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Department of Music • Northampton, Massachusetts
Quick Take
Smith College's highly selective Seven Sisters music dept in Northampton offers performance, composition, theory, and ethnomusicology with extensive Five College Consortium access and no audition required. Students access the full musical resources of UMass, Amherst, Hampshire, and Mount Holyoke, creating a remarkably rich and diverse musical community for a small liberal arts college in the Pioneer Valley.
Smith at a Glance
| Program | |
| School / Division | Smith College Department of Music |
| Setting | private |
| Reliigous Affliation | none |
| Program Size | small |
| Genres / Styles | classical, contemporary, electronic, folk, jazz, world |
| Primary Instrument | bassoon, cello, clarinet, double bass, flute, guitar, harpsichord, horn, oboe, percussion, piano, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, viola, violin, voice |
| Areas of Study | composition, ethnomusicology, music theory, performance |
| Degrees Offered | Bachelor of Arts |
| Musical Selectivity | selective |
| NASM Accreditation | no |
| Admissions | |
| Academic Selectivity | highly selective |
| Average GPA | 3.75 |
| Application Deadline | Nov 1 (ED) | Jan 15 (regular) |
| Auditions | |
| Audition | is not required |
| Audition Competitiveness | non competitive |
| Audition Window | ? |
| Prescreening | is not required |
| Location | |
| City / State | Northampton, Massachusetts |
Always confirm deadlines and requirements directly with the Smith website
.
Program Overview
The music program at Smith is small in size and a .
Music Genre/Style Strengths
Smith supports the following musical genres/styles: classical, contemporary, electronic, folk, jazz, world. At some schools, students can explore multiple styles while developing strong technical and artistic foundations within their primary genre.
Visit the Smith website for more specific information on the music genres/styles it supports.
Primary Instruments
Students at Smith can pursue study across a range of instruments, including bassoon, cello, clarinet, double bass, flute, guitar, harpsichord, horn, oboe, percussion, piano, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, viola, violin, voice. Students study privately with faculty on their primary instrument while participating in ensembles and collaborative performances.
Visit the Smith website for more specific information about their support for studies on specific instruments.
Music Studies Offered at Smith
Students at Smith can pursue degrees focused on composition, ethnomusicology, music theory, performance. Music degree programs typically combine private instruction, ensemble participation, music theory coursework, and performance opportunities designed to prepare students for careers in music.
Visit the Smith website for more specific information on the programs of study it offers.
Acceptance
Musical acceptance at Smith is selective. Academically, it is highly selective, with accepted students having an average GPA of 3.75. (Unlike academic programs, music admissions typically emphasize performance and artistic potential.) The application deadline for Smith is Nov 1 (ED) | Jan 15 (regular) of each year.
Visit the Smith website to confirm acceptance information and deadlines.
Auditions
An audition is not required at Smith, and the school's auditions are considered to be non competitive. The audition window is ? of each year. A pre-screening video or portfolio is not required.
Visit the Smith website for more specific information on auditions.
Location and Music Scene
Smith sits in Northampton, the cultural capital of the Pioneer Valley, a region with extraordinary college arts density through the Five College Consortium and a vibrant local indie music scene.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Smith hard to get into?
Admission to Smith is considered selective for music and highly selective academically. At most schools, the audition carries significant weight. Admitted students need to demonstrate performance ability and artistic potential in addition to meeting academic requirements.
Do I need a prescreening video to audition at Smith?
A prescreening video or portfolio submission at Smith.
Prescreening requirements vary significantly from school to school, and sometimes by instrument or area of study, so it's worth checking directly with the admissions office to confirm what's expected for your specific application.
What instruments can I study at Smith?
supports study across a wide range of instruments, including bassoon, cello, clarinet, double bass, flute, guitar, harpsichord, horn, oboe, percussion, piano, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, viola, violin, voice. Students typically study privately with a faculty member on their primary instrument while also participating in ensembles and collaborative performance opportunities.
Instrument availability and faculty depth can vary. If you play something less common, it's worth reaching out to the department directly to confirm faculty availability before you apply.
What GPA do I need for Smith?
Admitted students at Smith have an average GPA of 3.75. Keep in mind that this is an average. Some admitted students come in above it, some below, depending on the strength of the overall application and, especially, the audition.
Music programs tend to weigh audition performance heavily, which means a particularly strong musical candidate may be admitted even if their GPA is below the typical range. The reverse is also true. Academic strength alone won't compensate for a weak audition.
What is the application deadline for Smith?
The application deadline for Smith is Nov 1 (ED) | Jan 15 (regular), with live auditions typically held ?. These dates can shift year to year, so it's important to verify directly with the admissions office well in advance.
Music school deadlines often arrive earlier than general college application deadlines, and audition slots can fill up quickly, especially at competitive programs. Getting your application in early is rarely a bad idea.
Information on this page is updated periodically. Always confirm details directly with the school's admissions office.
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