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Preparing for Graduate School in the Visual and Performing Arts​

Graduate school in the visual and performing arts is both an academic and artistic endeavor that requires preparation and attention to details.

There are many reasons why people may return to graduate school to pursue an advanced degree. Some of these include job advancement, the chance of a higher salary, and earning advanced or new credentials in preparation of a career change.

For those in the visual and performing arts, however, there may be more reasons for attending graduate school, among them public school teacher certification, artistic endeavors, or a chance to gain new technical skills. Graduate school in the visual and performing arts takes preparation and attention to detail throughout the application process.

Applying to Graduate School in Music​

According to the Writemypaperbro, there are many programs to which prospective graduate students can apply, including instrumental and/or vocal performance, musicology, directing, music education, and composition.

The major component of the graduate school application in music is the audition. Depending upon the program and the college or university's requirements, prospective graduate students may be required to perform selections from a list of pre-selected pieces, scales, technical arrangements, and pieces on a secondary instrument (for instrumentalists) or in a foreign language (for vocalists.) A live audition is usually preferred over a taped audition, so applicants should take a significant amount of time preparing for a graduate school music audition.

Graduate music students may also be required to take the GRE, one of the main standardized tests for graduate school admission. Prospective students should check with prospective colleges, universities, and graduate programs to see if the exam is required and, if so, if there is a minimum score needed for admission.

Applying to Graduate School in Theater​

Going to graduate school for theater means having an array of programs to choose from, including performance, directing, playwrighting, design, history, and many others.

Part of the application process for a graduate program in theater involves either an audition or a portfolio. For performance students, this means an audition that will involve multiple performances from a variety of theatrical genres, and may also include a prepared dance or singing number. Students who are applying for playwrighting, directing, stage management, design, history, or other behind the scenes areas may be asked to present a portfolio of their work, take an entrance exam to demonstrate their knowledge, or complete multiple auditions, presentations, and examinations to demonstrate the range of their knowledge.

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Applying to Graduate School in the Visual Arts​

Prospective graduate students who are looking for an advanced degree in any of the visual arts must usually prepare and submit a portfolio.

Depending on the program's admissions requirements, a visual arts portfolio can include pieces in just an applicant's intended major, all notable works, or so many pieces from a specified number of genres. Applicants may also be asked to submit artist statements, critical papers, or in the case of art history applicants, may be required to take an entrance exam demonstrating their art history knowledge.

Preparing to Apply for Visual and Performing Arts Graduate School Programs​

Depending upon the graduate program, visual and performing arts students should be adequately prepared to take the GRE, one of the main standardized tests that colleges and universities require for graduate school admissions.

Additionally, prospective students should also be able to furnish letters of recommendations from professors who are not only familiar with a student's academic abilities, but also who can describe and defend a student's artistic abilities.

Prospective graduate students should also include a resume that highlights their employment experience and achievements with their graduate school application. For music, theater, and dance applicants, any experience teaching lessons, working with specific musicians or directors, and notable performances should be included on a graduate school resume. For visual artists, internships at art museums, participation art exhibitions, and gallery showings outside of the student's college or university are great points to highlight on a resume.

Graduate programs in the visual and performing arts offer a wide range of programs for artists of all types. Admission into these programs requires dedicated preparation and attention to details in order to adequately display a prospective student's artistic and academic abilities.