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Requirements

Auditions

In order to be accepted into any Department of Music degree program, including the conditional admission status of pre-music, all students must pass an audition in his/her performance area for a faculty committee.  While many core music courses may be taken as electives for other university degree programs and therefore may be taken without official acceptance as a music major, any student considering the pursuit of a music degree must audition within the first two semesters of study in core music courses.

The Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy, and the Bachelor of Science in Music and an Outside Field degrees require acceptance at the 300, or concentration level (e.g., Flute W310).  These levels of study lead to preparation of juries at the conclusion of each semester, the Upper Division Performance Examination at degree mid‑point and the concentration recital.

The Bachelor of Music Performance degree requires acceptance on the 400, or major level of study (e.g., Piano P400). This level of study leads to preparation of juries at the conclusion of each semester, the Upper Division Performance Examination at degree mid-point and the junior and senior recitals.

Performance Standards. To gain unconditional acceptance into any degree program, applicants must demonstrate the ability to:

  • readily match pitch
  • demonstrate a functional music reading level appropriate to the applied area
  • percussion and guitar students must demonstrate ability to read pitch notation
  • meet performance standards appropriate for their degree area (300/400 level), and
  • demonstrate appropriate abilities in tonal and rhythmic memory.

Audition Procedures. Specific audition dates will be set for the spring and summer months.  For those who cannot attend auditions on these dates, auditions may be arranged by contacting the Department of Music office at 260-481-6714.  A minimum of two faculty members will adjudicate all auditions.  The coordinating areas are as follows:

  • piano and organ
  • strings, guitar and harp
  • voice
  • woodwinds
  • brass and percussion.

An aural perception examination and written music theory placement test will be administered at the time of the audition.

Voice

Dr. Allen Saunders
Applicants should be prepared to perform two songs of contrasting character, at least one of which should be a classical art song.  Songs should be memorized.  One song may be in a language other than English, though it is not required.  Sight singing and aural perception will also be a part of the audition.  If the applicant needs an accompanist, have the applicant contact the coordinator of voice.  One can be provided for a small fee.

Instrumental (Brass, Woodwinds, Strings)

Dr. Gregg Gausline
Applicants should be prepared to perform two pieces in contrasting styles.  It is preferred, but not required, that one piece be a solo and one be an etude from any advanced study book which pertains to your instrument.  Accompaniment is preferred but not required.  Major scales up to four sharps and flats, sight-reading, and an aural perception analysis will also be a part of the audition.

Instrumental (Percussion)

Dr. Gregg Gausline
Applicants should be prepared to perform one selection from two of the following three categories: Snare drum, mallets, and/or timpani.  Accompaniment is preferred but not required.  Snare drum rudiments, major scales up to four sharps and flats(mallets), sight-reading, and an aural perception analysis will also be a part of the audition.

Piano

Dr. Hamilton Tescarollo

B.M. (Performance) degree

Prospective piano performance majors must play a memorized audition consisting of the following:

  1. A Prelude and Fugue from The Well-Tempered Clavier by J. S. Bach
  2. A Complete Classical Sonata
  3. A significant work of the romantic period
  4. A 20th or 21st century work
  5. Major and minor scales and arpeggios in rapid tempo

You should also be prepared to sight read.

B.M.E. (Music Education), B.S.M.T. (Music Therapy), B.S. (Music and an Outside Field) degrees

Prospective piano concentration students (majors in the above degree programs whose main instrument is the piano) must play a memorized audition consisting of the following:

  1. An Invention, Sinfonia, or Prelude and Fugue by J. S. Bach
  2. A fast movement from a Classical Sonata
  3. A short work from the 19th or 20th centuries
  4. Major and minor scales and arpeggios in fluent tempo

You should also be prepared to sight read.

Music Minor/Pre-Music/Secondary Piano Study

Prospective piano students in the above areas should prepare an audition consisting of a minimum of two pieces in contrasting styles, with at least one being performed by memory. Be prepared to also play scales and arpeggios and to sight read. Repertoire at the following level or higher is acceptable:

  1. Pieces from J. S. Bach’s Anna Magdalena Notebook
  2. Haydn’s Gypsy Dance
  3. Schumann’s Album for the Young
  4. Pieces Op. 27 or 39 by Kabalevsky

Note: Music Majors who wish to take piano as a secondary instrument must have passed the Piano Proficiency Examination to be eligible.

Scholarships

Performance scholarships awarded by the Department of Music are competitive and based upon demonstrated talent and musical promise.  Scholarship consideration requires an audition, a theory placement test and an interview.  Also taken into consideration are the student’s academic history, as well as performance on standardized tests such as the SAT and/or the ACT.

Please contact the Department of Music at 260-481-6714 for additional information or to schedule an audition time.