| Assuming that you are talking about music schools (not just departments), most schools don't require good grades. The audition is king and controls the decisions almost completely. There are a few notable exceptions to this: Northwestern and Rice are both known for requiring better grades than other music schools. You have to be a good student too for those two schools. That being said, if you're playing an instrument that they really need more of and you're really, really good, they too make exceptions. For the average Joe violinist, you will need to be a strong student for Rice or Northwestern.
At Michigan, there is an academic screening before they allow you to audition, but it is my impression that they do not require the same academic level they do for their liberal arts students.
At most other music schools that I'm aware of (Oberlin, Peabody, CIM, Eastman, NEC, Julliard, Manhattan School, etc), they will take you if they like your audition. |