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Undergraduate
Audition Requirements
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General
Audition Guidelines
Conservatory
applicants must satisfactorily complete an audition prior to the
admission decision, except those students entering the technical
theatre curriculum. In
the audition, each applicant must demonstrate an appropriate level
of technical facility in one performance medium.
Students
desiring to study technical theatre are required to schedule an
interview with a member of the technical theatre faculty.
Some
curricula require a portfolio review or interview or both.
See the entrance requirements listed in each curriculum description.
Students
do not audition for study with a particular Conservatory teacher.
The faculty member conducting the audition is a representative
of the division or department and while students will have an opportunity
to express a preference, it is not guaranteed that they will study
in the studio of the person who does the auditioning.
Audition
requirements by instrument or area
Brass,
Strings, Woodwinds
Brass
(Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba)
Strings (Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp)
Woodwinds (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Alto Saxophone)
Areas
of Study: Performance, Music Education, Music Therapy, Arts Management,
Commercial Music, and Composition. For Jazz applicants, see
below.
-
Violin,
Viola, and Cello Applicants: A concerto movement or concert
solo (memorization required for Performance applicants)
and a contrasting work (i.e. unaccompanied Bach, concert
piece, sonata movement, or contemporary work). Etude or caprice
demonstrating level of proficiency. Scales in three octaves.
-
All
other applicants: Prepared etude and solo of appropriate
difficulty. Scales and sight-reading.
Composition
- All
Applicants: Audition on major instrument or voice (not including
jazz, see audition requirements under appropriate heading) AND
personal interview with a member of the Composition faculty. Send
portfolio of compositions (one or more written examples of applicant’s
work) at least three weeks prior to audition / interview.
Dance
- All
Applicants: Participate in a technique class (ballet, modern
dance, and jazz combinations) and a two to three minute solo (applicant’s
or teacher’s choreography; transfer students must choreograph
their own solos). CD/ cassette player is available to play applicant’s
accompaniment. Include with the application two current photographs:
one in first arabesque position (side view) and a head shot. For more informaion and audition dates.
Classical
Guitar
Areas
of Study: Performance, Pedagogy, Music Education, Music Therapy,
Arts Management, Commercial Music, Composition
- All
Applicants: Prepared solo of appropriate difficulty. Selection
may be from music of any style or type, with the understanding
that all study will be from the classical idiom. Scales and sight-reading.
Jazz
-
All
Applicants: Provide a recorded accompaniment (such as the
James Aebersold series) for the jazz portion of their auditions.
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Saxophone
Applicants: Fast and slow etude (e.g. Voxman Selected
Studies or Ferling 48 Etudes); one jazz standard,
demonstrating melody and improvisation and showing basic knowledge
of jazz style through texts comparable to Niehaus, Basic Jazz
Conception; major scales (in eighth notes, quarter = 80), and
sight-reading.
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Trumpet
Applicants: At least one of the following: an etude (comparable
to Arban characteristic study), the first or third movement
of a major work for trumpet (e.g. Haydn or Hummel concerto,
Hindemith, or Kennan sonata), or a complete trumpet solo (e.g.
Carnival of Venice, Bride of the Waves); one jazz standard,
demonstrating melody and improvisation.
-
Trombone
Applicants: One prepared classical solo (grade 5-6) or two
classical etudes of equal difficulty; two jazz standards in
contrasting styles, demonstrating melody and improvisation;
major and minor (natural, harmonic, and melodic) scales; sight-reading.
-
Piano
Applicants: One memorized classical piece (e.g. Bach little
prelude, Clementi sonatina, Schumann Album for the Young);
major and harmonic minor scales; jazz solo ballad; jazz medium
tempo selection in piano trio format, demonstrating melody,
improvisation and comping; sight-reading of notation and chord
symbols.
-
Electric
or Acoustic Bass Applicants: One jazz standard, demonstrating
melody and walking bass line; demonstration of walking bass,
Latin, rock and funk styles; major and minor (natural and harmonic)
scales (one octave); major and minor arpeggios; sight-reading.
-
Guitar
Applicants: One jazz standard (ballad or medium tempo);
major scales; sight-reading of notation and chord symbols.
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Percussion
Applicants: Two pieces using traditional swing pattern (one
medium tempo, one up-tempo); one ballad with brushes; one contemporary
jazz/fusion piece showing four-way independence; one medium/upper
grade snare solo or orchestral excerpt or one medium tempo vibe
solo showing melody, improvisation and comping; sightreading.
Organ
Areas
of Study: Performance, Music Education, Music Therapy, Arts Management,
Church Music, Commercial Music, Composition
-
All
Applicants: Major and minor scales. ON PIANO, a Two-Part
Invention (Bach) or a movement of a Classical sonata. ON ORGAN,
one of the Eight Little Preludes and Fugues (Bach), and a Romantic
or 20th-century selection.
-
Church
Music Applicants: Must also perform sight-reading of accompaniments,
sight-reading of a simple tune. Choral experience helpful.
Percussion
Areas
of Study: Performance, Music Education, Music Therapy, Arts Management,
Commercial Music, Composition
-
All
Applicants: Upper grade solo selection and/ or orchestral
excerpt to display technical ability and fundamental technique.
Sight-reading.
-
Performance
Applicants: Show proficiency in two of three areas: snare
drum, timpani, or melodic instruments.
-
All
Other Applicants: Show proficiency in one of three areas:
snare drum, timpani, or melodic instruments.
Piano
Areas
of Study: Performance, Piano Pedagogy, Piano Accompanying, Music
Education, Music Therapy, Arts Management, Commercial Music, Composition
Further
repertoire recommendations can be found in the Keyboard
area of this site.
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Performance,
Pedagogy, and Accompanying Applicants: Major and harmonic
minor scales. Major arpeggios in root position. Sight-reading.
Memorized material representing three periods, such as: 1) Bach
suite or invention, 2) Classical sonata, 3) Romantic or 20th
century composition.
-
Accompanying
Applicants: Must also perform one vocal and one instrumental
accompaniment. Applicant should supply performers, please call
the Admissions Office in advance to make other arrangements.
-
All
Other Applicants: Major and harmonic minor scales. Sight-reading.
Memorized material representing three periods, such as: 1) little
prelude (Bach), 2) Classical sonata, 3) a piece from Schumann’s
Album for the Young.
Theatre
and Musical Theatre
Areas
of Study: Acting, Costume Design, Musical Theatre, Scenic and Lighting
Design, Theatre for Youth, Arts Management
-
Acting
(including Arts Management) and Theatre for Youth Applicants:
Two memorized monologues, two minutes each, taken from
contemporary plays and reflecting applicant’s age.
- Musical
Theatre Applicants: Sixteen measures of one song from standard
classical solo vocal repertoire (the song may be in English) and
sixteen measures each of two songs from standard musical theatre
productions (one ballad and one up-tempo); two-minute (maximum)
monologue from a contemporary play that reflects the applicant’s
age. Song excerpts and monologue must be memorized. Sightreading.
Be prepared to participate in a movement audition (dance or work-out
dress).
-
Scenic
and Lighting Design (including Arts Management), Costume Design
Applicants: Submit portfolio containing photographs of your
work, drafting or design sketches, and programs. Letters of
recommendation in support of portfolio are recommended. An interview
is required.
Voice
Areas
of Study: Performance, Music Education, Music Therapy, Arts Management,
Church Music, Commercial Music, Composition
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