Bachelor of Music (BM)

Bachelor of Music with majors in brass, composition studies, jazz studies, organ, percussion, piano, strings, voice and woodwinds.

Department

School of Music

Awarding body

Not stated on the pages we checked

Official award

Bachelor of MusicBM

Award family

BM / BMusA Bachelor of Music or BMus, exactly as titled by the awarding institution.

Qualification level

Bachelor’s degree

Qualification standing

Academic qualificationA degree, or a certificate or diploma awarded by a degree-awarding institution within a national qualifications framework.

Orientation

Orientation not published

Previous degree required

Not published

No program-level accreditation or validation record has been verified yet. That does not mean none exists; check the national authority and the institution.

Delivery

On campusTaught at the listed campus.

Study mode

Not published

Duration

Not published

Intakes

Not published

Campus

University of Iowa

Taught in

English

English

English teaching not verifiedAn English-language website does not mean a program is taught in English.

Audition

Audition depends on route or instrument

Audition details

• Format: Live or recorded
• Prescreening: Check individual studio pages for required application requirements and prescreening submission deadlines.
• Audition application deadline: Undergraduate audition days: Friday Feb. 5, Saturday Feb. 6, Friday Feb. 12 and Saturday Feb. 13, 2027

Required repertoire, as published

• Trumpet: Audition day information | See the submission deadline for undergraduates to file with the School of Music and learn more about Audition Day . | Prescreening | No prescreening required, but it is strongly recommended that you contact Professor Gause for a sample lesson before your audition. | Preparation requirements | Candidates should prepare two contrasting selections from the standard repertoire for their instrument, which may include solos, etudes and/or orchestral excerpts. | Learn more about suggested repertoire | Time requirement | The audition will be in a lesson format with a full duration of 60 minutes, and should consist of five to seven minutes of prepared material. | Accompaniment | No accompaniment is required. | Technical requirements | Scales | Up to four sharps or four flats, with two octaves where possible. | Sightreading | Suggested repertoire | Solo repertoire | Arutunian Concerto | Balay Prelude et Ballade | Barat Andante et Scherzo | Broughton Oliver’s Birthday | Clarke Debutante, Bride of the Waves, etc. | Handel Aria con Variazioni | Haydn Concerto | Hindemit
• Bassoon: Prescreening | No prescreening is required. | Preparation requirements | Candidates should prepare three contrasting selections that highlight their strengths and musicality. We encourage you to choose pieces you truly enjoy playing—music that best reflects who you are as a musician. The audition will be in a lesson-style format and will last about 30 minutes. | Time requirement | Audition materials should be thoroughly prepared and approximately 20 to 30 minutes in length. | Accompaniment | No accompaniment is required. | Technical requirements | One etude showing the applicant's level of technical and musical ability. | Repertoire | There is no required repertoire. Applicants are encouraged to choose a varied program that showcases both their strengths and their musical personality. Select music that you feel best represents you as a performer. You are welcome to mix standard repertoire with personal favorites. If you would like guidance or repertoire suggestions, please contact Professor Benjamin Coelho.
• Cello: For general information and to register for an audition, please see Undergraduate Auditions . | The requirements are three contrasting works, such as: | Study or etude such as Popper etudes | One movement of a concerto or sonata | One or two movements of a Bach suite | If you cannot audition during the School of Music's annual audition day, please contact Jamie Clark to make alternate arrangements.
• Clarinet: Prescreening | No prescreening required. | Preparation requirements | 2 contrasting etudes (fast-slow), of your choosing. | 2 movements from the standard solo clarinet repertoire, of your choosing. | Time requirement | Audition materials should be thoroughly prepared and no longer than the 30 minute audition time. | Accompaniment | No accompaniment is required. | Technical requirements | 4 major scales, of your choosing. | 2 natural minors, 2 harmonic minors, and 2 melodic minors of your choosing. | Repertoire | No required repertoire, please reach out to Professor Montilla for repertoire suggestions.
• Double Bass: For general information and to register for an audition, please see Undergraduate Auditions . | Audition Requirements: | Major or minor scale (2 octaves) | Etude (Franz Simandl, Storch-Hrabe, etc.) | Solo work | Compositions are welcome in PDF format, but not required.
• Flute: Prescreening | No prescreening required. | Preparation requirements | Two contrasting solo pieces | 2-3 standard orchestral excerpts or one etude | Technical requirements | No technical requirements. | Time requirement | The audition will be in a lesson format with a full duration of 20 minutes. | Accompaniment | No accompaniment is required. | Repertoire | No required repertoire, please reach out to Professor Esposito for repertoire suggestions
• French Horn: Prescreening | No prescreening is required. | Preparation requirements | Applicants should prepare 10-minutes of music consisting of 2-4 contrasting selections for the horn that best represents them artistically. These could include, but are not limited to: | original arrangements, compositions, and/or improvisations | works by underrepresented composers | selections in the Western Art Music tradition (i.e. horn solos, études, orchestral/band excerpts.* | * See Repertoire section | Time requirement | The audition will be in a lesson format with a duration of 20-30 minutes. | Accompaniment | No accompaniment required | Technical requirements | Major scales – 2 octaves; ascending and descending; up to 4 sharps and 4 flats from memory. | Chromatic scale – 2-3 octaves; ascending and descending from starting tone of choice. | Sight-reading | Repertoire | Example étude books: | Kate Caliendo, 3-in-1 Designer Range Études for French Horn | Paul Basler, 100 Études for Horn (2020) | Jacques-François Gallay, 12 Études for Second Horn, Op. 57 | Georg Kopprasch, 60 Selected Studies | Maxime-Alph
• Organ: 2-4 contrasting pieces that can be performed on piano or organ. | Memory is not required. | Email Dr. Hand if you have any questions about suitable repertoire.
• Piano: Prescreening | In order to be invited for a live audition, each applicant must submit a video recording. Pre-screening video links are due by Jan. 15, 2026. You will be directed to upload your pre-screening materials in your School of Music application. | Video must be unedited and recorded at an angle showing the entire profile of the applicant (the head, hands, and feet of the applicant must be visible) | Each piece or movement should be recorded in one take. | All Level F finalists at the Iowa Music Teachers Association annual State Auditions are exempt from having to do the prescreening round and are automatically admitted to the live on-campus audition. | Repertoire | Applicants must prepare three memorized works (or movement of a multi-movement piece) from different historical periods of music. The repertoire should reflect your best artistic and pianistic level of accomplishment. | One work can be non-traditional. Some examples of non-traditional repertoire are the candidate’s own composition or improvisation, a jazz transcription, a popular work, a musical theatre work, etc.
• Percussion: Preparation requirements | The purpose of an audition is to demonstrate your talents, so choose literature that you are comfortable with and that you enjoy playing. Don’t try to play something that is too difficult for you. Play music that makes you sound great! | Prospective percussion majors should prepare ALL Required material and as much of the Optional material as you are comfortable with that can fit within the 30 minute audition slot. | Mallet keyboard (required & optional material) | Required: | A 4-mallet marimba solo or study of your choice to demonstrate musicianship and technique | (If a 4-mallet work is not possible then a 2-mallet work or an etude from a method book such as Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba, and Vibraphone by Morris Goldenberg, a xylophone solo by George Hamilton Green, or a movement from a work by J.S. Bach is required) | All major and minor scales, two octaves | 2-mallet sightreading | Optional: | A 2-mallet solo work or an etude from a method book such as Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba, and Vibraphone by Morris Goldenberg, a xylophone solo b
• Trombone: Prescreening | No prescreening required. | Preparation requirements | Candidates should prepare two contrasting selections from the standard repertoire for their instrument, which may include solos, etudes, and/or orchestral excerpts. | Students may choose to play the two All-State etudes for the current year. | It is critical that the audition material be thoroughly prepared. | Time requirement | Candidates should prepare 15 minutes of music that showcases their best playing within the 30 minute audition time slot allowance. | Accompaniment | No accompaniment is required. | Technical requirements | No technical requirements. | Repertoire | Suggested solos | Barat, Andante and Allegro | Guilmant, Morceau Symphonique | David, Concertino (mvt. 1) | Morel, Piece in F minor | Telemann, Sonata in F minor | Suggested etudes | Rochut/Bordogni, Melodious Etudes, book 1 (for lyrical selection) | Voxman, Selected Studies (contrasting etudes) | Blazhevich, Studies in Clefs (contrasting etudes)
• Viola: Audition day information | See the submission deadline for undergraduates to file with the School of Music and learn more about Audition Day . | Prescreening | No is prescreening required. | Preparation requirements | The Prelude and one other movement from a Bach Cello Suite; or two contrasting movements from a Bach Violin Sonata or Partita | The first movement of a concerto or sonata (scored for viola/piano or solo viola) that clearly represents the current level of your playing. See the "Suggested Repertoire" tab below. | Memorization is not required | Time requirement | Audition materials should be thoroughly prepared and approximately 10 minutes in length. | Accompaniment | No accompaniment is required. | Technical requirements | One major and one minor scale of your choice (three octaves preferred) | Suggested repertoire | Students may choose any concerto or sonata that represents their playing well. Some excellent choices include, but are not limited to: the Stamitz, Hoffmeister, Walton, Bartók, Forsyth, Bowen, Rózsa, and Higdon concertos, Hindemith's "Der Schwanendreher," Bru
• Violin: For general information and to register for an audition, please see Undergraduate Auditions . | Audition Requirements: | One etude from any of the following: Kreutzer, Dont, Gavinies, Fiorillo, Mazas, Rode or Paganini Caprices, or similar | One movement of a standard concerto | One additional work in a contrasting style | 3 octaves of major and minor scales in two keys | If your audition repertoire is different than the requirements and is in need of modification in any way, please feel free to reach out to the violin professors.
• Classical Voice: Prescreening | No prescreening required. | Preparation requirements | Two songs of contrasting styles, one of which must be in English. Both selections must be memorized and appropriate repertoire for young singers wishing to train their voices in the classical style. | Time requirement | Audition materials should be thoroughly prepared and approximately 5 minutes in length. | Accompaniment | An accompanist will be provided at the audition. | Technical requirements | The audition will include sight-singing and tonal memory. | Repertoire | No required repertoire, please reach out to Music-Voice@uiowa.edu for repertoire suggestions.
• Saxophone: Audition day information | See the submission deadline for undergraduates to file with the School of Music and learn more about Audition Day . | Learn more about the saxophone studio: https://saxophone.studio.uiowa.edu/ | Prescreening | Submit links (audio or video) of the pre-screening materials on the School of Music form. They are due by December 20, 2026. | Time limit: no less than 10 minutes, no longer than 20 minutes | Choose five scales, quarter-note = 88 x 4 sixteenths, articulation of your choice | Repertoire: two contrasting movements from the same or two different pieces. Unaccompanied works are allowed. | Accompanied works must be performed with piano accompaniment (or a pre-recorded track).

SourceSpecific to this program and intake. Check the current admissions cycle; nothing here guarantees admission, and you cannot assume you may audition for a particular teacher.

Portfolio

Portfolio requirement not published

Interview

Not published

Deadlines

• All undergraduate applications must be submitted (audition days February 5, 6, 12 and 13, 2027) · Fall 2027

The institution does not publish tuition for this program on the pages we checked. Ask for current fees, what they include and whether lessons, accompanists, practice rooms, instrument hire, software, recording, recitals, travel and residency costs are extra.

Not published on the program’s source pages: tuition, duration, full-time or part-time options, intakes, whether a previous degree is required, accreditation or validation record.