

Tonmeisters supervise both technical and artistic personnel during the production of music, sound recordings, and live broadcasting, and work in many areas of music and sound production including record production, radio, film, education, and product design. This advanced certificate prepares you for a career in music production, artistically and technically.
Academic Plan Code: MTMS
Degree: ADCRT
Credits: 15
Academic Load: Full-time or part-time. Students have up to six years to complete the program.
Application Deadlines
Spring: October 1
Summer: February 1
Fall: February 1
Program Information
Program Website | 212-998-5424
You can usually complete this Advanced Certificate program in one year, including a summer session. You must have a master’s degree in order to apply for this program, either an MM in Music Technology from NYU Steinhardt or an equivalent degree from a recording or music technology program at another university. If you obtained your master’s degree from NYU Steinhardt, you may be given the flexibility of starting the program in the Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters. If you earned your master’s at another school, you must start your studies in the Summer semester.
You are required to have a basic competence in music history and theory as a prerequisite for all graduate degree programs in music. Entering graduate students are required to take advisory exams in both areas prior to arrival; placements will be determined by interpreting the exam results in light of your educational background and the degree program for which you are enrolled. Remedial courses cannot be used to meet degree requirements within any of the graduate programs.
These instructions and requirements are for all applicants. If you are not a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States, please read the special instructions for international applicants.
Your application will require the following items. The following are acceptable document types for uploads: .pdf, .jpeg, .jpg, .gif, .tiff, .png, .doc, .docx, and bitmap.
You are required to upload a copy of your most recent résumé or curriculum vitae as part of your application.
You are required to upload a typed, double-spaced, two- to three-page statement explaining your purpose in undertaking graduate study in this particular program as part of your application. This is your opportunity to introduce yourself and to inform the admissions committee about your goals, interests, and career plans as they relate to your intended academic pursuits.
Submit two letters of recommendation. Be sure to request them well in advance of the deadline. Read detailed instructions on submitting letters of recommendation.
Upload one official copy of transcripts from every postsecondary school you have attended or are attending. Make sure to request them in advance of the deadline.
If you completed or are completing a degree at an institution outside of the US or Canada, you are required to provide a WES or ECE evaluation. Please review our requirements for translation and a course-by-course evaluation of your transcripts.
Not required.
See testing requirements.
You are required to provide a portfolio of samples of previous professional, artistic, or academic work on music, technology, and related fields. Examples include, but are not limited to: school papers, scientific publications (8 pages maximum), webpages or audiovisual materials of work you have composed, performed, recorded, mixed and/or produced.
You should make your portfolio available online (e.g. in your personal webpage), which we ask you to include in the Portfolio section of your graduate application. Additionally, create a document that lists passwords if needed, and descriptions for up to 3 works you would like the Admissions Committee to review as part of your application. Upload this document to the Portfolio section of your graduate application.
After you fill in and upload the required information, you can submit your completed application. Your application must be completed, dated, electronically signed, and submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST of the stated deadline.
You will be prompted to pay a $75 application fee, payable by major credit card only. After submitting your payment, you will see your application status change from “saved” to “submitted.” Please print this screen for your records, as it confirms that your application has been successfully sent to our school. If you have problems submitting your payment, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions. Learn more about our fee waiver policy.
If any remaining application materials need to be mailed to our office, mail the materials together in a single mailing using this document cover sheet. Items received without the cover sheet take longer to process and match to your application. Please do not mail your materials in binders or folders. Any mailed materials must be received by, not postmarked by, the stated deadline. Only completed applications will be considered and reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt of mailed materials.
Application deadlines are "in-office" deadlines, not postmark deadlines. It is your responsibility to ensure that all materials are in the Office of Graduate Admissions by the appropriate deadline, and we reserve the right to return any application that arrives after the deadline. Only completed applications will be considered. Should a deadline fall on a weekend, the in-office deadline will be the next business day. We advise you to apply early.
Please check the online system to confirm that you have successfully submitted your application. Due to the volume of applications and related materials received, the Office of Graduate Admissions will only contact you if your application was successfully submitted and is deemed incomplete because of missing required materials. Otherwise, you will hear from us when the admissions committee has made its decision.
Deferral policy: NYU Steinhardt does not allow deferrals. Applicants who wish to be considered for a future semester must reapply by submitting a new application with all supporting materials, including letters of recommendations, by the application deadline.
You will be notified about your decision by email. Typically, decisions will start going out in late November for Spring semester enrollment and in late March or early April for Summer or Fall enrollment. You may learn of your decision before or after this timeline.