Music Industry Studies - Auditions

The MIS Option seeks bright, personable, organized, self-starters who possess exceptional character and strong core values that include an intense desire to blend their love of music with their interest in business.

Entrance to the MIS Option is by audition, which can only be completed following acceptance to the University. Acceptance to the University and declaring yourself a “Music” major does not constitute entrance into the MIS Option.

For additional information how to apply to the MIS Option, please visit the Music Department’s Audition & Placement page.

All applicants to the MIS Option are required to pass a three-part audition that includes a performance audition (on a musical instrument or voice), an interview, and an essay. Failure to pass any part of the audition will disqualify the applicant from consideration. Simply passing each audition component is not necessarily sufficient for entrance to the MIS Option. With a historic admission rate of approximately 50%, admission into the MIS Option is competitive and determined by the availability of enrollment opportunities and how well an applicant scores in each component of the audition.

1. Performance Audition

Applicants are required to demonstrate musical competency and the ability to read traditional music notation (not just chord symbols or the ability to play by ear) on a musical instrument or voice. Most applicants who have seriously studied music performance with a professionally qualified music teacher for a period of time should have little difficulty passing the performance audition. Please note that the performance audition requirement is never waived.

2. Interview

Applicants are required to participate in an interview with the MIS Option Coordinator. The interview allows the Option Coordinator to assess the applicants' career aspirations, capabilities, and character. Depending on the number of applicants, this may be replaced with a group information session.

3. Essay

Applicants are required to write a short research essay of approximately 1,500 words on a designated music industry topic. This allows the MIS Option Coordinator to assess the applicant’s academic ability, research skills, and writing proficiency. The essay consist of presenting a premise supported by properly cited materials -- articles, books, online material, quotes, and anything else that is clearly not the applicant’s own work. Citations and bibliography should utilize MLA or APA style (for additional information regarding MLA and APA styles, visit https://libguides.csun.edu/research-strategies/MLA and https://libguides.csun.edu/research-strategies/APA).  

Essay topics and instructions, along with a short set of interview questions, will be distributed at the conclusion of the MIS group information session. Applicants will have approximately four days in which to complete the essay and questions, both of which are to be submitted electronically to the MIS Option Coordinator.

Performance audition requirements and repertoire are governed by the respective performance areas. The MIS Option does not adjudicate performance auditions nor does it have the authority to modify the scores awarded by the respective performance area. Submission of pre-existing personal or commercial recordings without prior authorization does not qualify as a substitute for the performance audition.

Composers, songwriters, producers, and engineers are subject to the same performance audition requirements as described above. The live performance of recorded media (such as that employed by a DJ or Remixer) does not qualify under the department’s definition of a musical instrument.

For specific performance audition and repertoire requirements for each performance area, please visit the Music Department’s Audition & Placement page.

Performance audition repertoire is governed by the respective performance areas. In general, performance audition repertoire is classical in nature.

For specific performance audition repertoire requirements, please visit the Music Department’s Audition & Placement page.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their performance audition live and on-campus rather than through a recording. Recorded auditions are primarily intended for those applicants residing outside of the United States. For those applicants residing greater than 600 miles away from Los Angeles, California, or whose schedule prevents them from attending an on-campus audition, a recorded audition may be accepted with prior approval of the MIS Area Coordinator.

Entrance to the MIS Option is by audition. All applicants are required to pass a three-part audition that includes a performance audition (on a musical instrument or voice), an interview, and an essay. Failure to pass any part of the audition will disqualify the applicant from consideration.

For many applicants, the performance audition represents the most challenging part of the MIS Option audition. Most applicants who have seriously studied music performance with a professionally qualified music teacher for a period of time should have little difficulty passing the performance audition. Self-taught musicians who cannot read traditional music notation and/or have little experience with classical repertoire and performance techniques seldom pass the performance audition.

Most MIS Option classes are reserved for MIS students only. MUS 419 (Music Industry Foundations) is offered every Fall semester for those non-MIS students who are interested in a one-semester survey of the music industry.