Both incoming freshmen and transfer students are accepted into the CJC based on the following:

1. A completed application form including a personal statement outlining your past accomplishments, future objectives and how and why you believe the CJC will help you realize them.
2. An official high school transcript. All students must have a satisfactory academic record and have earned an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher to be admitted to the CJC. Photocopies are not accepted. Please note: the CJC accepts ability-to-benefit students.
3. Official college transcript(s) if applicable. Please Note: all students must have a satisfactory academic record and have earned an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher to be admitted to the CJC. Photocopies are not accepted.
4. Two original letters of recommendation, at least one of which is from a professional musician and/or music educator familiar with your work and professional objectives. Photocopies are not accepted.
5. A live audition. Students living more than 150 miles from the CJC may substitute a video of their playing in lieu of a live audition (See Auditions and Placement Examinations).
6. Results of the Ear Training and Sight Singing and Jazz Theory and Improvisation Placement Exams (See Auditions and Placement Examinations). Please note: To be accepted into the Jazz Studies degree program, students are expected to have:
   
   1. A basic knowledge of music theory including: 
      1. Major and minor scales and key signatures in both treble and bass clefs
      2. Major, minor, diminished and augmented triads
      3. Major, dominant and minor seventh chords
         
         AND 
   2. Basic musicianship skills including: 
      1. The ability to identify simple and compound intervals and seventh chords by ear
      2. The ability to take simple melodic and rhythmic dictation
      3. The ability to sight sing a simple melodic line 
7. For international students, an internet-based TOEFL (iBT) score. All instruction at the CJC occurs in English. A high level of English proficiency is required for admission. All non-native speakers must submit an official score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) prior to enrolling. Applicants who have completed a 4-year degree program at an English-speaking college or university may request TOEFL exemption. The CJC accepts internet-based TOEFL (iBT) scores only. Please do not submit paper-based TOEFL (pBT) scores. Applicants must receive a score of 75 or higher to be admitted into the CJC. TOEFL scores are valid for two years after the test date and there is no limit to the number of times the test may be taken.

To apply, visit cjc.edu/apply. Please send all supporting materials including transcripts and letters of recommendation. For those students living more than 150 miles from the CJC, please include samples of your playing. Send all material — along with a non-refundable $100 Application Fee — to:

California Jazz Conservatory
Office of Admission
2087 Addison Street
Berkeley, CA 94704