Undergraduate Admission Requirements
You are assured admission to Texas Tech University if you are graduating from an accredited high school and present the required combinations of high school class rank and college entrance test scores indicated below. The required SAT scores for assured admission are based on the math and critical reading portions only.| Class Rank | Test Scores* | |
| ACT | SAT | |
| Top 10% | No Minimum | |
| First Quarter (excluding top 10%) | 25 | 1140 |
| Second Quarter | 28 | 1230 |
| Third Quarter | 29 | 1270 |
| Fourth Quarter | Application Review | |
*ACT composite score; SAT sum of critical reading and math; writing portions of both tests are required, but not used in determining assured admission. We combine the highest SAT critical reading and math scores from multiple test dates.
Audition Requirements
In addition, students seeking degrees in music must also apply and audition for the School of Music. The audition requirements for each area of
study are listed below. In addition, every student is asked to
submit a letter of reference with the application. Letters
of recommendation may be submitted online with the
application or mailed to the following address:
Coordinator of Admissions and Scholarships
TTU School of Music
P.O. Box 42033
Lubbock, TX 79409-2033
Applications for auditions must be received two weeks before the date of the audition.
On campus audition days for entrance in Fall 2013 are:
- February 9, 2013
- February 23, 2013
- Recorded audition by submitting a DVD or CD
- Private Audition to be scheduled via Coordinator of Admissions and Scholarships
Composition Applicants
In addition to auditioning on your principal instrument according to the requirements listed above, you will need to submit supporting materials in the form of musical scores.
Guitar Applicants
Prepare two contrasting solo pieces and play a 2 octave scale.
Harp Applicants
Prepare two contrasting solo pieces and play a 2-octave scale, hands together.
Keyboard Applicants
Please visit the KEYBOARD AREA UNDERGRADUATE PAGE for complete audition information.
All other keyboard applicants (Music Education, Music Theory, Composition, Bachelor of Arts in Music) should perform a minimum of two contrasting repertoire pieces, one of which must be memorized.
In addition to the repertoire, demonstration of technical proficiency through playing of scales, arpeggios, and etudes is encouraged. Applicants may also be asked to sight read.
Theory Applicants
In addition to auditioning on your principal instrument according to the requirements listed above, you will need to submit supporting materials in the form of a paper written on a musical topic and you will need to take a theory placement exam at the time of your audition.
Voice Applicants
Prepare two selections of your choice in contrasting styles, one of which should be in a language other than English. In addition, there will be a short sightreading exercise to sing. You will not need to bring an accompanist. An expert accompanist will be provided by the TTU School of Music. The music does not need to be submitted prior to the audition. No taped accompaniments are allowed.
String Applicants
- VIOLIN
- Undergraduate Performance Major Audition Requirements
- An etude from Dont Op. 37, Fiorillo, or Kreutzer. A short solo piece demonstrating comparable technical and musical proficiency may be substituted for the etude.
- One movement from any of the solo Sonatas and Partitas by J. S. Bach.
- The first movement of the Mozart 3rd, 4th, or 5th Concerti with cadenza, or the first movement of another major concerto of equivalent or greater difficulty.
- A 3-octave major and minor scale and arpeggio set (key of the student's choice) from the Flesch Scale Studies.
- At least one work should be performed by memory.
- Undergraduate Music Education Major - Emphasis in Violin
- Two contrasting pieces of the student's choice. Selections should reflect your highest level of technical proficiency and refinement, and most sophisticated level of musicianship.
- A 3-octave major and minor scale and arpeggio of the applicant's choice.
- Memorization is optional, but preferred for concerti and solo Bach.
- Undergraduate Performance Major Audition Requirements
- VIOLA
- Undergraduate Performance Major Audition Requirements
- Two 2 or 3-octave scales, one major, one minor (3 octave preferred)
- An etude of the student's choosing from Mazas op. 36 book 1, Kayser op. 20, or other of similar difficulty level.
- A short solo piece demonstrating comparable technical and musical proficiency may be substituted for the etude.
- Two contrasting movements of the same Bach Suite
- A movement of a standard concerto or sonata
- Memorization of Bach and the concerto is not required but is preferable
- Undergraduate Music Education Major - Emphasis in Viola
- Two 2 or 3-octave scales, one major, one minor (3 octave preferred)
- Two contrasting pieces of the applicants
choosing from the standard viola repertoire showing the
applicant's highest level of technical and musical
proficiency
- Undergraduate Performance Major Audition Requirements
- CELLO
- Undergraduate Performance Major Audition Requirements
- One etude of the student's choosing from Popper Opus 73 "High School of Cello Playing"
- Two contrasting movements of a Bach Suite
- First movement of a standard cello concerto. Memorization is not required but is preferable.
- Undergraduate Music Education Major - Emphasis in Cello
- Two contrasting pieces of the applicants choosing from the standard cello repertoire
- One three-octave scale of the applicants choosing. Material need not be memorized.
- Undergraduate Performance Major Audition Requirements
- DOUBLE BASS
- Undergraduate Performance Major Audition Requirements
- Two contrasting movements from a standard double bass concerto (e.g. Bottesini, Dittersdorf, Koussevitsky, etc.) or sonata of equivalent difficulty. Contrasting movements need not be from the same work.
- Two orchestral excerpts from the standard orchestral literature (e.g. Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Strauss, etc.)
- 2 or 3 octave major & melodic minor scale and major & minor arpeggio of the applicants choice.
- Memorization is not required but is preferred.
- Undergraduate Music Education Major - Emphasis in Double Bass
- Two contrasting works or movements of the applicant's choice from the standard double bass repertoire.
- 2 or 3 octave major & melodic minor scale of the applicants choice.
- Memorization is not required.
- Undergraduate Performance Major Audition Requirements
Wind and Percussion Applicants
- FLUTE
- Two contrasting pieces that demonstrate your musically expressive ability, one to demonstrate lyricism and one to demonstrate technical facility and articulation. Class I solos as well as etudes are acceptable. Accompaniment is not required.
- All 12 major scales from memory, two octave minimum. Proficiency in performance of minor scales from memory is highly suggested.
- Sight-reading
- OBOE
- Please contact Professor Amy Anderson (amy.b.anderson@ttu.edu) for current audition information
- CLARINET
- Play two contrasting selections to show technical ability and musical expression. It is preferable to select two Class 1 solos (or one solo with contrasting sections), or any solo piece from the standard repertoire. Etudes are acceptable as well, but will not have the same impact as solo repertoire. All-region etudes do not really give an accurate impression of your abilities, but can be used as a last resort.
- You will also be asked to play all of your major scales, and play a brief sight reading excerpt
- BASSOON
- Please contact Professor Richard Meek (r.meek@ttu.edu) for current audition information
- SAXOPHONE
- Perform 10-15 minutes of music demonstrating musical and technical range. Your program should include at least two pieces and may include one etude. Some suggested works are: Jacques Ibert - Concertino da Camera, Paule Maurice - Tableaux de Provence, Paul Creston – Sonata Op. 19, Alexander Glazunov – Concerto, Eugene Bozza Improvisation et Caprice.
- 12 Major scales from memory
- Sight-reading
- TRUMPET
- Students must prepare one solo work and a contrasting etude, all major scales in 1 octave, and be prepared to sight-read at the audition. (No accompanist is required)
- In addition, those wishing to enter the B.M. in Performance degree program must prepare 3 – 5 contrasting orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire.
- HORN
- Two contrasting musical selections comprising solos, orchestral excerpts from the standard audition repertoire, or etudes. Accompaniment is not required.
- You will also be asked to play all of your major scales.
- Sight reading will be required.
- TROMBONE
- Please prepare a standard solo (accompaniment is not necessary) or two contrasting etudes, one lyrical and one detached-technical. Make sure any chosen standard solo contains both legato and technical/detached playing.
- Major Scales should be known and may be asked as well. In addition, sight reading and basic ear training will be assessed during the audition/interview.
- TUBA/EUPHONIUM
- Two contrasting musical selections comprising solos, band/orchestra excerpts from the standard audition repertoire, or etudes. Accompaniment is not required.
- All Major and Minor scales, two octaves, from memory.
- Sight reading will be required.
- PERCUSSION
- Prepare at least two pieces or etudes demonstrating two different percussion areas of expertise (i.e. snare and mallets, snare and timpani, mallets and timpani, drumset and mallets, drumset and timpani). During the audition, you will also be expected to sight-read on mallets and snare drum as well as tune timpani. Accompaniment is not necessary but you may provide your own if you like.