Audition & Placement
Information
- NEW STUDENT INFORMATION
- CURRENT Â鶹AV STUDENTS INTERESTED IN MUSIC
- ACCEPTED UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS' PLACEMENT EXAM INFORMATION
- ACCEPTED GRADUATE STUDENTS' PLACEMENT EXAM INFORMATION
New Students
Additional information - including application deadlines and FAQs - is found on our Prospective StudentsÌý±è²¹²µ±ð.
There is a TWO-STEP process to apply to the Music Department. All students will apply to the university via Ìýand then follow up with a supplement music application (and audition or video audition) for the music department. The music department application link is sent by email after you apply to the university, and should not be started without having received your Â鶹AV credentials. Contact music@csun.edu with questions.
All audition requirements are found in the side bar, as well as on the Music Application website.
All JAZZ musicians have a pre-screen video due prior to being approved for the final round of in-person Jazz Auditions.Ìý Check the Prospective Students page for strict deadlines!
Current Â鶹AV Students
If you are a current Â鶹AV student wishing to become a music major, please contact please contact the Music Department Undergraduate Advisor, Nicole Hovland (nicole.hovland@csun.edu) for a link to the music department audition application.
Those students who already hold a bachelor's degree will notÌýbe able to receive a second or additional bachelor's from Â鶹AV at this time.
The Â鶹AV Music Department does not offer a Minor in Music.
If you've already earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, Â鶹AV encourages you to apply to our graduate program.
Placement Exams: for Accepted Undergraduate Music Students
Undergraduate Placement Tests:
Musicianship & Theory
So that we can provideÌýtheÌýmost appropriate advisement on registration and ensure successful degree progress, all incoming undergraduate students must takeÌýplacement diagnostic exams inÌýboth musicÌýtheory and aural skills unless otherwise advised by the department.Ìý​​​​​​
All accepted students will receive links to these exams via email in May. For questions regarding placement exam access, please contact Nicole Hovland: nicole.hovland@csun.edu. For questions regarding exam content, please contact Dr. McCaffrey: arthur.mccaffrey@csun.edu.
Keyboard
Keyboard Musicianship Placements will be done on an ongoing basis through a questionnaire that will assess your background in piano. This questionnaire will be sent to all new incoming students. If you do not receive it, it is available by contacting the Music Undergraduate Advisor, Nicole Hovland:Ìýnicole.hovland@csun.edu. You may test out of the Keyboard Musicianship sequence by emailing Professor Nasim Moattar a video when you submit the questionnaire.ÌýContact: Nasim Moattar -Ìýnasim.moattar@csun.edu
Placement Exams: Incoming Graduate Students
MUSIC THEORY ENTRANCE EXAM (required of all incoming graduate students)
This is for students entering in the fall of 2025 or graduate students who entered previously and have not taken the exam:
Wednesday, AUGUST 20th, 2025, 10 a.m. to noon - Online exam, please contact Professor Marinescu to reserve an examination appointment.
Professor Marinescu:Ìýliviu.marinescu@csun.eduÌýÌý