FAQs

How do I get into the SMD?

Admission to the SMD is a two-step process. The first step is to apply to the University online through CSU mentor. The next is to fill out an application to audition for the School of Music & Dance.

How do I apply?

Undergraduate students need to call and request a Scholarship audition form, or click here for more information.

Graduate students must fill out the application to the SMD, which can be found here.

When are auditions?

We recommend that all prospective students try and audition during the scheduled Scholarship auditions. There will also be auditions held the week before school starts. If you can’t make either of those times, please contact the major instructor in your area of emphasis.

When are Scholarship auditions?

Link to the Scholarship flyer

What do I play for Scholarship auditions?

Can minors audition for scholarships?

SJSU awards annual talent-based scholarships ranging from $200-$2000 per year. All music majors, while minors can receive scholarship assistance dependent upon the needs of the school.

How often do I get lessons?

Lessons are weekly; performance majors get weekly hour lessons and education, and jazz studies majors get weekly half-hour lessons. Composition majors get half-hour lessons for the first two years in both their major instrument and in composition. The last two years they receive weekly hour lessons in composition.

Are lessons included in your tuition?

No, there is a nominal fee of $135 per semester.

How many students are there in the SMD?

There are approximately 400 students, 50 of which are Dance majors.

How many ensembles do you have?

We have the following major ensembles: Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, Women’s Chorus, Gospel Choir, Opera Workshop, Spartan Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Spartan Pep-Band, Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra, Latin-Jazz Band, and Collegium Ensemble. We also have several smaller ensembles: Jazz Combos, Saxophone Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Trombone Choir, and String/Chamber Music Ensemble. In addition, we have Piano Master Class, Composition Master Class, & a Music Technology Master Class.

Can non-majors play in the ensembles?

All of our ensembles are on an audition basis and open to all majors.

How do I get assigned to a specific teacher?

When you audition, you will be placed into a specific studio based on size and availability of each individual school.

Can I double major in two instruments/voices?

This is usually not possible, but a few exceptions have been made to gifted students.

What types of chamber music opportunities are there?

There are several small ensembles that are available in each area. Students are also encouraged and supported to collaborate with other artists in and out of the music building.

Brass: brass quintet, trombone choir, trombone quartets, trumpet ensemble, and a brass ensemble.

Woodwinds: saxophone ensemble, saxophone quartets, and a flute choir.

Strings: chamber orchestra, string quartets, and mixed chamber music with winds, voice, and piano.

Voice: Chamber Choir and Collegium - an early music ensemble.

 Can I visit the school?

We would love to extend an invitation for you to tour our campus, meet with faculty, and sit in on classes and ensemble rehearsals. Please contact us if you are interested in setting up a visit. Additionally, we have an event called Be a Music Major for a Day. This is an opportunity for prospective students to come take a look at our campus, sit in on classes, play with our ensembles, and see what it is like to be a SMD student. For more information please click here.

Is there a marching band?

The members of the Spartan Marching Band - "The Pride of the Spartans" - are students from every field of study on campus, from first year undergraduate through graduate students. They rehearse eight hours per week, preparing new music and maneuvers, and perfecting a style that is uniquely their own. At each home game, the Spartan Marching Band performs a completely new halftime show, plus a pre-game show and a post-game concert. A source of Spartan Stadium spirit, the band reflects all the color and fanfare of major university sports pageantry. Advantages in membership include priority registration for classes and scholarship for all music majors. For information contact the Marching Band director, Scott Pierson.

Do you check out instruments to students?

Yes, we have several instruments that are available to music students and can be used for any of our ensembles or fundamentals classes.

Do you check out lockers to students?

Yes, lockers are available for music students based on the size and number of instruments.

Can I play in more than one ensemble?

Yes, you can play in more than one ensemble.

What types of degrees do you offer?

We offer a Bachelor in Music, in Performance (piano, harp, organ, violin, viola, cello, string/double bass, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, percussion, voice) Music Education, Composition/Electro-Acoustics, and Jazz Studies. There is also a Bachelor of Arts in general music and music technology. We offer Masters of Arts Degrees in performance, conducting, education, composition, and jazz.

Are there music organizations on campus?

The SJSU Music Department has two large organizations: Mu Phi Epsilon and International Music Fraternity. We also have a Fraternal Honor Society, Kappa Kappa Psi. In addition, the school hosts a chapter of the California Music Educators Associations and the American Choral Directors Association.

How many full time faculty members do you have?

There are presently seventeen full-time faculty members in the music department in addition to our 35 part-time faculty members. That means that professors are more accessible, and private instruction is only provided by seasoned faculty members, rather than graduate students or TAs.

What is the faculty to student ratio?

There are seventeen students to every one faculty.

Do you have a large library of music available to students?

SJSU has the eight-story Martin Luther King Jr. joint library with the city of San José which has a large selection of materials available to students. In addition, located on the fifth floor of the library is the world renowned Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies, which contains the largest amount of artifacts outside of Europe. The music building also has a resources center, which contains an abundance of music available to students.

What types of performance opportunities are available on campus?

Most of our major ensembles perform two concerts per semester. All of our smaller ensembles perform one concert a semester. There is a Listening Hour every Tuesday and Thursday which is open to the public featuring students of the SMD.

What types of performance opportunities are available in the surrounding community?

The Silicon Valley is full of professional musical organizations which often hire students of the SMD.

Is there a lot of live music in the San José area?

The Opera San José and Symphony Silicon Valley are located only a few blocks from San José State University. The downtown area is a thriving vicinity of live concerts featuring both Classical and Jazz Concerts. San Francisco is only one hour north which features some of the best live music in the country.

Do the ensembles play in tours throughout the year?

Our major ensembles do one tour every year which is paid for by the SMD.

Patrons/Parents

When is the next concert?

Link to our Event Schedule.

What time can I buy tickets?

Our box office opens a half-hour before the concert begins, and most concerts start at 7:30pm.

Is there photography allowed in the concert hall?

No flash photography is allowed during the concert.

Are there student or senior priced tickets?

Yes, the ticket prices are unique to each ensemble.

How do I get to SJSU?

Link to directions.

How do I get to the concert hall?

The Concert hall is located in the front of the music building. The music building is in the center of campus.