PERSONAL INTERVIEW
Candidates will be asked to discuss their prospective musical career, and why they have chosen a particular course of study. This would also be the best time for students to ask questions about the College, courses of study, opportunities in the field of music, and etc. Candidates should perform as follows:
INSTRUMENTAL
Wind and Stringed Instruments:
Students should be prepared to perform major and minor scales through four sharps and four flats, chromatic scales covering the entire range of the instrument, and selected solos representing at least two styles of music (e.g. Baroque, Classic, Romantic, Twentieth Century).
Percussion Instruments:
The percussion audition will be in two parts. On the snare drum the student will play a solo (rudimental or orchestral), a long roll (crescendo and diminuendo) and all rudiments. On a melody percussion instrument (bells, marimba, or xylophone) the student will play scales through three flats and three sharps and solo demonstrating at least two mallet techniques.
Piano:
Students who wish to be admitted as piano majors should perform art music from at least two style periods. A list of suggested representative works is provided below as a general idea of the expected performance level at the audition: 1) Baroque Period Bach: Two Part Inventions or Three Part Inventions, Preludes and Fugues from The Well-Tempered Clavier, French Suites Scarletti: any of the Sonatas; 2) Classical Period Haydn: easier Sonatas Mozart:Â Sonatas, Fantasies, or easier Concerti Beethoven: easier Sonatas; 3) Romantic Period representative works by Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Brahms, or a similar composer (If there is a question, such as with Rachmaninoff, style will be the main consideration. Thus Rachmaninoff would be considered from the Romantic Period); 4) Contemporary Period Debussy: Childrens Corner Suite, easier Preludes, or either of the two Arabesque Bartok: Allegro Barbaro, later books of the Mikrokosmos Gershwin: Preludes Hindemith: Sonata No. 2 Tcherepnin: Bagatelles, op. 5 Copeland: Cat and the Mouse.
In addition, the candidate should be able to play major and minor scales, (hands together, four octaves, sixteenth notes, quarter note MM 92) as well as to sight-read an accompaniment of an art song.
Guitar:
Prepared Piece: We value all music styles so you should prepare a piece that you are comfortable with and which displays your strengths as a guitarist. It should be about 3-5 minutes long. It can be in any style which demonstrates your ability on guitar and your overall musicianship. Select a piece that puts your best foot forward. What we really want is to find out what you do well. It may help to seek the guidance of your private instructor or musical mentor.
Here are some examples and guidelines that may help:
- Select a tune from a well-known artist or band (any style)
- Select standard tune, Contemporary Christian piece or jazz tune and add your own improvisation
- You could also choose a composition from the standard guitar repertoire available from your teacher or a good music store. (standard solo or etude)
- A transcription of a well-known artist’s solo
- If songwriting is your primary focus, you may choose to play an original piece. However, the original piece should be no longer than three (3) minutes, and you should also prepare a second piece from the above listing (no longer than 3 -5 minutes).
- If you require accompaniment for your prepared piece you may bring an accompanist, play-a-long CD or MP3 player. It is not recommended to use the original tracks of artists or bands as play-a-longs however. If you are playing to a track, it is preferred that you use standard play-a-long/music-minus-one or karaoke tracks so that you are not playing your part along with the part on the recording. For example, we would prefer a guitar player use a play-a-long track that does not have the lead part on the track rather than playing along with an artist’s original recording.
- You will also be required to play a few scales and chords in the audition as well as sight read a short, relatively easy lead sheet or melody in standard notation. If you do not read standard notation you will be asked to sight read something in tablature. It is important to understand that studying guitar at the college level will involve these elements and we want to assess your strength in these areas.
VOCAL
In addition to a possible warm up using scales and arpeggios, the student should sing two contrasting art songs, preferably from memory. Standard English, Italian, French, or German Art Songs are encouraged. Other types of songs (contemporary, folk songs, hymn arrangements) may be used with special permission. Pre-recorded accompaniments are not acceptable. Students whose auditions require accompaniment are welcome to bring their own accompanist, although one will be provided if requested. Please indicate this need, and repertoire when arranging for the audition.
WORSHIP ARTS
Prospective Worship Arts students perform two songs of contrasting style and tempo. One of the selections should be a modern song of worship. The second song should be a classical art song or traditional hymn. Vocalists may accompany themselves on guitar or piano. An accompanist will be provided for you if needed, but you must provide the music for us two weeks in advance of the audition. Drummers must provide music for us in advance and are expected to play two songs as described above while one of our accompanists plays the piano or guitar part.
MUSIC MINOR
Prospective Music minors are required to audition. The requirements are the same as for Prospective music majors, except that the student is only required to perform one song for the audition.
PRE-ETHNOMUSICOLOGY MINOR
The Pre-Ethnomusicology minor does not require an audition.