as well as information regarding placement tests and other guidelines.

Whenever possible please come to the live audition. It is important for us to meet and see you live, and it is important for you to meet the faculty and other students. Scholarships are awarded based on your live audition performance.

If you are truly unable to attend a live audition, please contact the Conservatory of Music main office at music@purchase.edu, and our staff will work with you to find a solution.

Please note that we do not conduct regional auditions.

Please email us at music@purchase.edu

Typically two to three weeks after the end of audition week, as long as your application for admission is complete. If your admissions application is not complete, you will not be notified of a decision. We encourage all applicants to check the status of their application online before their live audition.

Unfortunately, audition feedback is not available.

Most programs have a wait list, which means that we think you meet the criteria for admission, but space in the program is limited.  You can choose to stay on or be removed from the wait list, and should notify the Office of Admissions directly about their decision: (914) 251-6300, admissions@purchase.edu.

Tuition costs may be found here. Please note that there are some additional fees for music students.

Payment deadlines and information on applying for financial aid can be found through the Office of Student Financial Services.

We have talent based scholarships available for fall applicants. All students will be considered automatically based on their live audition. No separate application is necessary.

Fall applicants will be notified between March/April. We do not have scholarships available for spring applicants.

Last year, 30% of our students received talent based scholarships directly from the Conservatory of Music.

Additionally, New York Residents may be eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship.

The Conservatory of Music sometimes hires music majors for work-study. If a position becomes available, it will be posted on the JobScore website of the college’s Career Development Center.

From time to time we are able to offer graduate assistantships of a teaching or administrative nature. These are subject to funding from the college. If you are interested in being considered for a graduate assistantship, please request a Graduate Assistantship Application from the Conservatory of Music office by emailing us at music@purchase.edu.

No. You may submit your FAFSA form before a notification of admission. In fact, you are encouraged to do so, because some types of financial aid are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please refer to the Admissions website. This includes information about the TOEFL and other application materials required for international students.

International students are eligible for scholarships and assistantships within the conservatory. They are not, however, eligible for state or federal financial aid, loans, grants, or work-study programs.

Yes. Information will be emailed to international students at the time of admission.