Music (BA)
Instrumental, Vocal, Guitar or Piano
Our bachelor of arts degree with a minor in another area may lead you to various career options or graduate study.
- Offered Face-to-Face in Commerce.
- 4 years
- 120 credit hours
- Foreign language credits required
Unlock Your Potential at the School of Music!
Audition
Whether you're aiming to major in music or simply want to immerse yourself in a vibrant community through a minor or ensemble participation, auditioning is the first step! This is your opportunity to showcase your talent and unlock eligibility for valuable graduate assistantships and scholarships.
See Yourself Succeed with a Degree In Music
Join Our Community
You’ll discover a vibrant community of talented musicians who are dedicated to fostering world-class ensembles, bands and chorales. Our programs are recognized internationally with students competing and performing overseas.
Learn from the Best
You’ll have opportunities to participate in studio recitals and master classes taught by renowned professors and nationally recognized guest musicians. Our faculty are dedicated to improving your music appreciation, comprehension and performance.
NASM Accredited
East Texas A&M University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
Find Your Program
The School of Music combines exceptional performance opportunities with personalized mentorship, empowering you to pursue your passion and specialize in music education or performance—whether your focus is instrumental, vocal, guitar, or piano.
What You Will Learn
A bachelor’s degree in music will offer you the opportunity to:
- Become a part of a community of world-class musicians and scholars
- Receive private lessons from seasoned musicians
- Increase your knowledge in music history and theory
- Participate in conferences, master classes and workshops
Finding My Community
Daniel Kelly, DMA
Julee Kim Walker, DMA
Luis Sanchez, D.A.
Megan Boutin, DMA
Admission
You must complete an audition for admission to the ensemble as a music major, minor or non-major. School of Music scholarships are available and awarded based on your audition.
Deadlines
Audition Dates
- Saturday, February 21st
- Saturday, March 7th (Instrumental Only)
- Saturday, March 21st
- Saturday, March 28 (All Vocal and Non-Major Instrumental Auditions)
Other dates available upon request
Applying to the music program is a two-step process. Submit your application through the application portal and submit the necessary documents. Apply to the School of Music by signing-up for an audition.
Domestic Transcripts
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your Graduate Student Services Coordinator. We accept transcripts officially via email (directly from the institution), through Parchment, and any other official transcript providing agency. If your university does not offer an electronic transcript service, you may request them to be sent via regular mail to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428
If your degree is from East Texas A&M University, you do not have to order a transcript. We will access your transcript.
If we already have your transcript, we will reuse it for a new application as long as it is still on file.
International transcripts
WES ICAP evaluations will be required for certain countries; those are listed below:
- Transcripts/Degrees from universities in Nigeria
- Transcripts/Degrees from universities in China that do not come from CSSD (formerly CHESICC)
- Any country where the official transcript is not in English
For all other countries, an evaluation is not initially required. Original official transcripts are required for admission consideration.
Please know that upon receipt of your official transcript, the Graduate School reserves the right to require an external evaluation at that time.
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428
We will need official/original documents.
If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.
You do not need to complete the state-legislated Texas Success Initiative (TSI) assessment if you meet one of the following exemption criteria.
- Met minimum college readiness standard on the SAT or ACT
- Obtained the minimum required score(s) on the statewide high school STAAR EOCs Algebra II and English III exams (these are optional for high schools)
- Met a veteran or active military waiver (must meet specific requirements for each category)
- Received exemption based on earning a prior degree
- Received a transfer exemption (declaration by another institution)
- Completed prior college-level coursework
Students are responsible for providing proof of exemption and will be considered assessment required until documentation is provided of state exemption. For more information, please contact the Testing Center at [email protected].
Submit your scores using the East Texas A&M (formerly Texas A&M-Commerce) codes 4088 (ACT) and 6188 (SAT) on act.org or collegeboard.org.
East Texas A&M accepts scores on certain College Board Advanced Placement (AP) tests for credit in selected courses.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is a rigorous, 2-year, pre-university program. In compliance with SB111, ETAMU offers at least 24 hours of credit to all IB diploma candidates with subject exam scores of 4 or higher.
Audition and interview to gain acceptance to the program and be eligible for undergraduate scholarships.
To help you pay for your degree, a variety of SCHOLARSHIPS are available at East Texas A&M including institutional scholarships, outside scholarships and state-funded scholarships. All scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis as funds are available, so apply as early as you can!
Check your myLeo account for admission status, financial aid and scholarship info, registration, updates, and deadlines.
College is the next big step in your academic journey!
Residents of foreign countries who wish to enter the university should apply to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions well in advance of the semester they plan to attend. Please note that an international student is any degree-seeking student holding a non-immigrant student visa.
All admission requirements are to be completed a minimum of three months prior to the beginning of the semester. In the case of extenuating circumstances, exceptions to this timeline may be considered on an individual basis.
Keep in mind that your transcripts must be evaluated by an independent credential evaluation agency before being considered for admission.
Applying to the music program is a two step process. First apply to East Texas A&M University with ApplyTexas and then apply to the School of Music in order to sign-up for an audition.
Submit your application.
Domestic Transcripts
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your Graduate Student Services Coordinator. We accept transcripts officially via email (directly from the institution), through Parchment, and any other official transcript providing agency. If your university does not offer an electronic transcript service, you may request them to be sent via regular mail to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428
If your degree is from East Texas A&M University, you do not have to order a transcript. We will access your transcript.
If we already have your transcript, we will reuse it for a new application as long as it is still on file.
International transcripts
WES ICAP evaluations will be required for certain countries; those are listed below:
- Transcripts/Degrees from universities in Nigeria
- Transcripts/Degrees from universities in China that do not come from CSSD (formerly CHESICC)
- Any country where the official transcript is not in English
For all other countries, an evaluation is not initially required. Original official transcripts are required for admission consideration.
Please know that upon receipt of your official transcript, the Graduate School reserves the right to require an external evaluation at that time.
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428
We will need official/original documents.
If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.
You do not need to complete the state-legislated Texas Success Initiative (TSI) assessment if one of the following exemptions applies.
- Met minimum college readiness standard on the SAT or ACT
- Obtained the minimum required score(s) on the statewide high school STAAR EOCs Algebra II and English III exams (these are optional for high schools)
- Met a veteran or active military waiver (must meet specific requirements for each category)
- Received exemption based on earning a prior degree
- Received a transfer exemption (declaration by another institution)
- Completed prior college-level coursework
Students are responsible for providing proof of exemption and will be considered assessment required until documentation is provided of state exemption. For more information, please contact the Testing Center at [email protected].
Submit your scores using the East Texas A&M (formerly Texas A&M-Commerce) codes 4088 (ACT) and 6188 (SAT) on act.org or collegeboard.org.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is a rigorous, 2-year, pre-university program. In compliance with SB111, ETAMU offers at least 24 hours of credit to all IB diploma candidates with subject exam scores of 4 or higher.
As an applicant, you must be adequately proficient in English to pursue a course of study at the university. A score of at least 550 paper-based, 213 computer-based or 79 internet-based on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and an official report of these scores must be submitted to the Office Undergraduate Admissions prior to admission. Please keep in mind that Education Testing Service (ETS) will not release scores that are older than two (2) years.
Undergraduate Exemptions:
- Students who have completed Eng 1301 and Eng 1302, at a U.S. institution, with a grade of “C” or better. Students may provide a certified older score if they have been continuously studying at a U.S. college or university.
- Students who have successfully completed the Texas International Education Consortium (TIEP’s) advanced-level program as defined in the information provided by TIEP and who are seeking admissions to our campus.
- Students who have completed a minimum of one year of study in a Texas public high school with the completion of English III or English IV (including Advance Placement/AP) with a grade of “B” or better.
- Students who are citizens of Australia, New Zealand, the British Virgin Island, Jamaica, United Kingdom, Ireland, Antigua, Northern Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, St. Lucia, Wales, Bahamas, Barbados, Switzerland and Canada (excluding French-speaking Quebec). Proof of citizenship must be provided such as birth certificate or passport.
- Students who have one of the following tests and scores:
CAE: B or Higher
CPE: C or Higher
AT II E: 968 or Higher
IELTS: Overall band 6.0 or Higher
SAT Verbal: 500 or Higher
ACT Verbal: 19 or Higher - Students who have obtained one of the following foreign high school diplomas/tests/scores:
GCE, GCSE, IGCSE: C or higher in English Language
WASC, KCSE, SSCE or equivalent national exams: C or higher in English Language IB (International Baccalaureate): Grade 4 or higher in English subject
Submit these documents to the Office of International Programs once you have been admitted
- Official sponsor statement
- Bank statement from the sponsor with a balance of at least $33,601 USD which is less than 1 year old
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
Texas state law requires all new students 21 years of age or younger to either receive a bacterial meningitis vaccination or meet the exemption requirements prior to the first day of their first semester. Students who fail to submit their proof of vaccination and have their vaccination approved at least 10 days prior to the first day of their first semester may not be allowed to attend classes at East Texas A&M. Please note that failure to meet this requirement (only students 21 years of age or younger) may result in serious visa status issues.
Audition and interview to gain acceptance to the program and be eligible for undergraduate scholarships.
After admission, the Office of International Programs (OIP) will review your documents for eligibility to receive an I-20 (F-1 visa) or DS-2019 (J-1 student). As soon as the OIP receives your admission file we will send you an email requesting some additional information and also explaining the process for issuing the I-20. We understand that you need the I-20 as quickly as possible so you can apply for the student visa, and we appreciate your patience while we review your admission and issue the I-20.
J-1 international students are required to provide proof of financial support that equals the estimated cost for one year of study at East Texas A&M. This requirement is based on the financial support requirements for all F-1 students. These documents are bank and sponsor statements.
Funding Requirement for Undergraduate Student
Check your account for admission status, financial aid and scholarship info, registration, updates and deadlines through myLeo.
Undergraduate School of Music Scholarships
School of Music scholarships are available and awarded based on your audition. Please contact the School of Music for further information.
- Performance-based scholarships are available to music majors and non-music majors based on the results of the School of Music audition. The amount of the award varies according to the student’s audition and potential contribution to the school.
- Housing scholarships are available in addition to performance-based scholarships. Housing scholarships are awarded as a $500.00 a semester credit toward the students on-campus housing bill.
- Students must meet the eligibility requirement of the University to be eligibility for a music scholarship.
- Scholarship recipients are required to meet the ensemble and studio requirements as stated in their scholarship contract each semester.
- Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher for a music scholarship to be renewed each semester. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher for a housing scholarship to be renewed each semester.
Program Costs
Tuition and fees for undergraduate students taking 12 credit hours are $4,212 for Texas residents and $9,108 for non-residents.
Contact Us
- School of Music
- 903.886.5303
- [email protected]
- P.O. Box 3011
