​Audition Day Preparation

  • Auditioning students should be prepared to demonstrate the technical skills applicable to their area of performance, such as scales and vocalization.
  • Students will be expected to perform two contrasting pieces of music unless noted. Representative pieces can be studies, etudes, Class A contest solos, etc.
Strings - Two pieces in contrasting style - A three octave major scale of your choice - A three octave melodic minor scale of your choice - Sight-reading
 
Woodwind & Brass - Two pieces in contrasting style- one more technical and one more lyrical - Sight-reading - Several scales: major, minor, and/or chromatic
 
Voice - Two pieces in contrasting style - one in English and one in a foreign language - Sight-reading, tonal and rhythmic memory exercises
 
Piano -
Memorization is required for all repertoire presented at audition. 
    Graduate (MM: Music Education):
    1. A Bach Prelude and Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier or a Bach Partita/Suite.
    2. A movement or movements from a classical sonata (excluding Beethoven Op.49 and Mozart K. 545)
    3. A Romantic work of advanced difficulty.
    4. An Impressionistic or 20th/21st Century work of advanced difficulty.
    5. Sight-reading
     
    Undergraduate:
     
    Applicants for the Applied Performance track:
    1. A Bach Prelude and Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier.
    2. One movement of a Classical sonata (excluding Beethoven Op.49 and Mozart K. 545)
    3. A Romantic work or a 20/21st Century work of advanced difficulty.
    4. Sight-reading
    Applicants for Bachelor of Arts, Music Education track:
    1. A Bach Prelude and Fugue from Well-Tempered Clavier or a Two/Three Part Invention
    2. One movement of a Classical sonata (excluding Beethoven Op.49 and Mozart K. 545)
    3. A Romantic work and/or a 20th Century work of early advanced difficulty to advanced difficulty.
    4. Sight-reading
     Applicants for elective study or music minor track:
    1. Perform 2 contrasting pieces of moderate difficulty from the Baroque, Classical and/or Romantic periods. 
Percussion - Solo on snare drum - Solo on keyboard (marimba, vibraphone, or xylophone - Solo on tympani - Drum set a. play time in several styles including swing and Latin b. trade 4's in several styles c. play an improvised solo that has a distinct beginning and distinct ending - Open and closed rolls on snare drum at various dynamic levels - Sight reading on snare drum and marimba
 
Guitar - Two Jazz pieces of contrasting style, one medium-tempo and one up-tempo including a melody statement, comping and an improvised chorus on each tune - Demonstration of any other style (classical or rock for example) - Sight reading.
 
Harp - Two solo pieces in contrasting style from standard harp repertoire – a movement of a concerto is acceptable and a standard orchestral excerpt.