The Music Arts Supplement (portfolio in the area of music) is submitted via the applicant status portal during the application process. All materials are evaluated for the music major and music scholarship and must be submitted in fulfillment of the audition requirements on the primary instrument or voice. Submissions on secondary instruments, original compositions, or traditional repertoire on non-western instruments are optional and are not accepted as a substitution.
Before you begin...
Review our Undergraduate Application Procedures carefully and allow enough time to meet the established deadlines.
Here are some important things to keep in mind as you are Preparing your Audition Video(s).
Audition Requirements by Primary Instrument or Voice
Piano
3 works representing different style periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th or 21st century):
- One must be from a Classical Sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert
- All prepared pieces must be memorized
Example piano audition repertoire:
- An original work by J.S. Bach containing a fugue
- One or more movements from a Classical Sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert
- Substantial work from the 19th, 20th or 21st centuries
- An Etude by Czerny (op. 740), Chopin, Debussy, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Moszkowski, Ligeti, Bartok
Organ
Prepare 3 works from contrasting historical periods (pre-Classical, preferably a work by Johann Sebastian Bach, Romantic, and Contemporary) and style (balancing virtuosic works with at least one expressive piece).
Violin and Viola
- 3-octave major scale
- 3-octave melodic minor scale
- Etude
- One movement of a Concerto, Sonata, or other representative solo work
- Optional: One piece from any time period, style, genre, etc. (examples: one or two contrasting movements of a Bach cello suite or violin sonata/partita, contemporary/modern, jazz, pop arrangement, orchestral excerpt, etc.)
Cello and Double Bass
- 2-octave major scale
- 2-octave melodic minor scale
- Etude
- One movement of a Concerto, Sonata, or other representative solo work
- Optional: One piece from any time period, style, genre, etc. (examples: one or two contrasting movements of a Bach cello suite or violin sonata/partita, contemporary/modern, jazz, pop arrangement, orchestral excerpt, etc.)
Woodwinds and Brass
- 2-octave major scales (select two)
- 2-octave chromatic scale
- Three contrasting pieces or movements of pieces, one may be an etude; demonstrating technique, musical sensitivity, range, tonal quality, articulations, and general musicianship
- When possible, select works representing different musical periods
- Optional: One piece of choice from any time period, style, genre, etc. (examples: contemporary/modern, jazz, pop arrangement, orchestral/band excerpt, etc.)
Percussion
(Note: Drum Set specialists, please follow the guidelines listed under Drum Set)
Demonstration of all three instruments required:
- Snare Drum: Solo or etude (i.e. Cirone, Delecluse, Peters, Pratt, Wilcoxon, etc.)
- Mallets: Both a 2 and 4 mallet solo either on the marimba, vibraphone or xylophone (your choice); Knowledge of major/minor scales and arpeggios
- Timpani: Solo or etude (i.e. Carroll, Delecluse, Freise, Goodman, etc.)
- Drum set (optional): Demonstrate 2 selections (one must be a ballad) in different jazz styles, moods, and tempos
Students auditioning on campus for the Music Education program must provide their own mallets and sticks.
Drum Set
- 2 selections in different jazz styles, moods, and tempos (which may include blues and rhythm changes) with your own improvisation
- A medium tempo selection or a ballad demonstrating the ability to perform with brushes
- Optional: One piece of choice from any time period, style, genre, etc. (examples: contemporary/modern, jazz, pop arrangement, orchestral/band excerpt, etc.)
Guitar
Classical or Jazz
- 2 pieces representing different historical eras (baroque, classical, romantic, jazz)
- Etude or technical piece
- Scales: major and minor scales and arpeggios (select two)
- Optional: One piece of choice from any time period, style, genre, etc. (baroque, classical, romantic, jazz, contemporary, pop arrangement, original composition)
Electric/Acoustic (Popular Music)
- 2 pieces of contrasting style (the chosen repertoire must include a lyrical selection as well as one that demonstrates technical ability)
- Demonstrate knowledge of major and minor pentatonic scales and the “blues” scale (knowledge of basic major and minor scales and arpeggios expected)
- Optional: One piece of choice from existing popular music repertoire, contemporary pop/rock, folk rock, R&B/Urban, country, Latin/Salsa/Samba, the “Great American Songbook," or an original song)
Original compositions are acceptable. If accompanied by other musicians, video audition files must be clearly focused on the applicant and the audio must be live (no digital enhancement or dubbing of the live audio is permitted). Students may also upload studio recordings or links to recorded performances as supplemental materials (not as a substitute for required audition materials).
Harp
- 2 solo works of contrasting style (preferably memorized)
- A selection from Level III Warm-Up from “On Playing the Harp,” by Yolanda Kondonassis (published by Carl Fischer)
- One standard orchestral excerpt of the applicant’s choice
Historical Performance Practice
(e.g. Baroque Violin, Baroque Cello, Lute, Harpsichord, Baroque Oboe, etc.)
- Prepare 3 contrasting works from an appropriate range of periods for the instrument. Applicants may perform pieces as a solo or in a small ensemble: if performing in an ensemble applicant should be clearly visible throughout the audition video.
Voice
Classical Styles
3 vocal solo selections. These songs should represent contrasting styles chosen from genres such as 17th and 18th-century songs, early Italian art songs, 19th and 20th-century art songs, and folk songs. All selections may be sung in English, although students are encouraged to perform at least one selection in a foreign language. Students are strongly encouraged to memorize their audition repertoire, although sheet music may be used if needed.
- Because the vocal instrument for students auditioning at the freshman level is usually in the elementary stages of growth and development, the particular selections presented in this audition are primarily important in how well they show evidence of the following: vocal freedom, pleasantness, and naturalness of tone quality, production technique, and expressive musicianship. Students are encouraged to select repertoire that is comfortably within their technical abilities. Previous musical experiences, such as choral singing, are extremely beneficial and previous study on an instrument, especially piano, is desirable.
- Video audition files must be clearly focused on the student and the audio must be live. No digital enhancement or dubbing of the audio is permitted.
- Vocalists must perform with keyboard accompaniment. Live accompaniment is preferred (recordings made with live accompaniment accepted).
Popular Styles
3 vocal solo selections. These songs should represent contrasting styles chosen from genres such as contemporary pop/rock, jazz, and musical theater. Students are strongly encouraged to memorize their audition repertoire, although sheet music may be used if needed.
- Selections presented in the audition should show evidence of healthy vocal production techniques and expressive musicianship. Students are encouraged to select repertoire that is comfortably appropriate for their technical abilities. Previous musical experiences in group or solo settings are beneficial and previous study or coaching is desirable.
- Video audition files must be clearly focused on the student and the audio must be live. No digital enhancement (i.e. reverb, echo, pitch correction, etc.) or dubbing of the live audio is permitted.
- Vocalists must perform with accompaniment, as appropriate, and applicants may accompany themselves on another instrument (i.e. guitar or keyboard).
- Optional: Students may also upload studio recordings or links to recorded performances as supplemental materials (not as a substitute for required audition materials)