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Musical Audition Requirements and Criteria
Included in This Document:
What to Submit: Music Audition Requirement Overview (p. 1)
Audition Assessment Criteria (p. 1)
How to Record and Submit Your Videos (p. 2, 3)
Instrument-Specific Musical Audition Requirements: Scales, Excerpts, Links to Parts (p.4-9)
What to Submit: Music Audition Requirement Overview
The musical audition is comprised of three sections:
1. 3 assigned scales
2. Assigned instrument-specific excerpts
3. A piece (or portion of a piece) of your choosing that demonstrates the best of your ability on your instrument in pitch, intonation, rhythm, phrasing, and technique. It may also be your own composition if the piece demonstrates your highest level of playing. This selection should be no more than 90 seconds in length.
4. Percussionists are required to submit 1 excerpt per instrument, and no solo.
Please see the chart on pages 4-9 to learn more about the specific requirements for your instrument.
Audition Assessment Criteria
All audition materials will be evaluated by an independent advisory panel according to the following criteria:
1. Pitch: how accurately the student plays the notes of each section
2. Intonation: how consistent the tonal center is on each pitch
3. Rhythm: how steady a pulse the student is able to maintain
4. Tone quality: how supported and resonant the sound is that the student creates on the instrument
5. Musicianship: how well the student demonstrates articulation, dynamics, and phrasing
6. Musicality: how expressively the student plays the music
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How to Record and Submit Your Videos
1. Take your videos with a camera phone or computer camera without sound production or editing.
2. You will submit 4 videos total (percussionists will submit 6 videos – see chart):
a. 1 video for all scales
b. A video for each of the 2 excerpts
c. 1 video for your piece of choice
3. Announce what you’re playing before you play it. (Example: “I’m going to play a D Major scale slurred.” Or, “I’m going to play the excerpt from Brahms’ 3rd Symphony.”)
4. Upload your video to your program’s or your personal YouTube account, and select “Unlisted” from the drop-down menu on the right.
5. How to label your scales video in YouTube:
a. In the subject heading during your YouTube upload, write: Your full name, your instrument, and the word “scales.” Leave the description box blank. See screenshot below as an example.
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6. How to label your 2 excerpt videos in YouTube:
a. In the Subject, write: Your full name, your instrument, and the word “Excerpt.” In the Description Box, write what you’re playing in the video. See screenshot below as an example.
7. How to label your piece of choice: Repeat step 6, but include the word “Solo” instead of “Excerpt” in the subject line. Write the name of the piece in the Description Box.
8. Save and enter the URLs for each video into your online application when prompted.
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Instrument-Specific Musical Audition Requirements
Click the blue links below the required excerpts to open the parts.
Instrument Required Scales Required Excerpts
Violin
Bb Major
2 octaves in first position
Eighth notes, 4 notes slurred per bow
Quarter note = 60
J. Brahms, Hungarian Dance No. 1 Beginning to Letter B
C Major
2 octaves in third position
Quarter notes, 2 notes slurred per bow
Quarter note = 60
P. Tchaikovsky (arr. Carter), 1812 Overture Letters I-K
Quarter note = 112-125
Download All Violin Excerpt Sheet Music (PDF)
G Major
3 octaves
Triplets on each note
Quarter note = 60
Viola
C Major
2 octaves, legato
Eighth notes, 4 notes slurred per bow
Quarter note = 60
J.S. Bach, Brandenburg No. 3, 1st movement
Viola 1 part mm. 1 - end of 16
G Major
2 octaves – detaché
Triplets on each note
Quarter note = 60
C. Saint Saens, Danse Bacchanale from
"Samson and Delilah" mm. 349 - downbeat of 372
Download All Viola Audition Excerpt Sheet Music (PDF)
F Major
2 octaves
Quarter notes, 2 notes per bow, hooked (or "slurred") staccato
Quarter note= 72
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Cello
D Major
2 octaves
Quarter notes, slurred by 4
Quarter note = 60
P. Tchaikovsky (arr. Carter), 1812 Overture Letters D-F
G Major
2 octaves
Quarter notes, slurred by 2
Quarter note = 60
P. Tchaikovsky (arr. Tomlinson), Marche Slave 3 before letters H – J
Download All Cello Excerpt Sheet Music (PDF)
C Major
3 octaves
Triplets on each note
Quarter note = 60
Bass
Eb Major
1 octave
Whole notes
Quarter note = 80
C. Saint-Saëns, The Elephant
G Major
2 octaves
Eighth notes
Quarter note = 80
N. Paganini (arr. G. Vance), Moto Perpetuo
Download All Bass Excerpt Sheet Music (PDF)
F Major
2 octaves
Slurred by 4
Quarter note = 80
Flute
D Major
2 octaves
Eighth notes, all tongued
Quarter note = 70
R. Wagner (arr. Merle Isaac), Tannhäuser mm. 17 – 33
G Major
1 octave
Eighth notes, slur 2, tongue 2
Quarter note = 70
J. Brahms (arr. R. Bauernschmidt), Hungarian
Dance. No. 5 mm. 9 – 40
Download Flute Excerpt Sheet Music (PDF)
Chromatic
Middle C to High C
Quarter notes, all tongued
Quarter note = 70
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Oboe
D Major
2 octaves
Eighth notes, all tongued
Quarter note = 70
P. Tschaikovsky , Swan Lake, Scene 1 mm. 2 - downbeat of No.1
Eb Major
1 octave
Eighth notes, slur 2, tongue 2
Quarter note = 70 E. Satie/C. Debussy, Gymnopedies No. 1
Download All Oboe Excerpt Sheet Music (PDF)
Chromatic scale
2 octaves, C-C
Eighth notes, slurred
Quarter note = 70
Clarinet
D Major
2 octaves
Eighth notes, all tongued
Quarter note = 70
G. Bizet (arr. Merle Isaac), Farandole
mm. 1 – 17; mm. 117 – 132
G Major
2 octaves
Eighth notes, slur 2, tongue 2
Quarter note = 70
R. Wagner (arr. Merle Isaac), Tannhäuser mm. 1- 16
Download Clarinet Excerpt Sheet Music (PDF)
Chromatic
Low C to Middle C
Quarter notes, all tongued
Quarter note = 70
Bassoon
Bb Major
2 octaves
Eighth notes, slurred
Quarter note = 70
P. Dukas, Sorcerer's Apprentice
Bassoon 2 Part Excerpt A #7 to #8
D Major
2 octaves
Eighth notes, slur 2, tongue 2
Quarter note = 70
G. Mahler, Symphony No. 1, Mvt 3
Bassoon 1 Part No. 2 to No. 3
Download All Bassoon Excerpt Sheet Music (PDF)
Chromatic
2 octaves, Bb-Bb
Quarter notes, all tongued
Quarter note = 70
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Trumpet
F Major (concert)
2 octaves
Quarter notes, slurred
Quarter note = 70
L.v. Beethoven, Leonore Overture No. 3
Excerpt marked on the PDF
Bb Major (concert)
1 octave
Triplets on each note
Quarter note = 70
“Andantino” from Arban’s Complete Conservatory Method for Trumpet
Download All Trumpet Excerpt Sheet Music (PDF)
G Major (concert)
1 octave
Whole notes
Quarter note = 70
French horn
Bb Major (concert)
2 octaves
Quarter notes, slurred
Quarter note = 70
F. Schubert, Symphony No. 9
Opening 8 bars
G Major (concert)
1 octave
Triplets on each note
Quarter note = 70
No. 2 “Marciale” from Max Pottag’s
Preparatory Melodies
Download All Horn Excerpt Sheet Music (PDF)
D Major (concert)
1 octave
Whole notes
Quarter note = 70
Trombone
B flat Major
1 octave
Eighth notes
Quarter note = 100
F. Harris, The Young Prince
Pick up to mm. 5-21
F Major
2 octaves
Quarter notes
Quarter note = 120
W.A. Mozart (arr. Michael Rondeau), Sonata
No. 6 in C Pick up to mm. 5-37
Download All Trombone Excerpt Sheet Music (PDF)
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Tuba
B flat Major
2 octaves
Sixteenth notes
Quarter note = 60
J.S. Bach, Air and Bourrée
Air: Entire movement Bourrée: Beginning to 7
Download Tuba Excerpt Sheet Music (PDF)
F Major
2 octaves
Quarter notes
Quarter note = 120
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Percussion
All percussion applicants are required to submit scales on mallets, 1 excerpt for each instrument, and no solo, for a total of 6 videos.
Download excerpts for all percussion instruments here. Bass Drum &
Cymbals (SUBMIT IN THE SAME
VIDEO)
No scales are required for these instruments
J.P. Sousa, Stars and Stripes Forever
All
Tambourine
No scales are required for these instruments
P. Tschaikovsky – Nutcracker Suite, Trepak
All
Mallets
B flat Major
2 octaves
Quarter notes
Quarter note = 120
C. Saint-Saëns, Carnival of the Animals, Fossils All
On Xylophone
F Major
2 octaves
Quarter notes
Quarter note = 120
D Major
2 octaves
Quarter notes
Quarter note = 120
Timpani No scales are required for this
instrument
E. Grieg, Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Mov. IV All
Snare
No scales are required for this instrument
R. Korsakov, Capriccio Español, III. Alborada
All
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Requisitos y Criteria de la Audición Musical
Incluído en este documento:
Qué Debo Entregar: Repaso de los Requisitos de la Audición Musical (pga. 10) Criteria de Selección de la Audición (pgs. 10) Cómo Grabar y Entregar Sus Videos (pga. 11,12) Escalas para Instrumentos Específicos y Lista de Fragmentos con Enlaces a las Partes (pga. 4-9)
Qué Debo Entregar: Repaso de los Requisitos de la Audición Musical
La audición musical se compone de tres secciones:
1. Tres escalas asignadas.
2. Fragmentos asignados para instrumentos específicos
3. Una pieza musical (o fragmento de una pieza musical) de su elección que demuestra lo mejor de su capacidad en su instrumento en cuanto al tono, la entonación, el ritmo, el fraseo y la técnica. También puede ser su propia composición si la pieza demuestra su nivel más alto de técnica y musicalidad. Esta selección no debe ser más de 90 segundos en su totalidad.
Por favor, revise la lista en las páginas 4 – 6 para saber más acerca de los requisitos específicos para su instrumento.
Criteria de selección
Todos los materiales serán evaluados a través de un panel de asesores independientes conforme a la
siguiente criteria de selección:
1. Tono: qué tan preciso toca el estudiante las notas de cada sección
2. Entonación: qué tan constante es el centro tonal de cada tono
3. Ritmo: qué tan firme pulso el estudiante puede mantener
4. Calidad de tono: qué tan sostenido y resonante es el sonido que el estudiante crea en el instrumento
5. Habilidad para la música: qué tan bien demuestra el estudiante la articulación, la dinámica y el fraseo
6. Musicalidad: qué tan emotivo toca el estudiante la música
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Cómo Grabar y Entregar Sus Videos
1. Tome sus videos con un teléfono con cámara o una cámara de ordenador sin producción o edición de sonido.
2. Entregará un total de 4 videos:
a. 1 video con todas las escalas
b. 1 video con cada uno de los 2 fragmentos
c. 1 video con la pieza de su selección
3. ¡Anuncie la pieza musical que tocará antes de tocarla! (Ejemplos: “Tocaré una escala ligada en Re,” O “ Tocaré un fragmento de la 3ra Sinfonía de Brahms.”).
4. Suba su video a YouTube a la cuenta de su programa o el suyo y escoja “Unlisted” de la lista de opciones que verá a la derecha en el menú.
5. Cómo marcar su video de escalas YouTube:
a. En el lugar para el título de su video de YouTube, escriba: su nombre completo, su instumento y la palabra “scales.”. Deje la descripción en blanco. Por favor, vea el ejemplo abajo:
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6. Cómo marcar su video de fragmentos en YouTube:
a. En el lugar para el título escriba: su nombre completo, su instumento y la palabra
“Excerpt.”. Deje la descripción en blanco. Por favor, vea el ejemplo abajo:
7. Cómo marcar su video de la pieza musical de su selección: Repita el paso número 6, pero incluya la palabra “Solo” en vez de “Excerpt” en el lugar para el título.
8. Guarde y copiar el URL en la solicitud.