BM in Music

About this program

California State University, Northridge offers the Bachelor of Music through the NASM-accredited Department of Music in the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication. Located in the northwest corner of Los Angeles County, CSUN's Department of Music is one of the most recognized music schools in the CSU system, with approximately 500 music majors and over 80 faculty members. The Hollywood Reporter named CSUN one of the Top 20 Music Schools in the World in both 2024 and 2025, specifically recognizing the Composition and Commercial Media Writing programs for their preparation of students to score for film, television, and video games. Billboard Magazine has recognized CSUN's Music Industry programs among the best for four consecutive years. The BM degree is intended for students planning careers as performers, conductors, composers and arrangers, and university-level teachers. The program offers seven options: Option 1 — Strings (two concentrations): The Orchestral Strings concentration prepares students for careers as performers, university teachers, or private studio teachers, with performance opportunities in solo recitals, large and small ensembles, chamber music, studio classes, and masterclasses. String faculty include prominent LA-based performers. The CSUN Music Department owns a collection of fine string instruments and bows available to students. Ensembles include the Symphony Orchestra and the Goldberg and Sons Honors String Quartet; students also perform in pit orchestras for operas and musicals and have the opportunity to tour with the orchestra. The Classical Guitar concentration provides focused training in classical guitar performance and is also designed for students who wish to develop skills in flamenco or contemporary fingerstyle. The CSUN library holds the International Guitar Research Archive (IGRA), one of the largest collections of guitar music and research materials in the world. Capstone: one-hour recital. Option 2 — Winds: Encompasses the classical study of woodwind and brass instruments including flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, and tuba. Intended for students planning careers as performers or private studio teachers. Capstone: one-hour recital. Option 3 — Percussion: Focused primarily on classical percussion with exposure to jazz vibes, hand percussion, and world music styles. Designed for students pursuing careers as professional performers or university-level teachers (following an appropriate graduate degree). Faculty contacts: John Roscigno (john.roscigno@csun.edu) and Aaron Smith (aaron.smith@csun.edu). Capstone: one-hour recital. Option 4 — Keyboard (two concentrations): The Piano Performance concentration develops skills in solo performance, chamber music, and piano ensemble and prepares students to enter the concerto competition, winners of which perform with the CSUN Symphony Orchestra. The Piano Pedagogy concentration provides the same performance training plus the skills to teach piano to others. Capstone: one-hour recital. Option 5 — Vocal Arts: Offers classical vocal students a full range of opportunities through individual lessons, choral ensemble, opera, oratorio, and art song recital. Students take courses in French, German, English, and Italian diction. Accompanists are provided. Capstone: one-hour recital. Option 6 — Composition/Commercial and Media Writing (two concentrations): The Composition concentration is designed for students interested in studying contemporary art music styles and techniques, writing chamber, symphonic, or experimental electronic music. Students at CSUN have multiple performance opportunities each semester to present and record their music on campus, collaborate with professional ensembles and guest artists, and engage in research on contemporary music styles. The Commercial and Media Writing concentration focuses on orchestration and scoring for film, television, video games, and other media, with emphasis on instrumental composition and orchestration alongside songwriting and vocal writing. Recognized by the Hollywood Reporter in 2024 and 2025. Students have access to two labs (a MIDI lab and a project lab), a recording studio, and coursework in orchestration, analysis, jazz arranging, beginning and advanced media composition, MIDI sequencing, and recording. Capstone: 45-minute recital. Option 7 — Jazz Studies: Includes courses in improvisation, theory, history, and composition with emphasis in performance. Ensembles include the Jazz "A" Big Band, Studio Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Lab Big Band, Latin Jazz Ensemble, and Vocal Jazz. NOTE: Jazz Studies is CLOSED FOR FALL 2026 admission. Check csunmusic.getacceptd.com for updates on future entry terms. Capstone: one-hour recital. All BM students receive private lessons each semester, participate in performing ensembles concurrent with applied instruction, complete coursework in music theory, musicianship, keyboard musicianship, music history, and music technology, and perform a capstone recital. Students receive lessons on one instrument only; after acceptance students may audition for additional ensembles on a second instrument.

Audition & application overview

• Requires a live or recorded audition

Live in-person audition on campus (video audition accepted in all areas except Jazz, which requires a live final round); Jazz requires two-stage process: video pre-screen then live combo audition; Composition and Commercial and Media Writing require portfolio plus instrument audition plus faculty interview; Jazz is currently closed for new applicants