undergraduate music admissions
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AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Music auditions are classified as either performance-level or concentration-level.
Performance-level auditions are for students interested in undergraduate degree programs in:
- Performance
- Piano Pedagogy
Concentration-level auditions are for students interested undergraduate degree programs in:
- Composition
- Applicants must submit scores and/or recordings of three original compositions; theory testing and comprehensive testing required; portfolio and departmental interview also required.
- Jazz Arranging/Composition
- In addition to a jazz audition, applicants must submit scores and/or recordings of three complete and contrasting pieces at the time of the audition.
- Music Education
- Music Education/Jazz Studies Component
- Applicants must present BOTH classical and jazz concentration-level auditions.
- Music History
- Music Theory
- Music Therapy
- Music Therapy/Jazz Studies Component
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
INSTRUMENTAL
Brass | Guitar | Harp | Percussion | Strings | Winds
JAZZ
Instrumental | Percussion | Voice
KEYBOARD
VOICE
INSTRUMENTAL
CLASSICAL GUITAR
Guitar Performance and Concentration
BM: Classical Guitar Performance
BM: Music Education
BM: Theory
BM: Music History
BM: Music Therapy
All auditions must be taken on a classical guitar using classical technique.
Technique:
- Scales and arpeggios.
- An étude by Fernando Sor, Matteo Carcassi or equivalent.
Repertoire:
- A solo work from the 17th or 18th century.
- A solo work from the late 19th or 20th century.
These works must be performed from memory.
HARP
Harp Performance and Concentration
BM: Harp Performance
BM: Music Education
BM: Theory
BM: Music History
BM: Music Therapy
Repertoire:
-
An etude by Bochsa, Posse or equivalent.
-
A fast movement from a Baroque or Classical sonata or concerto, i.e. Handel, Dittersdorf, Boieldieu, memorized.
-
A romantic or 20th century work from the major harp repertoire, i.e. Impromptu, Op. 86 by Faurè, Impromptu-Caprice by Piernè, Scintillation by Salzedo, memorized.
-
Two orchestral excerpts and or cadenzas.
PERCUSSION
Percussion Performance and Concentration
- All Classical Percussion applicants will be expected to perform on snare drum, keyboard percussion, and timpani. Those who posses advanced ability in one area only will also be considered.
- Evidence of good basic technique and sensitive musicianship is essential.
- Some sight reading will be asked in each of the three major areas - Snare Drum, Marimba, and Timpani.
- Evidence of varied ensemble experience will be considered.
- Photo-copied music may not be used in the audition.
Snare Drum
1. Perform one of the following solos or one of your own choice that is of equivalent of greater difficulty:
- The Glenwood Boy - Harr, in Haskell Harr Drum Method Book II (M.M. Cole)
- Pass in Review - Pratt, 14 Modern Contest Solos (Belwin)
2. Perform one of the following:
- No. 48 - Standard Drum Method - Podemski - (Mills Music)
- No. 32 - Standard Drum Method - Podemski - (Mills Music)
- No. 2 from Portraits in Rhythm – Cirone – (Belwin)
- No. 13 from Portraits in Rhythm – Cirone – (Belwin)
3. Perform the following rudiments.
- Multiple Bounce Roll (1) Loud (ff) to (2) soft (pp) to Loud
- Flams as eighth notes (q = 132 mm)
- Single Drags as eighths notes (q = 120 mm)
- Single and Double Paradiddles (Slow to Fast)
- Triple Ratamacue – Moderate to Fast Tempo
- Nine Stroke Roll (Double Stroke) - Moderate to Fast Tempo
- Five Stroke Roll (Double Stroke) - Moderate to Fast Tempo
Marimba or Xylophone
1. Perform (1) one of the following solos or one of your own choice that is of equivalent or greater difficulty.
- Sabre Dance - Khatchaturian - Goldenberg, (Leeds)
- Any solo from Masterpeices for Marimba - McMillan, (Pro Art)
- Page 66, no. VII - Modern School for Xylophone - Goldenberg, (Chappel & Co.)
2. Perform scales and arpeggios (2 octaves), in major, through 3 sharps and 3 flats; and in harmonic minor, one sharp and one flat.
3. Applied (Performance) applicants: All of the above and a four mallet marimba solo (Examples below).
- Yellow After the Rain (Mitchell Peters, pub. M. Peters)
- Rain Dance (Alice Gomez, pub. Southern)
Timpani
1. Perform one of the following solos or études or one of your own choice that is equivalent or of greater difficulty.
- Scherzo - Peters, (Mitchells Peters, 3231 Beuda Place, Los Angeles, CA 90028)
- Three Designs for Timpani- Muczynski, (Schirmer)
- Pg. 31 from Musical Studies for the Intermediate Timpanist (Garwood Whaley, Merideth)
2. Perform a roll (1) Loud (ff); (2) Soft (pp).
3. Tune four notes given from the piano note.
4. Tune the tonic-dominant (the interval of a 5th) and the dominant-tonic (the interval of a 4th) in several key signatures after one given note on the piano.
STRINGS
String Performance (Double Bass – see below)
BM: String Performance
Technique:
- Scales and arpeggios, major and minor, in three octaves, and an étude of advanced difficulty
Repertoire:
- Two contrasting movements of an unaccompanied
Bach sonata, partita or suite
- One movement from a Classical sonata or concerto
- One Romantic or Contemporary work to represent the student's level of proficiency
String Concentration (Double Bass – see below)
BM: Music Education
BM: Theory
BM: Music History
BM: Music Therapy
Technique:
- Scales, major and minor, in three octaves
- An étude
Repertoire: Two contrasting movements from a Baroque sonata and a Romantic or Contemporary piece.
Double Bass Performance
BM: String Performance
Technique:
- 3-octave scales up to 4 sharps and 4 flats
Repertoire:
- 2 contrasting solos from the standard repertoire
- 2 orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire
Double Bass Concentration
BM: Music Education
BM: Theory
BM: Music History
BM: Music Therapy
Technique:
- 2-octave scales up to 4 sharps and 4 flats
Repertoire:
- 2 contrasting solos from the standard repertoire
- 2 orchestral excerpts
from the standard repertoire
WINDS OR BRASS
Winds or Brass Performance
BM: Performance
- Two movements of a sonata, concerto, or other solo work
- Two contrasting études
- Orchestral excerpts
Winds or Brass Concentration
BM: Music Education
BM: Theory
BM: Music History
BM: Music Therapy
- One movement of a solo work
- Two contrasting études
JAZZ
Jazz Instrumental Performance Major
BM: Jazz Performance
All jazz guitar applicants to Boyer's jazz department must submit a preliminary screening recording (DVD, CD, video, or tape). Following the review of the recording, students will be contacted in order to schedule their audition.
Each applicant must perform West Coast Blues (pg. 401) and one additional jazz standard from The New Real Book, Sher Music Company - Volume 1. All selections must be performed from memory. Applicants are expected to improvise on each selection.
Preliminary recordings should be sent to:
Kristi Morgridge
Temple University
Presser Hall
2001 N. 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Please clearly mark your recording with your name, your degree program and contact information.
Technique:
- Scales-major and minor (harmonic and melodic)
- Major and minor arpeggios, triads and seventh chords will be performed two octaves (piano four octaves)
Repertoire:
- Each applicant must perform Sandu and two additional jazz standards from The New Real Book, Sher Music Company - Volume 1. All selections must be performed from memory. Applicants are expected to improvise on each selection. (In the Sher "New Real Book, Volume I," Sandu is on page 307.)
- Applicants of chord instruments may be asked to accompany on various styles such as: Latin, bossa nova, and funk/rock.
- Applicants will be required to sight read an excerpt from a big band chart and/or a selected étude.
- Videotapes or DVD’s are accepted at the discretion of the audition committee. If the student is accepted, auditions must include all of the components listed above. The sight-reading component must be replaced with an étude (either classical or jazz).
Jazz Instrumental Concentration
BM: Jazz Arranging/Composition
BM: Music Education/Jazz Studies Component
BM: Music Therapy/Jazz
All jazz guitar applicants to Boyer's jazz department must submit a preliminary screening recording (DVD, CD, video, or tape). Following the review of the recording, students will be contacted in order to schedule their audition.
Each applicant must perform West Coast Blues (pg. 401) and one additional jazz standard from The New Real Book, Sher Music Company - Volume 1. All selections must be performed from memory. Applicants are expected to improvise on each selection.
Preliminary recordings should be sent to:
Kristi Morgridge
Temple University
Presser Hall
2001 N. 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Please clearly mark your recording with your name, your degree program and contact information.
Technique:
- Scales-major and minor (harmonic and melodic)
- Major and minor arpeggios, triads and seventh chords will be performed two octaves (piano four octaves)
Repertoire:
- Each applicant must perform Sandu and two additional jazz standards from The New Real Book, Sher Music Company - Volume 1. All selections must be performed from memory. Applicants are expected to improvise on each selection. (In the Sher "New Real Book, Volume I," Sandu is on page 307.)
- Applicants of chord instruments may be asked to accompany on various styles such as: Latin, bossa nova, funk/rock, etc.
- Applicants will be required to sight read an excerpt from a big band chart and/or a selected étude.
- Videotapes, audiotapes and/or DVD’s are accepted at the discretion of the audition committee. If a student is accepted, auditions must include all of the components listed above. The sight-reading component must be replaced with an étude (either classical or jazz).
Jazz Percussion
Jazz Percussion Performance and Concentration
BM: Jazz Performance
BM: Jazz Arranging/Composition
BM: Music Education/Jazz Studies Component
BM: Music Therapy/Jazz
Technique:
- Scales-major and minor (harmonic and melodic)
- Major and minor arpeggios, triads and seventh chords will be performed on the piano (one octave).
Repertoire:
- All applicants must perform one of the two solos at a tempo between 120-150 BPM.
Jazz Drum Solo - 1 | Jazz Drum Solo - 2
- Perform Sandu and one additional jazz standard from The New Real Book, Sher Music Company. (In the Sher "New Real Book, Volume I," Sandu is on page 307.)
- Applicants must be able to interpret and play the melodies on the drum set and should be able to solo over the forms of both compositions.
- Applicants may be asked to perform the following grooves with sticks and/or brushes: Bossa Nova, Samba, Funk/Rock, Jazz Waltz, Swing: Slow (60-80 BPM) Medium (100-144. Fast (180-250)
- Applicants will be required to sight read an excerpt from a big band chart and/or a snare drum étude.
- Videotapes or DVD’s are accepted at the discretion of the audition committee. If a student is accepted, auditions must include all of the components listed above. The sight-reading component must be replaced with an étude (either classical or jazz).
- All selections must be performed from memory.
Jazz Vocal Performance
BM: Jazz Voice Performance
Technique:
- Scales, major and minor (harmonic) one octave (solfege syllables preferred).
- Major and minor arpeggios, triads and seventh chords will be performed one octave.
Repertoire:
- Vocalists are expected to perform Autumn Leaves and two additional jazz standards from The New Real Book, Sher Music Company, Volume 1. (In the Sher "New Real Book Volume I", Autumn Leaves, with
lyrics, is on page 12. )
- All selections must be performed from memory.
- Applicants are expected to improvise.
- Applicants will be required to sight read material from the jazz idiom and/or a sight singing etude.
- Videotapes, audiotapes and/or DVD’s are accepted at the discretion of the audition committee. If accepted, auditions must include all of the components listed above. The sight-reading component must be replaced with an etude (either classical or jazz).
Jazz Vocal Concentration
BM: Jazz Arranging/Composition
BM: Music Education/Jazz Studies Component
BM: Music Therapy/Jazz
Technique:
- Scales, major and minor (harmonic) one octave (solfege syllables preferred).
- Major and minor arpeggios, triads and seventh chords will be performed one octave
Repertoire:
- Vocalists are expected to perform Autumn Leaves and two additional jazz standards from The New Real Book, Sher Music Company, Volume 1. (In the Sher "New Real Book Volume I", Autumn Leaves, with
lyrics, is on page 12. )
- All selections must be performed from memory.
- Applicants are expected to improvise.
- Applicants will be required to sight read material from the jazz idiom and/or a sight singing etude.
- Videotapes or DVD’s are accepted at the discretion of the audition committee. If accepted, auditions must include all of the components listed above. The sight-reading component must be replaced with an etude (either classical or jazz).
KEYBOARD
Piano Performance
BM: Piano Performance
BM: Piano Pedagogy
Technique:
- Scales, major and minor (melodic and harmonic), and arpeggios, major and minor, four octaves, hands together at a fast tempo
Repertoire: One piece from each of the following periods, all works are to be played from memory:
- Baroque: Prelude and Fugue from Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, or a major work by Bach.
- Classical: Entire sonata by Mozart, Beethoven (excluding Opus 49, Nos. 1 and 2), Haydn, or Schubert.
- Romantic, Impressionistic, or Contemporary: Any piece of advanced difficulty.
Piano Concentration
BM: Music Education
BM: Theory
BM: Music History
BM: Music Therapy
Technique:
- Scales, major and minor (melodic and harmonic), and arpeggios, major and minor, two octaves, hands together at a fast tempo.
- Sight reading.
Repertoire:
One piece from each of the following periods, at least two must be from memory:
- Baroque: Two-Part Invention or Sinfonia of Bach.
- Classical: First movement of a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven (except Opus 49, Nos. 1 and 2.)
- Romantic, Impressionistic, or Contemporary: Any piece equivalent in difficulty to the sonata movement above.
Harpsichord Performance
BM: Harpsichord Performance
Applicants without previous harpsichord study, same as piano performance audition requirements.
Applicants with some harpsichord and piano experience, the work of J.S. Bach (required in the piano audition) or another baroque work should be performed on harpsichord, with the remainder as listed in the piano requirements.
Applicants with harpsichord but no piano experience should be prepared to perform:
- A work of J.S. Bach
- A work from the French baroque repertoire
- A Scarlatti Sonata OR an English work from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book
- Sight reading
Harpsichord Concentration
BM: Theory
BM: Music History
For applicants without previous harpsichord experience, same as Piano Concentration Audition Requirements.
For applicants with some harpsichord experience:
- A work by J.S. Bach or another baroque work should be performed on harpsichord, with the remainder of the audition performed on the piano following the Piano Concentration Audition Requirements
Applicants with harpsichord but no piano experience should be prepared to perform:
- A Prelude and Fugue
- Invention or Sinfonia of J.S. Bach
- A work from the French baroque repertoire
- A Scarlatti Sonata OR an English work from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book.
VOICE
Voice Performance
BM: Voice Performance
- An Italian song from the 17th or 18th century
- An English song from the baroque or contemporary period
- An additional classical selection to be chosen by the applicant
Musical theater selections, jazz, pop, or original compositions are not acceptable.
All songs must be memorized and sung in their original languages.
Accompanist will be provided for on-campus auditions.
Voice Concentration
BM: Music Education
BM: Theory
BM: Music History
BM: Music Therapy
- An Italian song from the 17th or 18th century
- An English song from the baroque or contemporary period
Musical theater selections, jazz, pop, or original compositions are not acceptable.
All songs must be memorized and sung in their original languages.
Accompanist will be provided for on-campus auditions.
