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Audition Information

Requirements for the Music Arts Supplement

How to Submit Your Audition

Submit the Music Arts Supplement—consisting of the music questionnaire and audition videos—through the applicant status portal as part of your application process. After submitting your CWRU application, you will receive login credentials for the applicant portal. Use it to complete the Music Arts Supplement and track your application status. If you do not receive portal access within a few days, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

Applicant Portal

Purpose of the Supplement

Your submitted materials will be reviewed to determine eligibility for the Music (BA) or Music Education (BS) major, as well as performance-based scholarship opportunities, including the Performing Arts Scholarship and Arts Achievement Award.

Auditions must meet the specified requirements for your primary instrument or voice.

Students who pass the Music Arts Supplement may declare a major in Music (BA), regardless of the intended major listed on their initial application.

Before You Begin

Audition Preparation

  • Choose repertoire that reflects your artistic voice and perspective.
  • Consider works by underrepresented composers or pieces connected to your cultural background, gender identity, or personal expression.
  • Review our Preparing Your Audition guide for tips on repertoire selection, performance expectations, and readiness.

Preparing Your Audition

Undergraduate Music Major Expectations

Students entering the music program are expected to demonstrate fundamental musical skills that will support their success in our curriculum, offered in collaboration with the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Incoming students should be able to:

  • Read music in treble and/or bass clef
  • Identifying key signatures
  • Perform major and minor scales
  • Match pitches vocally with those played on the piano
  • Demonstrating strong performance skills, including:
    • Technical proficiency
    • Tone quality
    • Clear understanding of musical style and interpretation

These foundational abilities help ensure students are are ready for both the academic and performance demands of the program.

Audition Requirements by Primary Instrument or Voice

Piano

  • Three works representing different musical periods
  • All pieces must be memorized

Examples of acceptable repertoire:

  • Baroque Period
    • Bach: Prelude and/or Fugue, Inventions, Sinfonias
    • Movements from suites by Bach, Couperin, or Rameau
    • A Scarlatti sonata
  • Classical Period
    • A movement of a sonata by Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven
    • Other representative solo work from the Classical period
  • Romantic, Impressionist, or Contemporary Period
    • Works by composers such as Chopin, Liszt, Debussy, Ravel, Bartók, Prokofiev, or other comparable selections

Organ

  • Two selections from the standard organ literature in contrasting styles or periods
  • Demonstrate musical and technical skills
  • Memorization not required

Violin and Viola

  • 1 (three-octave) major scale 
  • 1 (three-octave) melodic minor scale 
  • Two contrasting movements from a solo Bach suite, sonata, partita or an equivalent solo work
  • One movement of a standard concerto or other representative solo work
  • Memorization not required
  • Optional: One additional piece of your choice

Cello

  • 1 (two-octave) major scale 
  • 1 (two-octave) melodic minor scale 
  • Two contrasting movements (or pieces) from concerto, sonata, or similar repertoire
  • One or two movements from the Bach Cello Suites or comparable work
  • Memorization not required
  • Optional: One additional piece of your choice

Double Bass

  • 1 (two-octave) major scale 
  • 1 (two-octave) melodic minor scale 
  • Two contrasting movements (or pieces) from concerto, sonata, or similar repertoire
  • Memorization not required
  • Optional: One additional piece of your choice

Woodwinds and Brass

  • 1 (two-octave) major scale 
  • 1 (two-octave) chromatic scale 
  • Three pieces/movements of contrasting styles demonstrating technique, range, tone, articulation, and musicianship
  • Optional: Up to three orchestral excerpts 
  • Memorization not required
  • Saxophones: Audition may be on alto, tenor, or baritone

Percussion

Perform on all three instruments:

  • Snare Drum: Solo or etude (Cirone, Delecluse, Peters, Pratt, Wilcoxon, etc.)
  • Mallets: 2- and 4-mallet solo (marimba, vibraphone, or xylophone)
  • Timpani: Solo or etude (Carroll, Delecluse, Freise, Goodman, etc.)
  • Optional: Drum set – two selections in contrasting jazz styles, moods, tempos 
  • Memorization not required
  • On-campus applicants: Provide your own mallets and sticks

Drum Set

  • Two selections in different jazz styles, moods, and tempos (may include blues, rhythm changes) with improvisation
  • A medium-tempo or ballad selection with brushes
  • Memorization not required
  • Optional: Another piece of your choice (pop, rock, Bebop, jazz, funk, etc.)

Guitar

Classical

  • Two contrasting pieces (one slow, one showing technical skill)
  • Two major and minor scales and arpeggios of your choice
  • Memorization not required
  • Optional: Another piece from any style or an original composition

Jazz or Popular Music

  • Two contrasting pieces (pop, rock, folk, bebop, jazz, funk, etc.)
  • Demonstrate major and minor pentatonic scales
  • Memorization not required
  • Optional: Another piece from existing popular repertoire or an original composition
  • Note: Originals accepted; if other musicians are present, applicant must be clearly featured and audio must be live (no digital enhancement). Studio recordings may be uploaded as supplemental material (not a substitute for audition).

Harp

  • Two solos works of contrasting style (preferably memorized) 
  • Level III Warm-Up from On Playing the Harp by Yolanda Kondonassis
  • One standard orchestral excerpt of your choice

Historical Performance Practice 

(Baroque Flute, Oboe, Violin, Cello, Viola da Gamba, Harpsichord, Fortepiano, Lute, Recorder)

  • Three works spanning appropriate periods (e.g., two or three contrasting suite/sonata movements, recitative & aria)
  • Solo or small ensemble; applicant must be featured and clearly visible
  • Memorization not required
  • Note: Candidates will be evaluated by Historical Performance Practice faculty on their command of various national idioms, ornamentation styles, and other aspects of historical performance, as well as the overall level of artistry, and academic potential.

Voice

Classical Styles

  • Three contrasting vocal solos (art songs, 17th–20th c. works, folk songs)
  • At least one selection in a foreign language
  • Strongly encouraged to memorize repertoire
  • Must perform with keyboard accompaniment (live pianist preferred; recorded pianist accepted)
  • No digital enhancement or overdubbing

Popular Styles

  • Three contrasting vocal solos (pop/rock, jazz, musical theater)
  • Strongly encouraged to memorize
  • Perform with accompaniment as appropriate; may self-accompany
  • Optional: Studio recordings or live performances may be submitted as supplemental material
  • Sound amplification permitted, but no digital enhancement or overdubbing allowed

Note for Pre-College Applicants: The vocal instrument at this stage is typically still developing. Audition selections will be evaluated primarily on vocal freedom, pleasantness and naturalness of tone, healthy production technique, and expressive musicianship. Choose repertoire that is comfortably within your technical abilities. Previous musical experiences—such as choral singing or other group/solo performances—are highly beneficial, and prior study on an instrument (especially piano) or vocal coaching is encouraged.