Popular Music

• Early Action (EA) is not available for majors requiring a portfolio or audition, which includes all undergraduate Thornton majors. Therefore, all first-year applicants to the Thornton School must select the “Regular Decision” option for the “Preferred admission plan” in the Common Application. Applicants will not be able to select a Thornton major under the “Early Action” admission plan in the Common Application.
• Undergraduate applicants to the Thornton School are only permitted to select one Thornton major through the Common Application and it must be selected as the first-choice major.
• Applicants who would like to be considered for admission to a second Thornton major (or a second area of emphasis within the same major) must complete the Second Major Request process by December 1. Please note that it is important to plan ample time to complete this process. Click here for Second Major Request instructions.
• The final application deadline for undergraduate applicants to the Thornton School is December 1. The Common Application will list multiple deadlines but all Thornton applicants must complete both the USC Undergraduate Application process and the Thornton SlideRoom Portfolio by the December 1 deadline to be considered for admission. Applicants who fail to complete the application process by December 1 may be removed from consideration.

• Undergraduate applicants to the Thornton School are only permitted to select one Thornton major through the Common Application and it must be selected as the first-choice major.
• Applicants who would like to be considered for admission to a second Thornton major (or a second area of emphasis within the same major) must complete the Second Major Request process by December 1. Please note that it is important to plan ample time to complete this process. Click here for Second Major Request instructions.
• The final application deadline for undergraduate applicants to the Thornton School is December 1. The Common Application will list multiple deadlines but all Thornton applicants must complete both the USC Undergraduate Application process and the Thornton SlideRoom Portfolio by the December 1 deadline to be considered for admission. Applicants who fail to complete the application process by December 1 may be removed from consideration.

Applicants will be prompted to select an emphasis (guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, voice, singer/songwriter, or multidisciplinary) in the SlideRoom form. The Popular Music program prepares students for diverse, multi-faceted careers in the music profession. Each admitted student pursues their own individual area of study, among a cohort of musicians, which offers peer-to-peer learning opportunities through a group-centered curriculum. For this reason, our students who audition on a single primary emphasis (such as guitar or drums, etc.) go on to develop expertise on additional instruments, songwriting, singing, arranging, and music production. But we encourage applicants who have one primary area of focus to choose that primary area of focus as their specific emphasis on the SlideRoom form.

The Popular Music program will consider applicants auditioning on most instruments found in the popular music world. Applicants playing instruments considered non-traditional in popular music or playing in musical styles not specifically indicated on this website may contact the USC Thornton Admission office to determine suitability for the program and audition requirements.

We also acknowledge and encourage applicants who already demonstrate competency on multiple instruments (whether considered traditional or non-traditional) to showcase their variety of skills through the materials they submit with their application. Our multidisciplinary faculty appreciates that those applicants who demonstrate a variety of skills may be unsure which of those particular skills to showcase, so we strongly encourage them to select “multidisciplinary” as their emphasis on the SlideRoom form, rather than a specific area of emphasis.

The Popular Music program will consider applicants auditioning on most instruments found in the popular music world. Applicants playing instruments considered unusual or playing in musical styles not specifically indicated on this website may contact the USC Thornton Admission office to determine suitability for the program and audition requirements.

Applicants to the Popular Music program must submit video recordings to be prescreened by the faculty. Only video recordings are acceptable. The results of this prescreen will determine whether an applicant will be invited to perform a live audition.

The prescreen video recording should best demonstrate the applicant’s performance, artistic and creative abilities. Videos do not need to be highly produced and should accurately represent the candidate’s abilities – avoid using studio effects such as AutoTune.

The prescreen video recording performances may be self-accompanied, accompanied by other musician(s) or by a band (as long as the applicant is prominently featured). Pre-recorded accompaniment is acceptable. A capella vocal performances are discouraged. See below for emphasis specific requirements.

For the multidisciplinary emphasis, applicants should prepare 12 to 15 minutes of music that demonstrates their abilities and experience in popular music. This may include performance of original songs, cover songs, various instruments, singing, and/or DAW/music production. The faculty panel would like to see the applicant craft a presentation that is as complete a representation of their musicianship and musical abilities as possible. Note: Applicants who select the multidisciplinary emphasis are not required to include the instrument specific prescreen requirements noted below.

For all other areas of emphasis, the prescreen video recordings should contain performances of three to five selections. Selections may be original songs or chosen from existing popular music repertoire from contemporary pop/rock, folk rock, R&B/Urban, country, Latin/Salsa/Samba, or from the “Great American Songbook” tradition. Applicants should also submit lyric sheets when submitting original music.

Songwriters, guitarists, and drummers see below for additional prescreen requirements:

Guitar applicants must also include a one-minute verbal introduction in the prescreening video, providing answers to the following questions:

• What are your goals and aspirations in pursuing a career in music?
• What do you expect to gain from and contribute to the Popular Music Guitar program?

Songwriters must submit all original materials on the prescreen recording. Typed lyric sheets should also be included for all original songs.

Drummers should also include several bars of a rhythm pattern in each of the following styles: blues shuffle, swing, Latin, funk and rock.

Optional Supporting Materials: Applicants may submit supporting materials in addition to their prescreen video recording. These materials may include audio recordings, press materials, additional videos, website examples, etc. These materials can be uploaded in the media section on SlideRoom (supporting materials will not be accepted via mail or email). Applicants are asked to be selective when choosing such materials. It is not advantageous to overwhelm the faculty committee with optional supporting materials.

All applicants to undergraduate Thornton programs are required to submit a single-take, unedited, and preferably unscripted 1-2 minute video that offers a brief personal introduction and answers the following question: How do you envision using your USC Thornton education to become a force for positive change in the evolution of the music profession and music as an art form?

The music profession is changing, and we’re changing with it. USC Thornton’s undergraduate music curriculum maintains a rigorous foundation of the finest musical training, while also offering flexibility for students to chart their own artistic pathway. We aim to create musical leaders who can not only take advantage of traditional opportunities, but also discover new ones – and even create their own. All four years are aimed at the two things most important to musicians: taking their musicianship to the highest levels and preparing for a thriving professional life.

One of the components of this forward-thinking curriculum is the required Final Project, completed in the senior year, which allows students to develop and fully realize a unique project related to their work as musicians. This could involve developing a hybrid performance, conducting original research, exploring new technologies, or applying creative expression to a pressing social issue.

To help us get to know our applicants and their unique identity as young musicians, all applicants to undergraduate programs in the Thornton School are required to submit (via SlideRoom) a single-take, unedited, and preferably unscripted video of no more than two minutes. In this video applicants must answer the following question: If you were pitching your Final Project idea today, what is the project you would propose and why?”

The résumé should list musical, professional, and academic experience and is generally 1-2 pages in length.

This list should include works studied or performed which are part of the popular music canon. Well known songs from contemporary music artists and songwriters, as well as original compositions which showcase aspects of the popular music genre, can be included on this list.

• First-year applicants are not required to upload transcripts in SlideRoom but must submit official transcripts to USC Admission, as required.
• Transfer applicants are required to upload a copy of all college transcripts in SlideRoom in addition to the official transcripts that must be submitted to USC Admission.
  • Note: USC Admission also requires official high school transcripts (with date of graduation) and official college transcripts of any and all college coursework completed through the fall term for all transfer applicants.

In addition to the recommendation letters required by USC Admission submitted via the Common Application, undergraduate applicants may submit optional letters of recommendation via the SlideRoom Portfolio “References” section. Important notes for optional letters of recommendation:

• Any optional letters of recommendation you want reviewed by the Thornton faculty must be submitted via the Thornton SlideRoom “References” section by December 1. We cannot guarantee the review of any material received after December 1.
• Required letters of recommendation submitted to USC Admission through the appropriate Common Application avenues will automatically be included with the Thornton SlideRoom application for review by Thornton Faculty for first-year/freshman applicants.
• USC Admission will not receive any optional letter of recommendation submitted through the Thornton SlideRoom “References” section.
• Any recommendation sent via mail or email will not be reviewed by the Thornton faculty.

Applicants to the Thornton School will be required to complete and upload the following form in SlideRoom:

• Consent and Release Form (if applicant is under 18 years of age by December 1, 2024)

For helpful Slideroom media upload troubleshooting tips, please click here.

Live auditions are typically 15 minutes long.

The following equipment will be provided at the live in-person auditions taking place on the USC campus: microphones, piano, keyboard, audio play-back equipment (phone and iPod inputs), amplifiers for bass and guitar, 5-piece drum kit with crash, ride, and hi-hat cymbals.

Accompanists will not be provided however, applicants are welcome to accompany themselves, bring accompanying musicians with them to the audition, or bring recorded accompaniment on a phone or iPod. A capella vocal auditions are discouraged.

For the multidisciplinary emphasis, the live audition requirements are the same as the prescreen repertoire requirements. The faculty panel may wish to hear selections in their entirety or excerpts. The faculty also reserve the right to modify the audition format at any time to evaluate the potential of each individual candidate.

For all other areas of emphasis, applicants should prepare three to five selections for the faculty to choose from. These selections may be the same as submitted on the prescreen video recording or entirely different selections. The faculty panel may wish to hear selections in their entirety or excerpts. The faculty also reserve the right to modify the audition format at any time to evaluate the potential of each individual candidate. Applicants in the below areas should also prepare the following:

Bass:

In addition to the prepared selections, the audition may include: sight reading, two octave scales in various modes/keys/rhythms, improvisation, and demonstration of various forms and grooves (blues, shuffle, funk, etc.) For applicants performing a live audition in-person on the USC campus: A drummer from the program may be present to assist during the audition.

Drums:

In addition to the prepared selections, the audition may include: rudiments, sight reading, and demonstration of grooves in various styles (rock, blues shuffle, funk, disco, pop ballad, etc.). For applicants performing a live audition in-person on the USC campus: A bassist and a guitarist from the program may be present to assist during the audition. There will be a 5-piece kit with crash, ride, and hi-hat in the room. Please provide your own sticks. You are welcome to bring your own pedal, snare, etc., but keep in mind that any additional setup will cut into your audition time.

Guitar:

In addition to the prepared selections, the audition may also include:

• sight reading (notes, rhythms or chords with harmonic rhythms)
• improvisation
• major and minor scales and modes covering the entire fingerboard (at the discretion of the faculty and time permitting), major and minor triads on four different string sets
• seventh chord voicings and extended harmonies (at the discretion of the faculty and time permitting)
• inversions and demonstrations of various chord progressions in a variety of styles (twelve-bar blues, funk, etc.) to evaluate interaction with a live rhythm section

For applicants performing a live audition in-person on the USC campus: A bassist and a drummer from the program may be present to assist with your audition. Amps will also be provided. Please bring your own instrument cable and tune your instrument prior to entering the room. You are welcome to bring your own pedals, but keep in mind that any additional setup will cut into your audition.

Keyboards/Piano:

In addition to the prepared selections, the audition may also include: sight reading, improvisation, two octave scales in various modes/keys/rhythms, and demonstration of various accompaniment styles (blues, funk, etc.).

Singer/Songwriter:

In addition to the prepared selections, students may also be asked to perform a brief songwriting exercise such as setting a lyric to music.

Voice:

Vocalists (unless accompanying yourself) will need to provide their own accompaniment, whether with Phone, iPod, or accompanist. A capella auditions are not recommended. Your audition may also include scales, sight reading, basic theory exercises, etc.