Session 1 - 8/6/26

Big Picture Basics

Music admissions has its own rhythm, language, pressures, and ethical responsibilities. This opening lesson gives early-career music admissions professionals a practical foundation for understanding how the full admissions cycle works from first student interest through application, audition, decision, and enrollment.

Participants will explore the admissions funnel, the annual recruitment and admissions calendar, and the professional standards that guide ethical recruitment and communication.

What this session covers

  • the stages of the admissions funnel and how students move through them

  • how music admissions timelines overlap with standard admissions calendars

  • how to think about inquiries, applicants, admits, deposits, and enrolled students

  • the role of ethics in recruitment, communication, and student advising

  • how to communicate your program’s value clearly and responsibly

Participants will leave with

  • a clearer understanding of how the admissions cycle works

  • a stronger sense of their role within the larger enrollment process

  • practical language for discussing the funnel and calendar with colleagues

  • a foundation for ethical, student-centered recruitment

Ready to build a stronger foundation in music admissions?

Register for the Full Series

Series Overview

Session 1: Big Picture Basics

Start with the foundations: the admissions funnel, the rhythm of the admissions calendar, and the ethical responsibilities that shape student recruitment.

Session 2: Applications and Applicants

Explore enrollment goals, conversion strategy, and the data and marketing practices that help move prospects and inquiries toward application.

Session 3: Auditions and Decisions

Take a closer look at audition logistics, admissions decision-making, and the scholarship and financial aid processes that influence enrollment outcomes.

Session 4: Yield and Retention

Focus on strategies for yielding the incoming class, connecting marketing to enrollment outcomes, and understanding the handoff from admissions to student success and retention.