Popular Music Performance & Songwriting Audition Requirements

COMMERCIAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE EMPHASIS - ALL INSTRUMENTS AND VOICE
Commercial Music VOCALISTS should be prepared to perform:

1. Three (3) standard contemporary music compositions, contrasting in style and tempo (No more than one original composition will be allowed).
2. Major scales in all keys, ascending and descending in eighth notes at metronome marking quarter note=80
3. Dorian Mode ("Re" to "re" in solfege, movable "Do")
4. Sight-reading
5. Vocalists may choose to bring an accompanist or sing to a pre-recorded track.

Commercial Music INSTRUMENTALISTS should be prepared to perform:

1. Major scales in all keys, ascending and descending in eighth notes at metronome marking quarter note=80
2. Minor scales in the key of c,g,d,b, and a
3. Arpeggios on major and minor triads
4. Arpeggios on major and minor seventh and dominant seventh chords Improvise on a basic twelve-bar Blues progression (12 bar solos for drummers).
5. Perform standard commercial music/contemporary compositions in at least two contrasting styles and tempos (No more than one original composition will be allowed)
6. Sight-reading standard notation (no tablature).
7. All rhythm section musicians will also be expected to accompany from a chord chart or lead sheet.

MUSIC INDUSTRY AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Essay Information

Write an essay on the appropriate topic given on the following page. Seek and study a variety of sources to reach your own conclusions in order to express your own topical thoughts. Cite references to avoid plagiarism. Essays must be electronically submitted as attached Word documents no later than two (2) weeks prior to Audition/Orientation Day. Essays must be single spaced and created with 12-point Times font with 1" margins on all sides. Essays must be a minimum of 750 words and no longer than 1,000 words. All reference sources must be cited and are not included in the word count of the written essay. Put your name, date, and essay title at the top of your essay.

Essay Topic for Music Business Applicants

"For the past decade, sales of recorded music released by the three major companies in the field (Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group) have been undergoing significant declines. Some say this slowdown in growth can be attributed to either the phenomenon of widespread file sharing on the Internet, to a lack of quality music, to the rise of streaming delivery services, or a combination of these and other factors. In the current environment, some are predicting that independent musicians and independent labels will have a better opportunity to thrive because they are smaller and more flexible than the majors and can take advantage of the Internet and other new technologies to promote their music. Yet these same musicians and labels are facing some of the same issues and pressures that the major labels are. In your essay, discuss your views on the future of the music industry, making your argument for who you think will benefit from the recent changes in the business (e.g., major or independents) and how they will still be able to generate revenues given the widespread availability of free music." ​

Essay Topic for Recording Technology Applicants

"Digital delivery systems of audio (i.e. the Internet) have forced the entire music industry to rethink the methods involved in the recording and distribution of recorded material. At recent audio conventions there has been much discussion regarding digital audio watermarking. Relying on your own research, provide information regarding the fairly young history of digital audio watermark technology as well as how you anticipate the technology will continue to develop and be utilized in the future."