Undergraduate

Audition Information

Degree Offerings

General Audition
Requirements

Basic Musicianship
Skills Test

Audition Requirements
for Instrumentalists

Audition Requirements
for Pianists

Audition Requirements
for Vocalists
Audition Requirements
for Theory/Composition

Audition Requirements
for Jazz Performance

Frequently
Asked Questions

Student Ensemble

Scholarships & Awards

Alumni Placements

Special Programs & Events

Contact Information

What drew me to WCU was the reputable music program in a beautiful campus and community.

Austin Gross

Audition Dates

****Until the WCU Admissions Office has received your application (including support materials usually forwarded by your guidance counselor or a college transcript for transfer students), and made an initial evaluation of that information giving me the clearance to invite you, we can NOT schedule an audition.

Degree Offerings

Bachelor of Music in Music Education: A balanced program of general, specialized, and professional courses leading to public school certification in a combination of choral, instrumental and classroom music,  K through 12.                      

       
Bachelor of Music in Performance (“Classical” Instrumental, Keyboard, Vocal, or Jazz): For students who demonstrate a high degree of ability on their chosen instrument, voice or keyboard, and who desire to concentrate on developing that ability. 

Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition: Comprehensive coursework in creative and analytical aspects of music.  Students may choose to concentrate in either area when planning upper division coursework.  The composition option requires a senior recital of the student's own works.  The theory option requires a senior thesis with a public presentation of the paper.

Bachelor of Music: Elective Studies in an Outside Field: This program is designed for those students who desire a general music program while at the same time pursuing a secondary interest outside of the School of Music.

Minors available to all qualified music majors: Music History minor, and Jazz Studies minor.

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General Audition Requirements

ALL prospective music majors are required to take the following basic skills tests AND demonstrate major-level proficiency in an instrument, voice, or piano/organ.  Download a packet with example questions from both the Music Literacy and Sight-singing tests.

Basic Musicianship Skills Test

• Music Literacy:  Some of the skills tested are: reading and writing common meters and key signatures; detecting rhythm and pitch errors in a printed line of music while it is being played on the piano; determining whether a piece of music is in major or minor mode; adding missing bar lines and meter signatures to a piece of printed music. Download example questions.

• Intonation and Sight-singing: You will be asked to sing intervals which are first played on the piano and to sing simple melodies from a printed page with melodic and rhythmic accuracy.  You may sing on neutral syllables or use solmization. You should prepare for this part of the test by practicing singing major and minor scales, major and minor triads and simple melodies. The purpose of these tests, along with the other auditions listed below, is to determine your potential for success as a music major.  Please ask your music teacher to help you prepare for these tests so that you will feel confident and comfortable when you arrive on campus, especially if you have limited singing experience. Download example questions.

• Piano (non-piano majors): This audition is for placement purposes.  If you already have some proficiency at the piano, bring a piece to perform.  If you do not play the piano, you will be asked to read simple melodies in the treble and bass clefs to the best of your ability.  Knowledge of scales preferred, but not required.

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Audition Requirements For Instrumentalists

The following are acceptable instruments on which to audition: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass (not electric bass), Classical guitar (not steel strings), Percussion (including mallets), Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba, French Horn, Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet, Saxophone, Bassoon, Harp.

Repertoire: Two pieces/movements of your choice, in contrasting styles, which best show your proficiency. Transfer students must bring to the audition a list of repertoire performed in recital or at end of semester “juries”.
Sight-reading

For Wind & String Instruments: Be prepared to play all major scales

For Guitarists: The prepared pieces must be classical guitar solos (the melody and supporting parts are all played simultaneously on one guitar).  Guitar solos by any of the following composers are acceptable: Sor, Guiliani, Carcassi, Aguado, Carulli, Tarrega, Sagreras, Villa-Lobos, Barrios, Brouwer, Dowland, Milan, Visee, Weiss and Bach.

For Percussionists: Three pieces - one two or four mallet solo on a keyboard instrument (marimba, vibraphone or xylophone), one concert snare drum etude, and a short solo or etude on timpani.  The audition will also include sight reading on marimba and snare drum, major scales, and snare drum rudiments. Drumset is optional unless auditioning for the jazz program.

For Double Bassists: One movement from a Baroque Sonata (example: Bach, Marcello, Vivaldi, Corelli, Eccles, etc.) and one movement from a Classical, Romantic or Contemporary piece (example: Dragonetti, Dittersdorf, Vanhal, Koussevitzky, Proto, Rabbath, etc.)

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Audition Requirements For Pianists

For all degrees candidates (except Bachelor of Music in Keyboard Performance)

Technique: 

1. Scales, major and minor (harmonic and melodic), four octaves
2. Arpeggios, major and minor, hands together, four octaves, at a fluent tempo.             

Repertoire: 

All works are to be performed from memory. In certain cases, literature substitutions may be made upon request. Transfer students must bring to the audition a list of repertoire performed in recital or at end of semester “juries”.

1. A two or three-part Invention of J.S. Bach, or Scarlatti Sonata
2. The first movement of a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Schubert or Beethoven (excluding Op. 49 and Op. 79)
3. Any piece from the 19th, 20th, or 21st century, equivalent in difficulty to the sonata movement above             

Sight Reading:  Of a solo piano example

For Bachelor of Music in Keyboard Performance candidates:

Technique:

1. Scales, major and minor (harmonic and melodic), four octaves, hands together. Suggested minimum tempo, quarter note M.M. = 132 (4 notes/click).
2. Arpeggios, major and minor, four octaves, hands together.  Suggested minimum tempo,  M.M. = 112 (3 notes/ click) 

Repertoire:

All works are to be performed from memory.  In certain cases, literature substitutions may be made upon request. Transfer students must bring to the audition a list of repertoire performed in recital or at end of semester “juries”.

1. A Prelude and Fugue, Toccata, or several movements from a Suite or Partita by J.S. Bach. 
2. A complete sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Schubert or Beethoven (excluding Op. 49 and 79).
3. A solo work of substantial length and difficulty from the 19th, 20th or 21st century

Sight Reading:  Of a solo piano example

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Audition Requirements For Vocalists

While it is not necessary to bring an accompanist, please choose your repertoire with the understanding that a voice faculty member will serve as your accompanist and no prior rehearsal is provided.  Transfer students must bring to the audition a list of repertoire performed in recital or at end of semester “juries”.

For all degree candidates (except  Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance):

Two art-songs, in contrasting styles, memorized. The pieces should show a variety of styles. No choral music excerpts or Musical Theatre, please.

For Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance candidates:

Three solo songs, memorized. English and a foreign language must be represented.  The pieces should show a variety of styles.  No choral music excerpts or Musical Theatre, please.

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Audition Requirements For Theory/Composition

Composers: please bring three scores (and recordings, if available) of original compositions (no arrangements).

Theorists: please bring roman numeral analysis and written analysis in the form of short essays of three compositions from different eras (baroque, classical, romantic, etc...)

In addition:
• Demonstrate keyboard proficiency through the performance of any keyboard literature.
• Aural skills will be evaluated, including: intervals, chord qualities and inversions, and harmonic progression.
• Sight singing will be evaluated.

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Audition Requirements For Jazz Performance Majors

This major is ONLY offered for saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, bass (double bass only), piano, and percussion.

ALL potential jazz majors must pass the “Basic Musicianship Skills Tests”, and the “Specific Audition Requirements for Instrumentalists” (i.e., audition on the “classical” aspect of your instrument, as well), PLUS the following additional requirements:

1) Tunes

Perform three tunes in contrasting style with Jamey Aebersold (or other CD accompaniment). Original tunes accepted.  Specifically the student must:           

1. Interpret a melody in an effective and creative way.
2. Improvise on chord changes in a confident manner to perform an original solo that is creative and musically effective.

2) Scales (except percussion)

A) Knowledge, application and the ability to play all of the modes of the:

1. Major Scale
2. Harmonic Minor
3. Melodic Minor (modes from the ascending melodic minor only)

B) Knowledge, application and ability to play the following scales:

1. Diminished (half/whole & whole/half)
2. Whole Tone
3. Pentatonic

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