Please contact Professor Richard Meek (r.meek@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.

LIVE AUDITIONS

The keyboard faculty highly encourages all prospective students, particularly those interested in receiving scholarship aid, to visit the TTU campus for a live audition and interview. Official School of Music audition dates are Saturday, February 18 and Saturday, March 4, 2023. We can also arrange for live auditions on other days at the request of the applicant.

Note that pre-screening videos are not required but encouraged.

VIDEO AUDITIONS

The keyboard faculty accepts pre-recorded video auditions. Note that video auditions may not be prioritized for scholarship aid. Video recordings must be unedited and be no older than one year. Applicants must add video links to their SalesForce application. Following the faculty's review of application materials, including video auditions, we will extend invitations to applicants to participate in virtual interviews conducted on Zoom.

• To be considered for a live Zoom interview on February 18, 2023, application and video recording must be submitted by February 4.
• To be considered for a live Zoom interview on March 4, 2023, application and video recording must be submitted by February 18.

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 and you will need to take a theory placement exam 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: one or two movements from Haydn, Hummel, Kennan, Stevens, Enesco, etc.
• Two contrasting etudes: select from Charlier, Brandt, Bitsch, (We request that you do not perform any TMEA All-State selections for this audition)
• 3-5 standard orchestral excerpts: suggestions include the opening of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, Beethoven's Leonore overtures No. 2 and No. 3, Respighi's Pines of Rome, etc.
• Sight reading
• Singing: Applicants should prepare to sing a major and minor scale, and demonstrate his or her 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 Dr. Alice Anne Light.