Music Composition

This page is for all first-year applicants applying to the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music with an emphasis in music composition or composition for screen arts, as well as those interested in pursuing a music minor in music composition. All application and audition requirements apply to those who are applying to participate in our instrumental ensembles. Current Pepperdine students who wish to audition either as a minor or as a member of our instrumental ensembles should contact the Fine Arts Recruitment Office.

For more information, please contact the Fine Arts Recruitment Office at 310.506.4111, or via email at fineartsrecruit@pepperdine.edu.

Application Requirements for Music Composition

All students applying for the Bachelor of Arts in Music with an emphasis in music composition, or for the music minor in music composition, must complete the following:

The application for Seaver College
The Fine Arts supplemental application, following the requirements for the performance area of your choice (vocal or instrumental)
A live audition, either in-person or via Zoom, in the performance area of your choice (vocal or instrumental)
The Music Fundamentals and Skills Assessment

The supplemental Fine Arts application for the Composition emphasis is split into two separate applications, depending on your primary performance area. You must select if you are applying to the composition program as an instrumentalist or as a vocalist within your supplemental application.

All repertoire requirements for the live audition are the same as for the recorded video audition. You may use the same selections for both the recorded video audition and live audition if you wish, or you may choose different repertoire for the live audition that still fulfills the requirements.

Transfer applicants are strongly encouraged to review Pepperdine’s transfer policies and to contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@pepperdine.edu with further questions.

Supplemental Application Requirements for Music Composition

You will receive access to your Application Portal after submitting your CommonApp. If you selected a Fine Arts major in your CommonApp, your Portal will include the Fine Arts Application Form. Those interested in pursuing a music minor will need to reach out to the Fine Arts Recruitment Office to have the Fine Arts Application Form added to their Application Portal. Once you have submitted the Fine Arts Application Form, you will be able to submit your supplementary materials, including your recorded video auditions.

Those auditioning for music composition must fulfill all requirements for the primary instrument of your choice. Please review the requirements for your primary instrument using the sidebar.

In addition to all requirements for the primary instrument of choice, Music Composition applicants are also required to submit a Music Composition Portfolio as part of their supplemental Fine Arts application.

Should you wish to audition with additional instruments for faculty consideration, please contact the Fine Arts Recruitment Office at fineartsrecruit@pepperdine.edu in a follow-up email after completing the supplemental Fine Arts application. You do not need to submit multiple online applications.

Should you like to request a substitution to any portion of the required repertoire for your primary instrument, please contact the Fine Arts Recruitment Office at fineartsrecruit@pepperdine.edu.

Application Deadlines

All required materials must be submitted by the listed deadline. Any application not completed by the listed deadline may be removed from consideration. For all current application deadlines, please visit this page.

Applicants experiencing hardship or extenuating circumstances due to natural disaster or public health concerns in their local area that may affect their ability to satisfy application requirements may contact the Fine Arts Recruitment Office at fineartsrecruitment@pepperdine.edu to explore possible accommodations. Though we cannot guarantee that accommodations/exceptions will be possible, applicants are encouraged to contact the Recruitment Office as soon as possible to allow the maximum amount of time to consider alternative options.

Recorded Video Guidelines

By the application deadline, all applicants pursuing a music composition major or minor must upload their recorded audition materials through the Pepperdine Application Portal. Please read the following instructions carefully in preparation for your recorded materials.

The following guidelines should be observed for all submitted videos.

Please submit each piece of your video audition as an individual file. Record each of your selections in an unedited, uninterrupted track.
Recordings must have been made within the past 12 months and must meet the repertoire requirements set by each department.
We will not accept audio recordings in place of video recordings.
Be sure to review your entire recording for quality and completion before submitting! Applications that are incomplete will not be processed.

For those auditioning for music composition with a vocal performance focus, recorded video auditions should be recorded with accompaniment. Acceptable accompaniment options include:

in-person accompanist (preferred)
a high-quality piano accompanying app, pre-recorded accompaniment tracks (ideally from an accompanist you have worked with)
self-accompaniment at the piano.

Please use your judgment and select the best accompaniment option that is available to you.

For those auditioning for music composition with a vocal performance focus, please submit a short introduction in which you state your name, the recording date (or dates), and list the selections recorded.

For further guidance on how to best record your video audition, please consult the Virtual Audition Guidelines.

In-Person Audition Instructions

All students applying for the Bachelor of Arts in Music with an emphasis in music composition, or for the music minor in music composition, must participate in a live audition, either virtually or in-person.

Each music composition applicant must select a performance emphasis in either vocal performance or instrumental performance. Please review the relevant instructions for your selected emphasis using the sidebar.

Immediately following the audition, students have the opportunity to complete the Music Fundamentals and Skills Assessment. You will have two hours to complete the exam. We encourage applicants to complete the MFSA prior to their live audition, but those who have not done so will be asked to participate in the exam following their in-person audition.

Zoom Audition Instructions

If you are unable to participate in an in-person audition, you have the option to audition via Zoom. Applicants who audition virtually will be treated equitably to those who audition in-person. Those participating in a virtual live audition should observe the following instructions.

A virtual audition requires adequate lighting, neutral background, strong wifi or ethernet connection as well as appropriate camera angle(s) and audio settings. We strongly encourage all applicants to test their video and audio settings independently prior to their audition. For further information, please reference our Virtual Audition Guidelines.

Scholarship Consideration

Additional scholarships may be available for those pursuing a music major, music minor, or instrumental ensemble participation. By auditioning for the music major, music minor, or instrumental ensembles, you will automatically be considered for Fine Arts scholarships unless you choose to opt out. No additional scholarship application process is necessary to be considered for Fine Arts scholarships.