All programs in the School of Music require an audition for admission, including music technology and music management.
Students will audition on the instrument which they will study for their degree program. The repertoire listed below are general suggestions. Pieces of similar styles and level of difficulty may be substitued as appropriate. For questions regarding a specific instrument or repertoire, please contact the appropriate faculty member. Faculty contact information may be found here.
School of Music Upcoming Audition Dates
Friday, November 6, 2009
Friday, February 12, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Undergraduate Audition Requirements
WOODWINDS
Woodwinds will be asked to perform:
- One or two major scales, chosen from all 12, and a chromatic scale throughout the entire range of the instrument. Scales will be chosen by the committee.
- Sight-reading
- 3. Two selections of contrasting style totaling roughly eight minutes. The following repertoire should be considered "representative" of the level of entrance for each instrument. These are NOT the only pieces that can be performed.
- Sonatas by J.S. Bach, Handel, Hindemith, Poulenc
- Anderson – 24 Studies, op. 3
- Chaminade – Concertino
- Debussy – Syrinx
- Faure – Fantasie
- Griffes – Poem
- Mozart – Concerto in G Major or D Major
- Barrett – 48 Progressive Melodies
- Ferling – 48 Etudes Haydn – Concerto
- Handel – Sonatas or Concerto in G minor
- Hindemith – Sonata
- Mozart – Oboe Quartet or Concerto
- Messager – Solo de Concours
- Mozart – Concerto, K. 622
- Rose – 32 Etudes
- Stamitz – Concerto No. 3
- Stravinsky – Three Pieces for Clarinet Solo
- Weber – Concertino
- Milde – Scale Studies, op. 24
- Mozart – Concerto in Bb Major, K. 191
- Telemann – Sonata in F minor, TWV 41: f1
- Weissenborn – 50 Advanced Studies, op. 8
- Berbiguer – 18 Etudes
- Creston – Sonata
- Ferling – 48 Etudes
- Glazunov – Concerto
- Heiden – Sonata
- Ibert – Concerto da Camera
- Maurice – Tableaux de Provence
BRASS
Brass will be asked to perform:
- One or two major scales, chosen from all 12, and a chromatic scale throughout the entire range of the instrument. Scales will be chosen by the committee.
- Sight-reading
- Two selections of contrasting style totaling roughly eight minutes. The following repertoire should be considered "representative" of the level of entrance for each instrument. These are NOT the only pieces that can be performed.
- Bousquet - 36 Celebrated Studies
- Brandt - 34 Orchestral Etudes
- Charlier - 36 Transindental Etude
- Concone - Lyrical Studies
- Hering - 32 Etude
- Rochut - Melodious Etudes
- Andraud – 335 Selected Studies for Horn
- Beethoven – Sonata
- Gallay – 40 Preludes
- Kling – 40 Characteristic Etudes
- Kopprasch – 60 Selected Studies
- Mozart – Concertos
- Strauss – Concertos
- Bordogni/Rochut – Studies in Legato
- Blazhevich – Clef Studies
- David – Concertino
- Guilmant – Morceau Symphonique
- Saint-Sans – Cavatine
- Gillis – Progressive Studies for the Modern Bass Trombonist, No. 70
- Rochut/Bordogni – Melodious Etudes for Trombone - Volume 1
- Arban - Carnival of Venice
- Barat - Introduction and Dance
- Clinard - Sonata for Unaccompanied Euphonium
- Clarke - From the Shores of the Mighty Pacific
- Curnow - Rhapsody for Euphonium
- Deluca - Beautiful Colorado
- Guilmant - Morceau Symphonique
- Haddad - Suite forBartione Horn
- Horovitz - Euphonium Concerto
- Marcello - Sonata in F
- Rochut/Bordogni – Melodious Etudes for Trombone - Volume 1
- Sparke - Fantasy
- Sparke - Pantomime
- Tyrell – 40 Progressive Studies for Trombone
- Bordogni – Legato Etudes
- Gregson – Tuba Concerto
- Tyrell – Advanced Studies for B-Flat Bass
- Vaughan Williams – Concerto for Bass Tuba
PERCUSSION
The candidate shall demonstrate satisfactory performing ability in the following areas. The suggested repertoire (specified by instrument) should be considered representative of the level of entrance for a percussion student.
Snare drum:
- Rudimental Solo from Wilcoxen: All American Drummer, No. 121-150
- Concert Solo from Goldenberg: Modern School for Snare Drum (pp 64-68)
- Solo-Etude from Goldenburg: Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba, Vibraphone(pp. 62-93)
- Goodman – Modern Method for Timpani(pp. 62-68)
Perform a drumset solo which includes styles in rock, jazz and latin. Play examples from the following styles as outlined below:
- Jazz style: Play quarter note at: 120, 150 and 200 M.M: 4 bars time, 4 bars solo :
- Latin style: Basic Samba, Bossa Nova, and Funk. Play quarter note at: 100 M.M: 4 bars time,* 4 bars solo :
- Basic Shuffle Beat
- Read a Big Band drumset chart
STRINGS
Violin:Concertos by Bruch, Mendelssohn, Mozart, or another prominent composer.
Viola:
- Bartok – Concerto (either version)
- Hindemith – Der Schwanendreher
- Hoffmeister – Concerto in D Major
- Stamitz – Concerto in D Major
- Telemann – Concerto (mvt 2 or 4)
- J.C. Bach – Concerto in C minor
- Boccherini – Concerto in B flat major
- Faure – Elegy
- Sammartini – Sonata in G major
- Beethoven – Symphony No. 5, Trio from the Scherzo
- Corelli – Sonata(transcribed for bass)
- Eccles – Sonata
- Saint-Saens – "The Elephant" from Carnival of the Animals
- Vivaldi – Cello Sonatas Nos. 3 and 5(transcribed for bass)
- Brouwer – 20 estudios sencillos
- Carcassi – Op. 60
- Giuliani – Op. 48
- Sor – Various opus numbers (Segovia collection or equivalent)
Two pieces of contrasting character, entire works, concert etudes, or single movements from sonatas, suites, or concerti selected from different periods.
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VOICE (to be performed from memory)
Students seeking acceptance for vocal study in the School of Music are required to sing an audition. An accompanist will be provided. No taped or CD accompaniments please.
Freshmen applicants
Applicants should prepare two art songs or arias from the classical literature in contrasting styles and in two languages from memory, demonstrating their vocal ability and musicianship. Applicants who are unprepared to sing from memory will not be allowed to audition. One selection should be in English. An example of appropriate repertoire would be a selection from 24 Italian Songs and Arias, G. Schirmer, publisher. Students will also be asked to sight-read.
Transfer applicants
Transfer students must prepare three memorized selections in contrasting styles and languages from classical vocal literature. A repertoire list of literature studied as an undergraduate must be presented at the time of the audition. Students will also be asked to sight-read.
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PIANO (to be performed from memory)
- All major and minor scales (natural, melodic and harmonic forms), 4 octaves, in 16ths; metronome speed of quarter note = 112.
- All major and minor arpeggios, 4 octaves, in 16ths; metronome speed of quarter note = 40.
- A two-part invention, three-part invention, or prelude and fugue from the "Well-Tempered Clavier" of J.S. Bach.
- A fast movement of a sonata by Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven.
- A work from the romantic period or the 20th century.
- Intermediate-level sight-reading.
ORGAN
- All major and minor scales (natural, melodic and harmonic forms), 4 octaves, in 16ths; metronome speed of quarter note = 112.
- All major and minor arpeggios, 4 octaves, in 16ths; metronome speed of quarter note = 40.
- One of the Bach chorale preludes from the Orgelbuchlein, BWV 599-644
- One of the Bach – Eight Little Preludes and Fugues, BWV 553-560
- One chorale prelude by Johannes Brahms, Flor Peeters, or Helmut Walcha.
JAZZ STUDIES
Suggested Jazz Tune List for Auditions:
| So What | Tune Up | Little Sunflower |
| Billies Bounce | Impressions | Footprints |
| Blue Bossa | Maiden Voyage | Now's the Time |
| Take the A Train | Doxy | St. Thomas |
| Satin Doll | Summertime | Song For My Father |
| Four | Oleo | Solar |
| Orinthology | Autumn Leaves | Ladybird |
| All the Things U R | Just Friends | Recordame |
It is suggested that you bring a play-along CD for the audtion
Jazz Guitar
- Perform a chord/melody selection
- Perform and improvise on 2 jazz compositions in contrasting styles (Latin, Ballad, Swing)
- All major scales in 2 octaves
- Perform a transcription of a jazz guitar solo
- Improvise over a blues in F or Bb
- Single line sight reading
- Chord change sightreading (voicings)
- Perform and improvise on 2 jazz compositions in contrasting styles (Latin, Ballad, Swing)
- All major scales in 2 octaves
- Perform a transcription of an improvised jazz solo
- Improvise over a blues in F or Bb
- Chord change sightreading (voicings) from a lead sheet
- Perform melody and (walking) bass lines on 2 jazz compositions in contrasting styles (Latin, Ballad, Swing)
- All major scales in 2 octaves
- Perform a transcription of a jazz bass solo or a technical study
- Improvise over a blues in F or Bb
- Single line sightreading
- Chord change sightreading (bass lines)
- Perform and improvise on 2 jazz compositions in contrasting styles (Latin, Ballad, Swing)
- All major scales in 2 octaves (if possible)
- Perform a transcription of an improvised jazz solo
- Improvise over a blues in F or Bb
- Perform and improvise on 2 jazz compositions in contrasting styles (Latin, Ballad, Swing)
- All major scales in 2 octaves (if possible)
- Perform a transcription of an improvised jazz solo
- Improvise over a blues in F or Bb

