School of Music
Audition Guidelines
Students have the option of auditioning live on campus or submitting a recording in lieu of a live audition. Live auditions are preferred. All students who submit a recorded audition will have a virtual interview with faculty.Recorded Audition Instructions
Students should submit the repertoire requested of their instrument in the menu below. Students should upload their complete audition video to YouTube as an unlisted link, or a file-sharing service such as Google Drive. Ensure that permissions allow for "anyone with the link" to view the video. Please direct any questions regarding recorded auditions to music@wiu.edu .BRASS
Students should prepare repertoire which represents their best performance ability. Choose two contrasting movements or pieces that demonstrate:- a slow, sustained, lyrical style, and
- a technically challenging, faster paced passage.
- All major scales, 2-3 octaves when possible (2 scales will be selected for your live audition)
- A chromatic scale showing your range on the instrument
Trumpet
Etude Examples
- Arban - Characteristic Studies
- Bordogni - 36 Celebrated Studies
- Voxman - Selected Studies
Solo Examples
- Balay - Prelude et Ballade
- Goedicke - Concert Etude
- Handel - Aria con Variazioni
Horn
Etude Examples
Solo Examples
- Mozart, Horn Concerto No 1 in D or No 3 in Eb
- Saint-Saens, Morceau de Concert
- Abbott, Alla Caccia
- Cherubini, Sonata No. 1
- Glazunov, Reverie
- Krol, Laudatio
Comparable etude or solo selections.
For Performance majors: the above PLUS two of the following standard orchestral excerpts:- Beethoven, Symphony No. 6 III. Allegro (Horn 1)
- Brahms, Symphony No. 1 II. Andante Sostenuto (Horn 1, pickups to E)
- Mussorgsky/Ravel, Pictures at an Exhibition, I. Moderato (Horn 1)
- Strauss, Till Eulenspiegel, Opening (Horn 1)
- Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 5 II. Andante canticle (Horn 1)
Tenor Trombone
Etude Examples
- Rochut - Melodious Etudes
- Kopprasch - 60 Selected Studies
Bass Trombone
Etude Examples
- Fink - Studies in Legato for Bass Trombone
- Kopprasch - 60 Selected Studies
Euphonium
Etude Examples
- Rochut - Melodious Etudes
- Kopprasch - 60 Selected Studies
Solo Examples
- Barat - Andante et Allegro
- Telemann - Sonata
Tuba
Etude Examples
- Blazevich - Studies for B Flat Tuba, Vol. 1 or 2
- Tyrell - Advanced Studies for B Flat Bass
- Getchell - 40 Etudes for Tuba
- Rochut - Melodious Etudes for Trombone
- Arban - Characteristic Studies
- Kopprasch - 60 Studies
WOODWINDS
Students should prepare repertoire which represents their best performance ability. Choose two contrasting movements or pieces that demonstrate:- a slow, sustained, lyrical style, and
- a technically challenging, faster paced passage.
- All major scales, 2-3 octaves when possible (2 scales will be selected for your live audition)
- A chromatic scale showing your range on the instrument
Flute
Etude Examples
- Cavally - Melodious and Progressive Studies, Book II
- Voxman - Selected Studies: for Flute (Rubank Educational Library)
Solo Examples
- Fauré - Fantasie Op. 79
- Mozart - Concerto No.1 in G Major, 1st movement
Oboe
Etude Examples
- Barret - Oboe Method
- Ferling - 48 Famous Studies
Solo Examples
- Handel - Concerto in G Minor
Bassoon
Etude Examples
- Weissenborn's Fifty Advanced studies, included in his Practical Method for Bassoon
Solo Examples
- Telemann - Sonata in F Minor
Clarinet
Etude Examples
- Rose - 32 Studies
- Rose - 40 Studies
- Voxman - Selected Studies
Solo Examples
- Voxman - Concert and Contest Collection
- Armato - Recital Clarinetist
- Weber - Concertino
- Movement of a concerto (Mozart, Stamitz 3, Tartini-Jacob)
- Movement of a sonata (Brahms, Saint-Saens, Poulenc)
Saxophone
Etude Examples
- Bassi - 27 Virtuoso Studies
- Ferling - 48 Famous Studies
Solo Examples
- Maurice - Tableaux de Provence
PERCUSSION
Percussionists must audition on snare drum (one concert and one rudimental etude), keyboard (marimba/vibraphone; four mallets preferred), and timpani. Drumset and multiple percussion are not required, but strongly encouraged. Sight reading will be assessed on snare drum, timpani, and marimba.Snare Drum: Rudimental Examples
- Wilcoxon, Charles. All-American Drummer 150 Rudimental Solos
- Wilcoxon, Charles. Modern Rudimental Solos for Snare Drum
- Pratt. John S. 14 Modern Contest Solo for Snare Drum
Snare Drum: Concert Examples
- Cirone, Anthony. Portraits in Rhythm
- Delécluse, Jacques. Douze Études pour Caisse-Claire
Keyboard Percussion: Marimba Examples
- Abe, Keiko. Frogs
- Abe, Keiko. Prism (2 mallets)
- Bach, J.S. Concerto in A minor (2 mallets)
- Gomez, Alice. Rain Dance
- Hopper, Adam. Ghost Garden
- Muramatsu, Takatsugu. Land
- Papador, Nicholas. Autumn Portrait
- Peters, Mitchell. Yellow After the Rain
- Rosauro, Ney. Seven Brazilian Children Songs
- Tyson, Blake. A Cricket Sang and Set the Sun
Keyboard Percussion: Vibraphone Examples
- Finkel, Ian. Solos for the Vibraphone Player
- Friedman, David. Mirror from Another
- Molenoff, Bill. Music of the Day
Timpani Examples
- Aiello, Joseph. Classic African
- Beck, John. Sonata for Timpani (movement II or III)
- Goodman, Saul. Ballad for the Dance
- Whaley, Garwood. Musical Studies for the Intermediate Timpanist
Multiple-Percussion Examples
- Campbell, James. Engine Room
- Kraft, William. French Suite
- Kraft, William. Morris Dance
Drumset Examples
- Medium Swing
- Up Tempo Swing
- Ballad with brushes
- World Styles (Choose two)
- Samba
- Bossa Nova
- Afro-Cuban 12/8
- Cha Cha
- Mozambique
- Trading Fours in Medium Swing (4 bars time/4 bars solo)
STRINGS
Students should prepare repertoire which represents their best performance ability. Audition music may come from standard solo literature or from etudes. ILMEA etudes are acceptable. The suggested total length of repertoire is approximately 10 minutes.Violin
- A movement of a concerto
- A movement from an unaccompanied Bach sonata or partita
- An etude or caprice
- Any other solo selections of your choice
Viola
- Three octave major scales and arpeggios
- A movement of a Bach Suite
- A movement of a concerto by composers such as Telemann, Stamitz, Accolay, and Seitz
- Any other work of your choice
Cello
- A movement of a concerto
- A movement of a Bach Cello Suite
- An etude by Popper or Piatti
- Any other work of your choice
Bass
- Prepare two contrasting movements from a standard sonata, such as Eccles, Marcello, and Vivaldi
- Major and minor scales
Classical Guitar
- Major and minor scales
- A solo classical piece of your choice
- Sight reading
VOICE
Audition admission requirements for all music majors excluding vocal performance- Two art songs from the standard vocal repertoire (classical), 16th - 20th century (English or Foreign Language) performed with piano accompaniment.
Some examples include:
- Renaissance/Baroque period: Amarilli, mia bella by Giulio Caccini
- Romantic period (Schubert, Schumann, or Faure): Widmung by Robert Schumann
- Modern period: Deep River by Harry T. Burleigh
OR
- One classical song from above and one Musical Theatre song.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR RECORDING AN AUDITION
- Start your video recording by stating your name and voice part (e.g., "Hello, my name is Jon Smith, and I will be auditioning on Soprano 1").
- Two-octave Scale: On the vowel "ee" or "ah," perform a two-octave major scale starting on the pitch E, F, F#, G, Ab, or A. Please choose a note that showcases your singable and sustainable range. You can begin on the starting pitch and descend an octave first and then ascend an octave from the same starting pitch. Please record at the tempo marking quarter note = 70. This scale should display your vocal range, vocal technique, vocal quality consistency, and expressive ability.
- Solo Selections: Your 2 solo selections should be performed with accompaniment. When ready to record, be sure to have the accompaniment playing so that we can hear you singing with the recording. Do not use headphones while recording. You should play the recording from a different device than the one you are recording on.
- Sight-Reading and Pitch Matching: If you are submitting a pre-recorded audition, you will be asked to sing a short sight-reading example and/or sing pitch matching exercises live via Zoom during a mutually-arranged virtual interview with the faculty.
JAZZ
THEORY ELEMENTS
- Major Scales in all 12 keys
- Chord Arpeggios
- Major 9
- Dominant 9
- Minor 9
- Minor 9 (flat-5)
- Diminished
- Augmented
- Students may be asked to perform modes and minor scales
TRANSCRIPTION
- Students may perform a transcription from an artist in the jazz tradition. Students should bring a recording of the transcription with them and be able to perform the transcription with the recording.
LITERATURE
- Students should prepare a standard tune from the following list and be able to play the melody in a jazz style as well as improvise over the harmony for the selection.
- Billy's Bounce
- Now's The Time
- Autumn Leaves
- Blue Bossa
- All The Things You Are
- Students may prepare an etude from the following collections:
- Jim Snidero - Jazz Conception
- Greg Fishman - Jazz Saxophone Etudes: Volumes 1, 2 or 3.
RHYTHM SECTION
- Drums
- Medium Swing Feel
- Fast Swing Feel
- Trading Fours
- Bossa Nova
- Samba
- Afro Cuban
- Funk
- Bass
- Students should be prepared to walk bass lines in a swing style
- Improvisation
- Guitar
- Students should be able to play the melody for their literature choice
- Students should be able to comp the changes for the harmony
- Students should be able to improvise on their selection
- Piano
- Students should be able to play the melody for their literature choice
- Students should be able to comp the changes for the harmony
- Students should be able to improvise on their selection
SIGHT READING
All students will be asked to sight-read a selection. Rhythm section instruments may be asked to comp and/or walk changes as well.KEYBOARD
Piano
Students should prepare at least two contrasting pieces from the following categories:- Baroque: an invention, sonata, or suite movement by Bach, Scarlatti, or Handel
- Classical: a movement of a sonata or sonatina by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Clementi, or Kuhlau
- Romantic: a work by Chopin, Schubert, Schumann, Grieg, Mendelssohn, or other 19th-century composer
- 20th/21st Century: a work by Debussy, Ravel, Bartók, Prokofiev, or other 20th/21st-century composer
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