Please contact Professor Richard Meek (r.meek@ttu.edu) or Professor Kim Walker (kim.walker@ttu.edu) for current audition information.

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.

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

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.

Please visit the COMPOSITION AREA PAGE for complete audition information.

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.

• 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

Prepare two contrasting solo pieces and play a 2 octave scale.

Two contrasting pieces/movements of the student's choice. Selections should reflect your highest level of technical proficiency and refinement, and most sophisticated level of musicianship. 

• memorization of one of your solos is optional, but preferred

• Two contrasting (one technical and one lyrical) movements (can be from same or different pieces) from the standard solo, concerto, orchestral, or etude repertoire. Accompaniment is not required.
• Major scales, singing, mouthpiece buzzing and sight reading will be required.

Bachelor of Music in Performance, Jazz Concentration. 

Piano, Guitar, and Bass

• Prepare two jazz standards and/or classics of your choice, including melody and improvisation (accompaniment will be provided, or the auditioning student can provide an audio track).
• Pianists should also be prepared to play accompaniment (comp) on the chord progression.
• Bassists should also be prepared to play a bass line in the appropriate style on the chord progression.
• Students must demonstrate the ability to play a two-octave major scale in all 12 keys. Faculty will choose 3 keys during the audition.
• Applicants should prepare to sing a major and minor scale and demonstrate his or her ability to match pitch and repeat simple melodies.
• Sight reading will also be included in all auditions.

Saxophones

• Prepare two jazz standards and/or classics of your choice, including melody and improvisation (accompaniment will be provided, or the auditioning student can provide an audio track.)
• Prepare one etude, transcription, all-state audition etude, or other jazz-oriented written material of your choice. Please bring at least one copy for the faculty.
• Be prepared to play a one-octave major scale in all 12 keys from memory. Faculty will choose at least 3 keys during the audition.
• Sight reading, which will be provided.
• Applicants should prepare to sing a major and minor scale and demonstrate his or her ability to match pitch and repeat simple melodies.
• *Optional: demonstration of proficiency on any doubles (flute, clarinet.)

Drum Set

• Prepare two jazz standards in various styles (swing, Latin, etc.) of your choice, including the head (theme) and improvisation. Please be prepared to play accompaniment (comp), trade 4s, 8s, and solo over the form of the tune. Accompaniment will be provided, or the auditioning student can provide audio tracks.
• Rudimental Snare Drum Etude: Suggested repertoire includes one etude from The All-American Drummer by Charles Wilcoxon, 14 Modern Contest Solos for Snare Drum by John S. Pratt, Modern Swing Solos by Charles Wilcoxon, or something similar. Please bring at least one copy of the selection for the faculty.
  Big band sight-reading excerpt, which will be provided.
• Applicants should prepare to sing a major and minor scale and demonstrate his or her ability to match pitch and repeat simple melodies.
• *Optional: drum set etude, transcription, or musical excerpt selected by the auditioning student.

Trumpet

• Play the melody and improvise over the chord changes to a selected composition by Charlie Parker. The following tunes are suggested but not required: Billie’s Bounce, Now’s The Time, Scrapple from the Apple, Blues for Alice, or Yardbird Suite. Accompaniment will be provided or the student may provide an accompanying audio track for performance.
• Play the melody and improvise over one additional contrasting tune from standard jazz repertoire. Accompaniment will be provided or the student may provide an accompanying audio track for performance.
• Play the melody and improvise over one additional contrasting tune from standard jazz repertoire. Accompaniment will be provided or the student may provide an accompanying audio track for performance.
• Play a jazz trumpet transcription of your selection. You will play with the original recording at your audition. Alternatively, lead trumpet players may play 2-3 excerpts from big band charts that demonstrate range and lead trumpet playing ability.
• Play a brief classical etude or solo of your selection.
• Please be prepared to play a short sight-reading excerpt.
• Applicants should prepare to sing a major and minor scale and demonstrate his or her ability to match pitch and repeat simple melodies.

Trombone

• Prepare two jazz standards and/or classics of your choice, including melody and improvisation (accompaniment will be provided, or the auditioning student can provide an audio track.)
• Prepare one etude, transcription, all-state audition etude, or other jazz-oriented written material of your choice. Please bring at least one copy for the faculty.
• Be prepared to play a one-octave major scale in all 12 keys from memory. Faculty will choose at least 3 keys during the audition.
• Play a brief classical etude or solo of your selection.
• Sight reading, which will be provided.
• Applicants should prepare to sing a major and minor scale and demonstrate his or her ability to match pitch and repeat simple melodies.

Bass Trombone

• Prepare two contrasting jazz-oriented written selections of your choice. Examples include all-state audition material, published jazz etudes, transcriptions, or excerpts from big band literature that highlight your low range, flexibility, articulation, and facility.
• Play a brief classical etude or solo of your selection.
• Be prepared to play a one-octave major scale in all 12 keys from memory. Faculty will choose at least 3 keys during the audition.
• Sight reading, which will be provided.
• Applicants should prepare to sing a major and minor scale and demonstrate his or her ability to match pitch and repeat simple melodies.
• *Optional: Prepare a jazz standard and/or classic of your choice, including melody and improvisation (accompaniment will be provided, or the auditioning student can provide an audio track.)

LIVE AUDITIONS

The keyboard faculty strongly encourages all prospective students, especially those interested in receiving scholarship aid or qualifying for graduate assistantships, to travel to Lubbock for a live audition and interview.

Official audition dates are:

• Saturday, February 8, 2025

• Saturday, February 22, 2025

• Saturday, March 1, 2025

TTU PianoFest for Prospective Students 

High school seniors taking part in the High School Piano Competition have the option to use their competition performance as part of their undergraduate audition. Please check out the PianoFest website.

VIDEO AUDITIONS

The keyboard faculty will accept pre-recorded video auditions. Applicants must upload video links through the application portal. Following the review of application materials, including video auditions, we will invite selected applicants to participate in virtual interviews conducted on Zoom.

• To be considered for a live Zoom interview on February 8, 2025, applications and video recordings must be submitted by January 25, 2025.

• To be considered for a live Zoom interview on February 22, 2025, applications and video recordings must be submitted by February 8, 2025.

• To be considered for a live Zoom interview on March 1, 2025, applications and video recordings must be submitted by February 15, 2025.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance

• An audition consisting of three memorized compositions from contrasting style periods, sightreading assessment**, and repertoire list

Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance

• An audition consisting of three memorized compositions from contrasting style periods, sightreading assessment**, and repertoire list

Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Composition, or Music Theory with a Principal in Piano; or Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Music with a Principal in Piano

• An audition consisting of two compositions, at least one memorized, from contrasting style periods and sightreading assessment**

**The sightreading assessment may be completed at time of audition or before the first semester of enrollment.

• 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

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.

• 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

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 at the time of your audition.

• 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.

• One major solo work: prepare one or two movements
• Two contrasting etudes: select from Charlier, Brandt, etc. (We request that you do not perform any TMEA All-State selections for this audition)
• Excerpts: Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition Promenade, Respighi’s Pines of Rome Offstage Solo, and one additional orchestral or wind band excerpt of choice
• Sight reading
• Singing: Applicants should prepare to sing a major and minor scale, and demonstrate their ability to match pitch and repeat simple melodies.

• 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.

Undergraduate Performance Major Audition Requirements

•  Two contrasting movements from the same Cello Suite or one movement from the Violin Sonatas and Partitas by JS Bach (please omit repeats in the dance movements).
• One movement from a standard concerto or sonata.
• One major and one minor 3-octave scale.
• An etude from Mazas book 1 or 2, Bruni, Campagnoli, or Kreutzer. A short solo piece demonstrating comparable technical and musical proficiency may be substituted for the etude.
• Memorization is optional, but preferred for concerti and solo Bach.
  • Undergraduate Music Education Major - Emphasis in Viola
    • One major and one minor 2-octave or 3-octave scale (3 octave preferred).
    • Two contrasting pieces of the applicant’s choosing from the standard viola repertoire showing the applicant's highest level of technical and musical proficiency.

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.

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.  Specific questions about Undergraduate Voice Area Auditions can be sent to Eric Stoklossa