Admissions Blog

Hi! My name is Joëlla Becker and I am a cellist currently studying with Professor Guy Johnston. I am a first-year master’s degree student, and I also completed my undergrad degree at Eastman, so I have been here for a while. I would love to answer questions you may have about studying cello at Eastman!…

By Janae Gaddy, Class of ‘24 Photos by Luke Black (‘24) and Janae Gaddy One of my favorite aspects of living in Rochester is its vibrant community. Whenever I have free time, I never have to look far for an enjoyable event to attend. This fall, I experienced the Rochester Fringe Festival for the first…

This is a guest post from Matthew Ardizzone, Eastman’s Associate Dean of Admissions & Enrollment Management. US News & World Report recently came out with its highly anticipated annual ranking of colleges and universities. Now that music schools are no longer separately ranked by the Report, I tend to view this list with even greater…

The December 1st Eastman application deadline is coming up soon! Here are some insider tips from an admissions counselor to help you avoid common problems: Read the instructions first. The importance of this step can’t be overstated.  Every school you are applying to will have its own unique requirements, and you must read the instructions…

This is the first post in a two-part series written by Matthew Ardizzone, Eastman’s Associate Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Management. [Updated July 6, 2018] In my last post I wrote about the problems inherent in music school rankings (which are always subjective) and challenged prospective students to seek out what distinguishes each school, rather…

This is the second post in a two-part series written by Matthew Ardizzone, Eastman’s Associate Dean of Admissions. In Part One on this topic, I focused on our students and alumni.  As music schools across the country start to grapple with the question of how to best prepare their students for the changing musical landscape…

Each fall across the US there are many college fair events where students and parents can talk to representatives from college and universities to gather information and ask questions.  Some fairs are aimed specifically students who are interested in the performing and visual arts. If you are within driving distance of Rochester, you should definitely…

The following guest post was written by Eastman alumnus Nick German.  Thanks Nick – we miss you! ************************************ My Eastman Novel The life of a young musician is filled with many ups and downs. They are all part of the excitement, growth, and adventure that music brings us. When I graduated from high school, people…

The Eastman School of Music, in collaboration with Ithaca College and The Juilliard School, is presenting the 11th annual Music College Fair in Upstate New York at the Eastman School on Friday, Oct. 28, from 5 to 7 p.m.    High school and college students who are interested in studying music will have the opportunity to…

The following guest post was written by current Eastman student Mary Russek.  Thanks Mary! ************************************* Wow, another year at Eastman…check! In this post I’d like to share with you my summer plans. I’ll also let you in on a little secret that many students don’t know: summer is a fantastic time to be in Rochester!…

Today’s post was written by Amy Skjerseth, a recent graduate of Eastman.  Her tips will help you get to know the city of Rochester, and give you the insider view on some fun things to look forward to.  Thanks Amy! *** Things to do near the Eastman Campus On the block surrounding Eastman, there is…

The following guest post was written by Betsy Pilon, BM ’15.  Thanks Betsy! *********** With graduation in less than a month, and my move out date looming in the all-too-near future, I’m already beginning to miss my time at Eastman. I’m excited to move on and continue my education in vocal performance and opera; I’m…

The following post was also written by guest poster Amy Skjerseth, who is a recent alumna and has done her share of apartment searching.  Thanks for sharing, Amy! ************ So you’ll be attending Eastman for graduate school in the fall—congratulations!—and you are wondering about finding an apartment in Rochester. As a recent undergraduate alumna of…

Congratulations – you survived your college auditions!  You may feel a bit like you’ve climbed Mt. Everest, and the hard part is over.  However, the waiting period before you receive your admissions decisions can be equally (sometimes even more) difficult.  Here are some tips to help you make the most of the next phase of…

The follow post was written by Eastman undergraduate vocalist Celeste Pellegrino.  Thanks Celeste! ****** Hi! My name is Celeste and I am a junior, double major in Vocal Performance and Music Education here at Eastman. An average day for me at Eastman is filled with classes, homework, rehearsals, practicing, and working as a student assistant…

The following guest post was written by current Eastman jazz major Emiliano Lasansky.  Thanks Emiliano!  For more info on majoring in jazz at Eastman, please also visit the Jazz and Contemporary Media department website. *************** A normal day as a Jazz major at Eastman can be exciting, and is often pretty busy. When we’re not…

by Nick German – Music Education/Piano. Class of 2015 As I write these words to my eager, excited, and potentially stressed-out prospective fellow students, I am sitting in front of a computer with a smile on my face. This smile is not there because I finally played my Bach to my teachers’ liking, or even…

We previously posted some ideas on preparing for your auditions.  Here are some more suggestions to help you get ready for a great audition. Use visualization & mental rehearsal.  Creating positive mental images of an event like an audition can be a powerful preparation technique.  Imagine yourself walking into the audition room, greeting those who will hear…

Auditions at Eastman are fast approaching.  You may be waiting to hear whether you will be invited for auditions, or waiting for confirmation of your audition date.  The Eastman Admissions Office will notify applicants of this information by email no less than three weeks before the preferred audition date listed on your application – sooner…

Senior Andrew Psarris shares memories of auditioning for Eastman four years ago, and what the experience meant to him. Read more here. 

These past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity here in the Admissions Office as we prepare to host on-campus Audition Days. We look forward to the opportunity to meet all of you promising young musicians and to welcome you to our campus. For applicants, the first step to a great audition is simply…

The following post was written by Sam Um, who is a senior percussion performance major at Eastman.  Thanks Sam! ************* Heading into the home stretch of my senior year, I think back on my four years at Eastman and the memory of my very first visit. I remember very clearly when I visited the Eastman…

The Eastman viola community will be sharing their thoughts and experiences throughout the 2014-2015 academic year on The American Viola Society Studio Blog.  Professors Carol Rodland, George Taylor and Phillip Ying, along with students and alumni, will give readers an insider’s view of all things viola. Some of the topics covered so far include: Life…

Zac Hammond is an oboist and a recent graduate of Eastman who won the principal oboe position with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. At Eastman, Zac earned the Bachelor of Music degree in Applied Music, and studied with Prof. Richard Killmer. He also earned the Arts Leadership Certificate. We recently interviewed Zac about his orchestral experiences…

As high school seniors are getting their applications underway (or at least thinking about getting started!) a question often comes up: how many schools should I apply to? What is the right number for your “short list”? The answer to this question is as individual as each student, but I would like to offer some…

We are pleased to announce that the application for Fall 2015 admission is now open!  We’ve spent the summer making updates and improvements, and we are excited to get the admissions season underway.  The Eastman application allows you to upload recordings and videos directly within your application on the “Recordings” page (if recordings are required…

The question of applying on more than one instrument comes up frequently in the music admissions process. There are some cases in which applying on more than one instrument makes sense, and others in which it is not recommended. This post will discuss some factors you should consider in making this decision. The first question…

If you are the parent of a music student, you might want to check out a new book from Amy Nathan called Music Parents Survival Guide.  It is full of advice and info to help you navigate the many steps your child will take between first lessons and heading off to college and beyond.  The…

Visiting a college campus is a great way to get a more complete picture of what studying there would be like. Websites are a useful starting point, but they can’t replace the first-hand experience of meeting faculty, students and staff members and seeing the campus in person.  Here are some tips to make the most…

Many of you will have an interview as part of your audition day at Eastman, depending on the program you are applying to.  Interviews are conducted by a member of Eastman’s faculty or staff – either individually or in small groups.   Interviews are one of my favorite parts of audition days, because they create…

Many of you are required, or at least encouraged, to perform all or part of your audition from memory.[i]  What I’ve learned from my own performing and teaching career is that memorization is not important so much for its own sake, but more so for the musical benefits it brings.  The ultimate goal is a…

Today’s guest post is written by Amy Skjerseth, a recent graduate of Eastman and the Dual Degree program at the University of Rochester.  If you are considering a Dual Degree, you may find it useful to hear about her experiences.  Thanks Amy! ***************** Throughout high school, I always knew that I wanted to study music:…

Hi! My name is Mary and I am a sophomore, double major in Violin Performance and Music Education here at Eastman. When I was in high school looking at colleges, something I always wanted to know was what a typical student schedule looked like. Hopefully this article will give you a peek into my typical…

What do students do for fun at Eastman?  A group of alumni have put together a list of highlights – a “bucket list” of 50 things not to be missed during your time on Gibbs St.  The list includes some great suggestions about places to eat and areas to explore, both near to Eastman and…

Thinking of applying to Eastman’s Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz and Contemporary Media (JCM)?  Here is some advice from our faculty to help you do your best: Study with a jazz teacher during high school. Once you know that you want to pursue a jazz degree, work closely with your school music director and/or…

The New York Times recently published a helpful checklist for high school juniors preparing for the college application process.  This list includes good general advice for all college-bound juniors, regardless of intended major. My favorite tip is “finish the school year in a strong fashion.”  For students applying to music schools, here are a few…

The following post was written by Katie Hagen, a current DMA viola student at Eastman.  Thanks Katie! So, you’re about ready to finish up your undergraduate degree, and thinking about graduate school.  Here are some thoughts on the difference between undergraduate and graduate degrees, and about graduate study at Eastman. Assistantships/Fellowships. Grad schools want to…

What are you looking for in a graduate school?  Knowing what you want and what you’d like to see, both in a graduate program and in the school at large, is an important part of your audition and interview process.  Perhaps you want a school that will challenge and motivate you to be better at your instrument.  Or,…

Sean (Yusheng) Xue is a senior saxophonist at Eastman. Coming from China, he understands the differences between the application process of the two countries and the extra work that international applicants have to do. Here are his tips of how to make your application process as an international student easier and more successful. Read this…

The following guest post was written by one of our current undergraduate percussionists.  We hope you enjoy this insider’s perspective on being a student at Eastman! As a prospective student, it can be difficult to get a gist of what it’s really like to be a student at Eastman.  My name is Ariel Jackson and…

Today is the first of five on-campus Friday Audition Days at Eastman.  We are excited to be welcoming such a wonderful group of auditionees and their families to our campus.  Your schedule will be busy while you are here, but make sure you find some time to talk with our current students.  We wish you…

Greetings from the Eastman Admissions Office! We are starting this blog to give you timely updates and tips on the admissions process at Eastman.  Whether you are a current applicant, a prospective student, a parent, or a teacher, we hope you will find helpful information here. Stay tuned, and feel free to join in the…