PREPARING FOR AUDITIONS
Begin by asking your applied music teacher to help select appropriate music for performance. Their coaching is most invaluable at this important time. Approach the audition positively. This attitude will help you put your best foot forward. If traveling a distance, allow enough time to arrive at least 15 minutes ahead of scheduled audition time. Clothes which are neat and professional will help you perform comfortably and with confidence.
If you have extra copies of the music itself, bring it along. If not, DO NOT PHOTOCOPY, one copy will suffice.
PLACEMENT TESTING DURING ORIENTATION WEEK
Placement Music Theory
Each applicant will be expected to demonstrate:
- familiarity with the basic terminology of music;
- ability to read music written in either treble or bass staff;
- knowledge of the key signatures of all major and minor scales;
- understanding of meter and rhythm;
- ability to recognize and write the common musical intervals;
- understanding of the structure of major and minor triads.
Students may prepare for the written theory placement exam by studying any standard music fundamentals text, such as: Programmed Rudiments of Music, by Robert W. Ottman and Frank D. Mainous, Prentice-Hall, Inc. Publishers, Eaglewood Cliffs, NJ or Basic Materials in Music Theory: A Programmed Course by Paul O. Harder, Allyn and Bacon, Inc., Publishers, Boston, MA. Other satisfactory music fundamentals texts are readily available in most college bookstores.
Placement In General Musical Knowledge
Each applicant will be expected to demonstrate:
- familiarity with primary style periods of music
- knowledge of primary composers
- knowledge of various genres, for example, opera, symphony, chamber music, etc.
Students may prepare for the written general music placement exam by studying any standard music appreciation text, such as The Employment of Music by Joseph Machlis.
Placement In Piano
Each applicant will be expected to demonstrate:
- scales and chord progressions
- harmonizations
- sight reading
- repertoire
Placement in Aural Skills
Sight singing: Each applicant will be expected to sing at sight, material of the difficulty of an average folk song.
Ear training: Applicant will be given a brief aural quiz in recognizing intervals, melodies and rhythms.