Herron's Music and Arts Technology program at IU Indianapolis offers two dynamic undergraduate degree paths: Music Technology and Music Therapy. Before you audition, you'll need to apply to IU Indianapolis and request an audition. Once you're approved, you'll complete an audition/interview and a short placement exam to help us get to know your strengths.
Fall applications to audition for the 2026–27 academic year are now open. Our next music technology audition is February 6th. Please apply to audition by January 19th.
We will have one further audition on April 11th, but we encourage anyone who is able to complete theirs at the February date so you are in front of the University's scholarship decision cutoff of February 15th.
Nervous about your audition? Chris Dobbs at dobbs@iu.edu is here to help.
Applications to audition for the 2026–27 academic year are now open. Our next music therapy audition is February 6th. Please apply to audition by January 19th.
We will have one further audition on April 11th, but we encourage anyone who is able to complete theirs at the February date so you are in front of the University's scholarship decision cutoff of February 15th.
Nervous about your audition? Chris Dobbs at dobbs@iu.edu is here to help.
Auditions will held in person unless a remote video audition request has been approved. If you need to request a remote video audition please contact Chris Dobbs (dobbs@iu.edu). If you have questions about the process, schedule a virtual appointment with Chris.
The required audition session gives applicants a chance to showcase their interests, skills, and experiences in:
Applicants are not required to demonstrate skill in all of these areas. However, the audition committee is seeking applicants who are able to balance music technology course-work with music theory, performance skills, and creative aptitude.
If a student has college credit, a minimum 2.0 GPA is required to apply and audition.
The Music Technology Program accepts the widest variety of instrumental studies imaginable. This includes acoustic instruments like flute/piano/saxophone (etc.), electroacoustic instruments like electric guitar/bass, or purely electronic instruments like controllers/samplers/synthesizers/digital audio workstations (etc.). While many applicants can play multiple instruments, you will need to study one instrument with a private instructor for multiple semesters. Music Therapy students study privately in voice, piano, and guitar based on need.
If you live within a reasonable distance of Indianapolis, it is expected your audition will be in-person. If excessive travel distance to Indianapolis prohibits an in-person audition, or you require an accommodation due to a documented disability, you may contact the department to request a remote video audition. A remote audition is normally conducted on one of the specified departmental audition session dates.
Auditions are planned for 15 minutes. Specific scheduling that day will be determined by our department audition administrator.
An applicant should be prepared to address, though demonstrations and/or verbal responses:
Auditions are planned for 15 minutes. Specific scheduling that day will be determined by our department audition administrator.
An applicant should be prepared to address, though demonstrations and/or verbal responses:
Please demonstrate three different pieces of work representing a variety of experience and skill with music technologies. The applicant must clearly articulate their role(s) in each work and by what means they employed music technology. Essential demonstration items would include exhibiting competency with a fully featured digital audio workstation software, understanding basic concepts of mixing audio, work methods for digital and analog audio, and the ability to articulate standard functions of audio hardware. Experience with related fields of engineering and technology, one or more acoustic instruments, music theory, and/or composition is also to the advantage of the applicant. A student pursuing applied music technology as a performance medium will take private music technology lessons and serve performance, creative, and/or production roles with appropriate department ensembles.
Demonstrate the following:
Students are encouraged to choose repertoire that best represents their experience, skill level, and artistic range. It is also to the advantage of an applicant to include a brief demonstration of experience/interest with music technologies.
If you are auditioning on the following, please note:
We can have a drum set and/or a marimba/vibraphone available for you to perform on for the audition. Percussionists are asked to specify if they will need a drum set and/or mallet percussion provided for the audition in the program application.
Perform one piece of your choosing for your instrument. This should be from a solo or ensemble competition list, or should be emblematic of your instrument if it is a non-symphonic instrument such as guitar. For examples of appropriate music, please visit the Indiana State School Music Association for a listing of Group I solos. The list of Group I vocal solos are on the Indiana State School Music Association Solo and Ensemble Manuals page.
We can have a drum set and/or a marimba/vibraphone available for you to perform on for the audition. Percussionists are asked to specify if they will need a drum set and/or mallet percussion provided for the audition in the program application.
