AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
FOR UNDERGRADUATES AND GRADUATES

GENERAL INFORMATION

All students applying to the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music to become Undergraduate Music Majors are required to have an audition or orientation, and to take theory and piano placement exams. An audition is required for Graduate applicants for admission in Performance, Conducting, Pedagogy, and Jazz. Graduate applicants must take proficiency examinations in music history and music theory

Basic Audition Instructions for Undergraduates: be prepared to perform two pieces of music on your primary instrument which are contrasting in style and showcase your musical and technical abilities. You will be asked to play scales and to sight read.

AREA SPECIFIC INFORMATION

Information which follows has been provided by School of Music divisions or by individual faculty members to further assist students with their audition preparation. If your instrument or division of interest does not follow, the Basic Audition Instructions serve as a complete guideline for your audition preparation.

Bassoon Audition Requirements and Repertoire
Cello Audition Repertoire
Choral Conducting Proficiencies
Clarinet Audition Requirements and Repertoire
Classical Guitar Class Registration Information
Classical Guitar Audition Repertoire
Composition Degree Program Requirements
Double Bass Audition Repertoire
Harpsichord Private Lesson Audition Requirements
Jazz and Studio Music Audition Requirements
Organ Instruction Audition Requirements
Percussion Audition Information
Piano Audition Requirements
Trombone and Euphonium Requirements
Trumpet Audition Requirements
Tuba Audition Requirements
Voice Division Audition and Class Information
Viola Audition Requirements
Violin Audition Requirements

BASSOON AUDITION REQUIREMENTS AND REPERTOIRE

Undergraduate bassoonists should prepare two pieces of a contrasting style such as a slow and fast movement of a Galliard Sonata. Two movements from the Carl Maria von Weber Concerto in F major would be an option for the exceptional student. All major scales and the chromatic scale from the lowest note to the highest note are required.

For graduate bassoonists, a selection from major works such as the Mozart Concerto, the Saint-Saens Sonata, the Weber Concerto in F Major, the Weber Andante and Rondo, or the Hummel Concerto would be appropriate. Major and minor scales are required. Graduate students should prepare two orchestral excerpts. Graduate students should also prepare the following orchestral excerpts: Mozart-Marriage of Figaro Overture, Ravel-Bolero, and Tchaikovsky-Sym.4, Mvt. 2.

CELLO AUDITION REPERTOIRE

Undergraduate - Cello

• Major and minor scales
• An etude
• Two works contrasting in tempo and style

Master of Music - Cello

• An outer movement of a standard concerto
• Two contrasting movements from one of Bach's Suites for solo cello
• An etude by Popper or Piatti

Doctor of Musical Arts - Cello

• A complete concerto
• A complete Bach Suite for solo cello
• An additional work of contrasting style

CHORAL CONDUCTING PROFICIENCIES AND REQUIREMENTS

Master of Music - Choral Conducting

The Master of Music in Choral Conducting represents an advanced level of knowledge and skill in the area of conducting.  Applicants must have an undergraduate degree in either Vocal Performance or Music Education, with an emphasis in choral conducting. In a few, rare instances, applicants may enter with a bachelor's degree in a related area of music, but only through clear demonstrated competence in the area of conducting.

Entrance requirements include a bachelor's degree in Music Education or Vocal Performance (or, in rare instances, a related music degree), music theory and music history proficiency exams, a 45-minute video of a recent rehearsal and a video of a recent public performance. Prospective students will be asked to participate in an on-campus interview which will include a conducting audition, a sight-singing and pitch recognition examination, a piano skills audition, a vocal diction examination and a personal interview. A video audition may be accepted in cases of international students or those with similar travel difficulties. In addition, prospective students must be accepted by the University of Memphis and by the School of Music to be accepted into the Master of Music degree program in choral conducting.

Doctor of Musical Arts - Choral Conducting

The Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting represents an advanced level of knowledge and skill in the area of conducting. Applicants must have a master's degree in either performance or music education, with a specialty in conducting. In a few, rare instances, applicants may enter with a master's degree in a related area, but only through clear demonstrated competence in the area of conducting.

Entrance requirements include a master's degree in conducting (or, in rare instances, a related music degree), music theory and music history proficiency exams, a 45-minute video of a recent rehearsal and a video of a recent public performance.  Prospective students will be asked to participate in an on-campus interview which will include a conducting audition, a sight-singing and pitch recognition examination, a piano skills audition, a vocal diction examination and a personal interview. A video audition may be accepted in cases of international students or those with similar travel difficulties. In addition, prospective students must be accepted by the University of Memphis and by the School of Music to be accepted into the Doctor of Musical Arts degree program in choral conducting.

For more information, please contact: Dr. Lawrence Edwards, Director of Choral Activities, 901-678-3767, edwards@memphis.edu.

CLARINET AUDITION REQUIREMENTS AND REPERTOIRE
 
Undergraduate clarinetists should prepare two pieces that are contrasting in style (fast and slow). Selected pieces can be in the form of etudes or excerpts from concerti or sonatas (eg. Weber Concerto #1 or Concertino). Students are requested to read music at sight.

Knowledge of major, minor, and chromatic scales are expected for entering freshmen, preferably memorized. Any student may send a preliminary audio or video medium, however, these do not stand in lieu of a live audition.

Graduate applicants in clarinet should submit a repertoire list and perform contrasting movements of a sonata or concerto (eg. Mozart or Nielsen). They should demonstrate an awareness of orchestral and band excerpts. Major and minor scales should be played by memory. All students read music at sight and are tested for pitch recognition. Students may send a preliminary audio or video, however, these do not stand in lieu of a live audition.

CLASSICAL GUITAR CLASS REGISTRATION INFORMATION

MUAP 1551 is a private lesson for guitar majors or students who have the equivalent of two semesters of MUAP 1550, one hour a week with Dr. Lily Afshar. It is restricted and for more advanced students who are accepted only by audition.

MUAP 1550 Guitar Introductory Instruction is a private lesson of 1/2 hour weekly for students who are accepted only by audition. The lesson time is set between the student and graduate assistant teacher after audition.

MUSE 1118 is a class for non-music majors, for the person who has never played classical guitar and may not read music. No audition necessary.

Students may address questions to Dr. Lily Afshar at lafshar@memphis.edu.

CLASSICAL GUITAR AUDITION INFORMATION AND REPERTOIRE

Undergraduate – Guitar

Undergraduate applicants seeking School of Music talent-based performance scholarships must have had a minimum of three years of classical guitar private instruction in order to play a scholarship audition.

Recording Technology and Music Business applicants not applying for School of Music scholarships and who select classical guitar for their applied instrument audition with Dr. Lily Afshar on the first day of classes of the fall or spring semester. Make an appointment with Dr. Afshar, lafshar@memphis.edu.

• Major and Minor Segovia or Shearer scales (two or three octaves)
• Three contrasting pieces from three different periods (memorized)
• Music Education - Choral applicants whose primary instrument is guitar do a brief vocal audition as a part of their audition day. The vocal audition consists of singing "The Star Spangled Banner" by memory.

Master of Music – Guitar

• Major and Minor Segovia or Shearer scales (three octaves)
• Two contrasting movements from one of Bach's Sonatas, Suites, or Partitas (memorized)
• Two additional works of contrasting style (memorized)

Doctor of Musical Arts – Guitar

• A complete Bach Suite, Sonata, or Partita (memorized)
• A movement of a Concerto (memorized)
• A work from the 20th or 21st Century (memorized)

COMPOSITION DEGREE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

To be accepted as a Composition major, a student must audition and accomplish the following:

• Audition and be accepted by applied faculty on an instrument or voice at the music education or performance skill level
• Complete MUTC 1008/1010
• Complete MUAP 1105
• Complete MUTC 2501
• Be recommend for acceptance into MUTC 2502 by the Composition faculty

Until an applicant has achieved the above, he has not been fully accepted into the Composition program. The student who has a portfolio of written, possibly published and recorded pieces ready for presentation prior to audition, is encouraged to make an appointment with composition faculty for portfolio review.

DOUBLE BASS AUDITION REPERTOIRE

Undergraduate - Double Bass

• Major two octave scales
• Two contrasting movements of a standard sonata or concerto, or two contrasting etudes

Master of Music - Double Bass

• Two contrasting movements of a standard sonata or concerto
• One movement of a work from an additional style period

Doctor of Musical Arts - Double Bass

• A complete concerto
• Two contrasting movements from one of Bach's Suites for solo cello

HARPSICHORD PRIVATE LESSON AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

In most cases, keyboard players (organists, pianists, and harpsichordists) should be able to play at the minimum level of the Bach Inventions or other moderately difficult keyboard literature. Sight-reading will be checked.

JAZZ AND STUDIO MUSIC AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Auditionees must be able to READ music: notes, chords and rhythms. Auditions and acceptance to the School of Music in the Jazz Division are heavily weighted on this. Auditionees are not accepted based on ear playing and/or guitar/bass tablature.

Jazz and Studio Music Composition and Arranging Emphasis

Submit three scores of original compositions or arrangements as follows:

Bebop or Contemporary bop style
Latin, fusion or ballad style
Pop or commercial style

A performance audition on the student's applied instrument or voice will be required.

Jazz and Studio Music Performance Emphasis - All Instruments and Voice

* *Major scales in all keys, ascending and descending in eighth notes at metronome marking quarter note=80
* *Minor scales in the key of c,g,d,b, and a
* *The following basic jazz modes, Dorian, Lydian and Mixolydian on C,G,F,D,B, and A
* *Arpeggios on major and minor triads
* *Arpeggios on major and minor seventh and dominant seventh chords
* Improvise on a basic twelve-bar Blues progression (12 bar solos for drummers).
* Perform standard jazz composition in at least two styles, one must be bop or swing (4 bar solos for drummers).
* Vocalists prepare songs that illustrate three styles. See below.
* Sight reading in several styles from jazz band or jazz choir literature to be provided by auditioning faculty.

*not required of percussionists unless auditioning on mallet keyboard

Jazz and Studio Music Performance -- Saxophone

It is desirable that saxophonists double on flute, clarinet or both.

Jazz and Studio Music Performance -- Vocalists

Prepare at least one selection in the style of the great vocal jazz masters, eg., Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O'Day, Carmen McRae, Nat "King" Cole, Billy Eckstine, Jon Hendricks, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, or Joe Williams.

Prepare at least one selection in the style of the contemporary vocal jazz artists, eg., Chaka Kahn, Tanya Maria, Flora Purim, Dianne Reeves, Elis Regina, Dianne Schuur, Harry Connick Jr., Michael Franks, Al Jarreau, or Bobby McFerrin.

Prepare at least one selection in the style of any internationally recognized pop or R & B artist, eg., Regina Belle, Brandy, Mariah Carey, Sheryl Crow, Sheena Easton, Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Alanis Morissette, Joan Osborne, Al Green, Donnie Hathaway, Michael Jackson, Billy Ocean, Ray Parker Jr., Seal, James Taylor, or Stevie Wonder.

Jazz and Studio Music Performance - Rhythm Section: Piano, Drumset, Guitar, Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass

All rhythm players will be expected to accompany from a chord chart or lead sheet in the styles of Bop, Latin, Fusion, or jazz/rock, rock and pop.

Drummers will be expected to demonstrate adequate knowledge of percussion rudiments, and in addition, examples of the following drum set patterns at various tempi: 1. Bebop and contemporary mainstream (using both sticks and brushes), 2. Jazz waltz, 3. Bossa nova and samba, 4. Salsa or Afro-Cuban, 5. Fusion, funk, or jazz/rock, 6. Ballads (brushes and sticks), 7. R & B and shuffle, 8. Rock and pop.

ORGAN INSTRUCTION AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

For Beginning Student – Organ

Students auditioning for lower division undergraduate-level organ may audition on organ or on piano. If auditioning on organ, they should play 15-20 minutes of music, including a composition by Johann Sebastian Bach and a composition by a later composer. If auditioning on piano, they should play 15-20 minutes of music on a level of a Bach 3-part Sinfonia (Invention), an easier Mozart Sonata, Chopin, Nocturne, or Persichetti Poem for Piano. All auditions will include sight-reading.

For Transfer Student – Organ

Students auditioning for upper division undergraduate level organ should play 20-30 minutes of music, including a composition by Johann Sebastian Bach and a composition by a later composer. Audition material should demonstrate the student's technical and musical proficiency. Students should bring to the audition a list of music that they have played.

PERCUSSION AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Undergraduate percussion applicants should demonstrate proficiency in as many of the following areas as possible.

Snare Drum

• Demonstrate rudiments
• Long roll-closed; pianissimo crescendo to fortissimo; decrescendo to pianissimo
• Flam, flam tap, and accent
• Demonstrate reading knowledge from Goldenberg's Modern School for Snare Drum, Cirone's Portraits in Rhythm or similar snare drum method
• Sight-reading

Keyboard

• Major and minor scales, two octaves
• Any selection from Bach's Two Part Inventions top part only, or
• Bach's a minor Violin Concerto, third movement, or any of the 39 etudes found in the Goldenberg Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba, and Vibraphone
• Sight-reading

Timpani

• Tuning of all intervals
• Technical proficiency on 3 timpani at the level of Mitchell Peter's Scherzo for Three Timpani, Garwood Whalley's Statement for Timpani, or three timpani exercises from the Goodman or Friese-Lepak timpani methods
• Sight-reading

Master's Percussion Performance

• A four timpani piece
• A four mallet marimba piece
• A Delecluse snare drum solo
• A multiple percussion piece
• Sight reading may also be required

PIANO AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Undergraduate/Piano Performance

• Major and minor scales
• Two works contrasting in tempo and style:
• Examples: Bach Prelude & Fugue or invention, movement of a classical sonata, a 19th century character piece, impressionistic work, Shostakovich prelude or a comparable 20th century work.
• The more exceptional student will play the larger works of the standard composers.

Undergraduate/Music Education

• Major scales
• Two works contrasting in tempo and style. Examples: Bach invention, Mendelsohnn Song without Words, Satie Gymnopedie, movement of a classical sonata.
• Music Education – Choral applicants whose primary instrument is piano do a brief vocal audition as a part of their audition day. The audition consists of singing "The Star Spangled Banner" by memory.

Undergraduate/Music Minor

• Major scales
• Two works contrasting in tempo and style

Masters Piano Performance

• Three works contrasting in tempo and style taken from the standard concert repertoire. Examples may include a Bach partita, a Chopin impromptu/etude/ballade scherzo, a Beethoven sonata (excluding the Opus 14's and Opus 49's), a Prokofiev sonata, an etude by Debussy, Stravinsky, Scriabin

Masters Piano Pedagogy

• Three works in contrasting tempo and style taken from the standard teaching repertoire. Examples may include a Bach invention, a Scarlatti sonata, Chopin nocturne/ impromptu/preludes, first movement of a Mozart or Haydn sonata, Debussy prelude.

D.M.A. Piano Performance

• A full recital program of standard concert repertoire representing the four stylistic periods.

D.M.A. Collaborative Piano

• Solo work: e.g. Chopin Ballade, complete Beethoven sonata
• An instrumental duo sonata: e.g. Spring Sonata, Faure Sonata
• A complete song cycle: e.g. Dichterliebe
• A concert aria or major aria from an opera
• Sight-reading       
• Transposition at sight

TRUMPET AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Two or three Etudes/Solos of contrasting character should be prepared which best demonstrate your sound, range, and technique. The following repertoire is recommended but similar works may be substituted.

Bachelor of Music - Trumpet (Performance)

• Technique: All major scales and arpeggios
• Etudes: Charlier, Etudes Transcendantes; Longinotti, Studies in Classical and Modern Style; Concone, Lyrical Studies; Brandt, 34 Studies
• Solos: Hindemith, Sonate; Kennan, Sonata; Haydn, Concerto; Chance, Credo

Bachelor of Music - Trumpet (Music Education and all other concentrations)

• Technique: All major scales and arpeggios
• Etudes: Bousquet, 36 Celebrated Studies; Getchell, Second Book of Practical Studies; Brandt, 34 Studies; Arban, Characteristic Studies
• Solos: Haydn, Concerto (2nd movement); Goeyens, All' Antica; Balay, Prelude et Ballade; Barat, Fantasie en mi bemol; Goedicke, Concert Etude

For questions or assistance please email: Dr. Kyle Millsap – kmillsap@memphis.edu.

TROMBONE AND EUPHONIUM AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Required

• All major scales and arpeggios
• 2 octave chromatic scale
• 2 prepared contrasting solos, 2 movements of a multi-movement solo, or 2 contrasting etudes

Optional

• Minor scales - natural, harmonic and/or melodic
• Orchestral excerpts (trombone)
• Band excerpts (euphonium)

Representative Prepared Material

• Etudes: Melodius Etudes – Bordogni/Rochut; Forty Progressive Studies – Tyrell; Studies in Legato – Fink
• Solos: Solos for the Trombone Player – ed. H. C. Smith (for euphonium, too); Morceau Symphonique – Guillmant; Andante and Allegro – Barat; Andante and Allegro – Roparts; Sonata #1 – Galliard

TUBA AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Undergraduate Tuba

• All major scales
• 2 prepared contrasting solos (2 movements of a multi-movement solo or 2 contrasting etudes)
• Applicants will also be asked to demonstrate sight-reading ability

Graduate Tuba

All graduate level applicants should be able to demonstrate both the bass and contrabass tubas at the advanced level.

• Melodious etude
• Technical etude
• 2-3 solos from the standard repertoire
• Orchestral and band excerpts of your choice
• Applicants will also be asked to demonstrate sight-reading ability

VOICE DIVISION

Voice Division Audition Information for Private Instruction

All students will be heard by a committee of the voice faculty and other faculty as designated. Under special circumstances the head of the Voice division may hear and audition incoming students without an audition committee with approval of voice faculty members.

Undergraduate – Voice

• Two solos, one English or one American art song plus one foreign art song or aria. Selections should be memorized. Each auditionee should bring sheet music as a pianist will be provided. Auditionees may bring their own pianists.
• A sight reading test
• A pitch recognition test
• A rhythm recognition test
• Other material as required

Master's – Voice

One of each:

• An Early Italian Aria/Art song
• German Lied
• French Melodie
• 20th Century Art Song in English
• Operatic Aria in the original language
• Oratorio Aria

Songs are to be performed from memory except for the oratorio aria which may be performed with music.

The audition committee will select repertoire to be heard from the prepared material. Applicants should submit undergraduate recital programs and/or a representative repertoire list of undergraduate literature performed by the applicant.

Doctoral—Voice

One of each:

• An Early Italian Aria/Art song
• German Lied
• French Melodie
• 20th Century Art Song in English
• Operatic Aria in the original language
• Oratorio Aria

Songs are to be performed from memory except for the oratorio aria which may be performed with music. Selections must be representative of the following stylistic periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century. The performance must demonstrate a high degree of artistic and technical achievement. Applicants must submit recital programs and a representative repertoire list.

Course Information

MUAP 1610 Private instruction in basic vocal production. Audition required. Permit required.

MUAP 1611 Private instruction for voice majors and concentrations. With rare exception, a non-voice major will be allowed to study at this level when studio space permits. Audition required.

All students studying voice at the MUAP 1610 or 1611 levels must have passed MUTC 1001 or be concurrently enrolled in it during their first semester of study. If MUTC 1001 is not passed, the student will not be allowed to continue voice study until the requirement is met. All students enrolled in voice MUAP 1610 - MUAP 4611 except for MUAP 1610.002, regardless of major, must be concurrently enrolled in an ensemble each semester of study.

MUSE 1112 Vocal methods class for Music Education students other than those with voice or piano concentrations. No audition is required.

MUAP 4611 Upper division vocal instruction.

VIOLA AUDITION REPERTOIRE

Undergraduate – Viola

• An etude
• Two works contrasting in tempo and style

Master of Music – Viola

• Two contrasting movements from one of Bach's Suites for solo viola
• A movement from one of the major viola concertos such as Bartok, Walton, or Hindemith Der Schwanendreher
• An additional work of contrasting style

Doctor of Musical Arts – Viola

• A complete Bach Suite for solo viola
• A movement from one of the major viola concertos such as Bartok, Walton, or Hindemith Der Schwanendreher
• An additional work of contrasting style

VIOLIN AUDITION REPERTOIRE

Undergraduate – Violin

• All major and minor three-octave scales and arpeggios
• Two works contrasting in style and tempo. Applicants for the performance degree should prepare an outer movement of a standard concerto and a movement from one of Bach's Sonatas or Partitas for solo violin.

Master of Music – Violin

• An outer movement of a standard concerto from the 19th or 20th century
• Two contrasting movements of one of Bach's Sonatas or Partitas for solo violin
• An additional work of contrasting style

Doctor of Musical Arts – Violin

• An outer movement of a standard concerto from the 19th or 20th century
• A complete Bach Sonata or Partita for solo violin
• The first movement of a Mozart concerto