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Graduate Admissions
Assistantships
Graduate teaching assistantships are offered to graduate students who convey exceptional ability. Not all students receiving assistantships are assigned teaching responsibilities. You may be assigned work in technical or clerical areas or may be assigned other tasks (e.g., accompanying). You are typically awarded a 25 percent assistantship and are expected to teach one three-hour course per semester, teach the equivalent in applied music, or work in clerical or other areas for the amount of ten hours per week.
If you have already completed your application to the ASU Graduate College with the names of three recommenders, additional letters of recommendation are not needed for your assistantship application, for which you may list the same references. It is advised that you also ask your recommenders to address your teaching ability and probability of success as a teaching assistant in the letters of recommendation sent on your behalf to the ASU Graduate College.
If you are awarded an assistantship, you must be admitted in full standing to a graduate degree in music and must be enrolled in six credit hours of coursework for each fall and spring semester during which you hold your assistantship. New students seeking appointment as a teaching assistant must submit application materials for both admission to a graduate degree program AND for an assistantship. Although the School of Music accepts applications for assistantships at any time, preference is given to applications received before February 15 for appointments beginning the following fall semester.
International Applicants: If your native language is not English, you must meet spoken English requirements before you are allowed primary teaching responsibilities. The requirement is met by attaining a minimum score of 26 on the speaking portion of the TOEFL iBT® or by passing the SPEAK Test administered locally by the ASU Language Lab. In addition to the test dates listed on the SPEAK Test site, the SPEAK Test is also being offered on the following Fridays before Fall 2012 audition days: February 25 and March 3. The fee for the SPEAK Test is $48, which must be paid in person to the Engineering Center Annex, Room 101 by 2:30 p.m. on the test day. To reserve a space for the SPEAK Test on Friday, February 24 or March 2, please email MusicAdmissions@asu.edu at least two weeks in advance of the test date.
Piano Applicants: In addition to the application for assistantship, those applying for a graduate assistantship in class piano or piano preparatory teaching are required to upload to SlideRoom a video demonstration of piano teaching in English, including two complete lessons, preferably of students at different levels. Individual and/or group lessons at any level are acceptable for the recording. Videos must be uploaded to SlideRoom; DVD submissions received are neither reviewed nor acted upon. Applications and teaching videos (uploaded to SlideRoom) for graduate assistantships in class piano or piano preparatory teaching are due by February 15.
Composition applicants wishing to be considered for a graduate assistantship must submit complete application materials and portfolios by the application deadline of December 1. Those who are invited for an interview will then be considered for any available assistantship positions.
Assistantship Application Form
Please save in Adobe Reader and submit via email to MusicAdmissions@asu.edu.