Graduate music admissions
Master's Degree or Professional Studies Certificate Audition Requirements
Doctoral Degree Audition Requirements
Instrumental | Keyboard | Music Therapy | Voice
CHORAL CONDUCTING
Master of Music degree
Prospective Choral Conducting students must submit a "pre-audition" video tape of a rehearsal or performance of at least 10 minutes in duration.
Once selected, applicants will rehearse and conduct the Concert Choir, a 40-voice mixed ensemble, for approximately 20 minutes in three or four stylistically and historically varied choral pieces selected by the choral faculty.
This repertoire will be sent to the applicant when the completed application has been received by the College and an audition has been scheduled by calling 215-204-8304.
Auditions are held early in the spring semester. Applications and “pre-audition” tapes should be received by February 1 for fall semester admission consideration.
KEYBOARD MAJORS
To schedule your audition, please contact:
Harvey Wedeen at 215-204-8648 or hwedeen@temple.edu
Harpsichord
Master of Music degree or Professional Studies Certificate
All works to be performed from memory:
- A work chosen from the English virginalists, Frescobaldi, or Froberger.
- A work from the French baroque repertoire.
- A prelude or fugue of J.S. Bach
- A Scarlatti sonata
Piano
Master of Music degree or Professional Studies Certificate
All works to be performed from memory:
- A contrapuntal Baroque work.
- An entire sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert.
- A large Romantic work.
- An Impressionistic or Contemporary piece.
Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music
Master of Music degree
Solo piano works are to be performed from memory. The pianist should supply the vocalist and the instrumentalist or chamber music group. All works to be auditioned must be approved by the Program Director one month prior to the audition.
- A Baroque work (Bach, Scarlatti, etc.)
- An entire sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert.
- A large Romantic, Impressionistic, or Contemporary work.
- One song from each of the following composers: Mozart, Schubert, Strauss, Wolf.
- One instrumental sonata by Mozart, Brahms, Beethoven, or a piece of equivalent difficulty, or one chamber music work (i.e., trio, quartet, quintet).
- Sight reading.
Piano Accompanying and Opera Coaching
Master of Music degree
Solo piano works are to be performed from memory. The pianist should supply the vocalist. All works to be auditioned must be approved by the Program Director one month prior to the audition.
- A Baroque work (Bach, Scarlatti, etc.)
- An entire sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert.
- A large Romantic, Impressionistic, or Contemporary work.
- Two songs by different composers, selected from among the following: Mozart, Schubert, Strauss, Wolf.
- One aria from an opera. One scene excerpt from the standard opera repertoire.
- Sight reading.
Piano Pedagogy
Master of Music degree
All works are to be performed from memory:
- A complete work by Bach (Well-Tempered Clavier, prelude and fugue, suite, toccata, etc.)
- An entire sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert.A large Romantic work.
- An Impressionistic or Contemporary work.
INSTRUMENTAL MAJORS
To schedule your audition, please contact:
Jen Bolcar at 215-204-5527 or jbolcar@temple.edu
To obtain a list of available accompanists, please contact: Joann Kirchner
at 215-204-7388
Classical Guitar Performance
Master of Music degree or Professional Studies Certificate
- Two movements of a Bach suite transcription from violin, cello, or lute.
- Two etudes from Twelve Etudes by Villa Lobos.
- Two movements from any sonata by Sor, Tedesco, Ponce, or Berkeley.
Harp Performance
Master of Music degree or Professional Studies Certificate
- A full-length concerto or sonata from the major harp repertoire, memorized.
- A romantic or 20th century work from the major harp repertoire, i.e. Impromptu, Op. 86 by Faurè, Scintillation by Salzedo, Fantasy in C minor by Spohr, memorized.
- Four orchestral excerpts and or cadenzas.
Percussion Performance
Master of Music degree or Professional Studies Certificate
- Snare Drum: An etude from the Twelve Studies for Snare Drum (Douze Etudes pour Caisse Claire) by Delecluse.
- Bar Percussion: A solo from, or equivalent to, the Bach Partitas for Solo Violin or the Creston Concertino for Marimba.
- Timpani: A solo equivalent to "March" from the Carter Eight Pieces for Timpani.
- Multi Percussion: A taped performance of a piece equivalent to the Dahl Duetino Concertante.
- Orchestral Repertoire: Choose six representative selections for each medium of snare drum, glockenspiel, xylophone, and timpani from the standard orchestra audition repertoire. Additionally, candidates should choose three excerpts each for tambourine and cymbals from the standard orchestra audition repertoire.
- Sight-reading will be required for all instruments.
- Prior outstanding artistic and professional accomplishments will also be considered in the evaluation.
String Pedagogy
Master of Music degree
Applicants are required to have an accompanist. To obtain a list of available accompanists, please contact: Joann Kirchner at 215-204-7388.
- At least two movements from a Bach unaccompanied sonata, partita or suite.
- A movement from a Classical concerto or sonata.
- A movement from a Romantic concerto, or a 19th or 20th century concert piece.
String Performance (Double Bass - see below)
Master of Music degree or Professional Studies Certificate
Applicants are required to have an accompanist. To obtain a list of available accompanists, please contact: Joann Kirchner at 215-204-7388.
- At least two movements from a
Bach unaccompanied sonata, partita or suite.
- A movement from a Classical concerto or sonata.
- A movement from a Romantic concerto or sonata.
- A work from the Contemporary period.
Double Bass Performance
Master of Music degree or Professional Studies Certificate
Applicants are required to have an accompanist. To obtain a list of available accompanists, please contact: Joann Kirchner at 215-204-7388.
- 3 octave scales through 4 sharps and 4 flats.
- 3 contrasting solos from the standard repertoire.
- 3 orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire.
Woodwinds and Brass Performance
Master of Music degree or Professional Studies Certificate
Accompanists are preferred and suggested, but not required. To obtain a list of available accompanists, please contact: Joann Kirchner at 215-204-7388.
- Two contrasting etudes.
- 2 contrasting movements from 2 contrasting pieces.
- Minimum of 3 excerpts.
MUSIC THERAPY
Master of Music Therapy
To schedule your audition, please contact the Music Therapy Office at 215-204-8310.
- Present two pieces in different styles or periods on a major instrument or voice that demonstrate advanced competence in either classical or popular idioms.
- Sing three popular of folk songs in English while accompanying themselves on piano or guitar.
Auditions may be taped or live. Live auditions are scheduled after the application has been submitted. Applicants are advised to complete audition requirements prior to November 1 for Spring admission and May 1 for Fall admission.
VOICE AND OPERA
To schedule your audition, please contact:
Anne Canan at 215-204-8303 or anne.canan@temple.edu
An accompanist will be provided for on-campus auditions. Please send your music in advance to:
Boyer College of Music and Dance
Presser Hall (attn: Anne Canan)
2001 N. 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Voice Performance
Master of Music degree or Professional Studies Certificate
- A recitative and aria from an opera or oratorio.
- Three songs or arias.
- One from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, or Contemporary periods.
- Each selection must be in a different language. (English, German, French, or Italian).
- All works are to be performed from memory.
Opera Performance
Master of Music degree or Professional Studies Certificate
- A recitative and aria from an opera or oratorio.
- Three songs or arias.
- One from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, or Contemporary periods.
- Each selection must be in a different language. (English, German, French, or Italian).
- All works are to be performed from memory.
MUSIC THERAPY (Ph.D.)
The applicant must present the following: two major works in a major performance medium; two standard or popular songs, sung with own piano accompaniment; two standard or popular songs sung with own guitar accompaniment.
HARP (Doctor of Musical Arts)
- A sonata or solo from the Baroque period, i.e. Sonata in G Major by C.P.E. Bach.
- A major concerto, i.e. Concerto by Ginastera, Danse Sacree and Profane by Debussy.
- A sonata or major solo from teh Romantic or Impressionist Period, i.e. Sonatine by Tournier, Suite by Britten.
- A representative 20th century work, preferably written after 1950.
- 4 orchestral excerpts and/or cadenzas.
PERCUSSION (Doctor of Musical Arts)
- A concerto or work of similar significance in each of the following areas:
- Keyboard percussion – Concertino for Marimba by Paul Creston and Two Mexican Dances by Gordon Stout.
- Multiple percussion – Janissary Music by Charles Wuorinen, Concerto for Percussion by Donald Erb, and Illegible Canons by John Bergamo.
- Timpani – Eight Pieces for Timpani by Elliot Carter; Tarantella by Fred Hinger, and Four Pieces by John Bergamo.
- Excerpts from the standard orchestral repertoire (percussion and timpani).
- Knowledge and performing ability in the jazz, commercial, and ethnic percussion media.
STRINGS (Doctor of Musical Arts)
- A Bach unaccompanied sonata, partita or suite
- A sonata or concerto from the Classic period
- A sonata or concerto from the Romantic period
- A representative contemporary work
Between #2 and #3, one should be a concerto and the other a sonata.
Violists and double bass players may request alternative repertoire
selections.
All works except sonatas should be memorized.
WINDS AND BRASS (Doctor of Musical Arts)
- A concerto, sonata, or solo piece from the Classic period, the Romantic or Impressionistic period.
- A concerto, sonata, or solo piece from the 20th Century.
- Excerpts from the standard orchestral repertoire.
All works except sonatas should be memorized.
VOICE (Doctor of Musical Arts)
- One recitative and aria from an opera.
- One recitative and aria from an oratorio.
- Four songs or arias, selecting one each from among the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, or Contemporary periods. Each selection also must be in a different language (English, German, French, or Italian).
All selections are to be performed from memory.
PIANO (Doctor of Musical Arts)
- A major work from each of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Impressionistic periods.
- A representative 20th century work (Bartok, Prokofiev, Hindemith, Barber, Copland, etc.).
All works should be memorized.
