Auditions for Undergraduate Studies
- All instruments except piano
All degree programs (BA, BEd, BM): Two pieces in contrasting styles that reflect your best overall ability. - Piano
Performance degree (BM): Three works of contrasting styles at the late intermediate to advanced level that reflect your best overall ability. Demonstration of a major and minor scale, 4 octaves, and arpeggios in root position. All works to be performed by memory.
All other degrees (BA, BEd): Two to three works of contrasting styles at the early intermediate to advanced level that reflect your best overall ability. At least one work is to be performed by memory. - Voice
All degrees programs (BA, BEd, BM): A minimum of two songs in contrasting styles and languages that reflect your best overall ability.
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Piano Placement Test Information
Piano Placement Test* is required for all non-keyboard music majors. For students who have never studied piano, you will be placed at the beginning level of class piano MUS 125. For those students who have had piano instruction, you will be tested on the following skills so that you can be placed in the proper level of class piano:
- Please be prepare to play a classical piece at your current skill level. (Memorization is not required.)
- You will be evaluated on your ability to read music at the keyboard (sight reading and transposition) as well as your general ability to play (such as melody harmonization, scales with proper fingerings, basic chord progressions.)
- MUS 125 is usually taken concurrently with Theory MUS 281 (Theory I) and MUS 283 (Aural Training I).
*NOTE: Piano Placement Test is held during orientation week.
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Recording Instructions
- CD are preferred, but DVDs, audio, or video tape are also acceptable. DAT tapes will not be accepted. Percussion auditions should be on videotape.
- The unedited recording should be of the best fidelity, and carefully recorded on the highest quality equipment available to you. Use recording equipment that allows you to set the recording level. The small condenser microphones found on most portable tape recorders "flatten out" dynamic levels and rarely produce a representative recording.
- The recording microphone should be at least six feet away from the instrument/voice.
- Begin the recording by slowly and clearly announcing your name, your intended major (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Education in Music), and the pieces you will perform. Identify each composition by title and composer. Piano accompaniment is preferred unless you are performing a composition intended as an unaccompanied work.
- Recordings and their containers should be marked with the performer's name, instrument, selections performed, and date of the recording.
- Recordings should be submitted together with the Music Department application form.
- Recordings will not be returned.