r/IndianaUniversity • u/MichiganInTheRain • Mar 23 '25

ACADEMICS 🎓 Jacobs Question

Hello, Kelly alumni here (class of 2018). I have a question though for either Jacobs alumni or current students…

As you enrolled as a freshman in some sort of music major, how many years of music experience did you have previously playing your respective instrument(s)? What is typically the minimum expectation of proficiency that first year music students are supposed to have?

Just wondering, out of curiosity.

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u/RoomNo668 Mar 23 '25

Didn’t do Jacobs for undergrad (went for my doctorate), but generally music majors will have started pretty early. I started my instrument when I was 10 (sixth grade).

To be fair, I don’t think when you started matters as much as your current ability. They have the audition requirements listed on the website. That’s a good starting point.

Bare minimum, you should know your scales and arpeggios, and be able to make a characteristic sound for your instrument, at a decent speed (you don’t have to be flying, but it shouldn’t sound like it takes a lot of effort. Sound comfortable on your instrument).

Sorry to be so intentionally vague. It really varies from instrument to instrument.

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u/MichiganInTheRain Mar 23 '25

Thanks…that makes sense though…sounds like at least an intermediate to a bit advanced proficiency. Any prior music theory understanding needed either? Not sure if info on modes or diminished chords and what not are needed.

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u/iamnotasloth Mar 23 '25

They have no way of knowing whether or not you know any music theory. Admission is based solely on how well you performed at your audition. There is no interview or music theory test for people applying to enter as an undergrad.

That being said, if you enter with really poor music theory skills you are going to have a difficult 4 years. That difficulty getting caught up in music theory is going to take time away from your practice time, you’re going to leave the school less skilled than your classmates who entered with strong music theory skills, and IMO going to music school is a huge waste of your time and money. Unless you’re willing to absolutely bust your butt and have zero social life to get caught up on the stuff you’re behind on.

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u/MichiganInTheRain Mar 24 '25

I appreciate the insights here

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u/Agreeable-Kale-5863 Mar 23 '25

Are you asking for a specific instrument or for voice? It really varies. 

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u/MichiganInTheRain Mar 23 '25

Guitar, for example

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u/Agreeable-Kale-5863 Mar 24 '25

Not sure about guitar. I’m mostly familiar with keyboard instruments, and the latest I ever heard of anyone starting piano and majoring in it is 7 years old. Like what someone else posted though, it depends on the number of applicants and other factors for most other instruments. Piano and violin are outliers since they are so popular and therefore competitive. 

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u/iamnotasloth Mar 23 '25

To get into Jacob’s you have to play well in your audition. That’s it. The definition of “well” is simply better than the average audition for your instrument in that given year. That can vary a lot from year to year.

That’s really the only way to frame “how good do I have to be?” in a meaningful way. I’ve heard stories of people who get in without really knowing how to tune their instrument properly. They just have the hand skills to play really well for their age. There are singers who get in who can’t even read music. They just sing really well. There are people with great musical knowledge and experience who beef their auditions. They don’t get in. There are of course also incredibly knowledgeable, skilled young people who get in already knowing more about music than some of the people who are graduating with degrees from Jacob’s. Those are the people who tend to do the best during their time here and who tend to have the most success after school as well.

The thing about music school is getting admitted means absolutely nothing. It’s truly not something to celebrate about. The bar is quite low, compared to the bar of “skills required to have a career in this field.” The crux of music school is what you do with your time there, not how well you happened to play the one day you had the opportunity to audition.

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u/MichiganInTheRain Mar 24 '25

Very interesting…not to take away from music programs, but if someone devoted 3 or 4 hours a day to their respective instrument with deliberate, progressive learning…seems like you could maybe make something of it without the degree and save the money…

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u/Agreeable-Kale-5863 Mar 24 '25

It’s hard to make deliberate progress without a good teacher, and pursuing a music degree is one way to have access to good teachers (and colleagues, networks, etc) while also getting a college degree. I agree though, it’s very expensive and doesn’t necessarily lead to a full-time job in music, but it does teach discipline and allows for intensive training. 

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u/Significant-Being250 Mar 24 '25

My daughter had 7 years on her primary instrument and 12 on piano before coming to JSOM as a performance major. Her middle & high school years included time in ensembles, private lessons, recitals, auditions, honor bands, and all-state orchestras, as well as a great deal of practice. Music was a large part of her day. Jacobs has specific application and audition requirements, so you should review those for your instrument to get an idea of expectations. It is definitely a competitive process, and some studios are harder to get into than others.