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This information pertains to the Bachelor of Arts in Music Education, Music Therapy, Music
Industry and Breadth Studies, and to the Bachelor of Music in Performance, Composition and Media Composition.
Information concerning the Bachelor of Music in Jazz option is available below, in a separate paragraph. Your audition material should reflect your best musical and technical
proficiency. You must audition in ONE of the following areas:
Composition
A complete list of audition requirements for both the Bachelor of Music and the Master of Music in composition programs is available on the
Music Composition and Theory area website.
Prospective students interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in composition should audition in one of the
performance areas listed below during one of the regularly scheduled audition sessions, submit a portfolio of compositions,
as well as additional documents demonstrating their interest and qualifications in the area of music composition.
Prospective students interested in the Master of Music program are required to submit a portfolio of works as well as additional
documents demonstrating their backgound and expertise in music composition. An instrumental audition is not required for the
Master of Music in Composition degree.
Conducting (Master of Music)
Contact the appropriate faculty member for specific audition requirements and procedures:
Keyboard
BM – Performance: Prepare three memorized works from contrasting style periods, to be chosen from: A) One Baroque work, comparable to a Bach prelude & fugue. B) One movement from a classical sonata by Haydn, Clementi, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert. C) One 19th or 20th century work.
BA – Music Education: Three memorized works: A) One Baroque work, comparable to a Bach invention or Sinfonia. B) One movement from a classical sonata. C) One piece of the candidate’s choice.
BA – Music Therapy and Breadth studies & BM – Composition and Commercial and Media Writing: Two works of contrasting styles of the candidate’s choice. Memorization is not required.
BA - Music Industry Studies: Prepare two selections, one classical style and the other jazz or popular. Sight reading is required. Repertoire need not be memorized.
Voice
BM and BA: Two selections in contrasting classical styles, one of which in a foreign language.
For BA auditionees, one of your selections may be from the musical theater repertoire. Both selections should be fully memorized.
MM requirements: Four classical selections are required: Three selections in contrasting styles from the art song and/or oratorio repertoires
and 1 aria from the operatic repertoire. At least three different languages must be presented. All selections should be fully memorized.
An accompanist is provided for all auditionees.
Winds
BM requirements: Two selections (such as an etude and a movement from a sonata or concerto) of contrasting classical styles (no jazz or popular). It is strongly suggested that you select your audition materials in consultation with your private teacher or your school band/orchestra teacher, if at all possible. Prepare all major scales. Do not use an accompanist at your audition.
BA requirements: Two selections (such as an etude and a movement from a sonata or concerto) of contrasting classical styles (no jazz or popular). Prepare major scales up to three flats/sharps. Do not use an accompanist at your audition.
BM JUNIOR TRANSFER STUDENTS requirements: Two selections (such as an etude and a movement from a sonata or concerto) of contrasting classical styles (no jazz or popular). Select your repertoire in consultation with the applied instructor with whom your are presently studying. Be prepared to perform all major and minor scales, and all major and minor scales in thirds/arpeggios. Do not use an accompanist at your audition.
BA JUNIOR TRANSFER STUDENTS requirements: Two selections (such as an etude and a movement from a sonata or concerto) of contrasting classical styles (no jazz or popular). Select your repertoire in consultation with the applied instructor with whom your are presently studying. Be prepared to perform all major and minor scales. Do not use an accompanist at your audition.
MM requirements: Three selections from contrasting periods (choose three from the four major historical time periods — Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Twentieth Century/Contemporary). Be prepared to perform one entire sonata or concerto as one of your three selections. Provide an accompanist for your audition. Bring to your audition a copy of your senior recital program or another comparable solo recital performance.
Strings
Two selections in contrasting classical styles (no jazz or popular). An accompanist is not required.
Guitar
General requirements for Breadth, Education, Therapy, Music Industry: nylon string
guitar basic classical technique utilizing flesh/nail combination; list of
basic repertoire studied; familiarity with the classical guitar repertoire.
BA performing requirements: all Segovia scales - memorized; 2 pieces of contrasting
styles; recommended pieces: any one of Etudes 1 & 2 - Mateo Carcassi; any one of Etudes
Simples 1-10 - Leo Brouwer; Pavanas - Luis Milan; any one of the Studies (Segovia edition) -
Fernando Sor, or any piece commensurate or above the level of the above selections. Familiarity
with the 120 Studies, Op. 1 - Mauro Giuliani; sight-reading - single note position reading, simple
chordal pieces.
BM/MM performing requirements: audition must be done on a
nylon string guitar; all Segovia scales from memory, 3 pieces of
contrasting styles (memorized), basic sight reading, established and
excellent command in the medium of performance.
Percussion
AUDITIONING TO ENTER CSUN
AS A PERCUSSIONIST
It is highly recommended that you seek the assistance of your private teacher or your school music director when selecting and preparing material for your audition. The following list of music is intended to serve as a guide designed to give students a general idea of the music level expected for acceptance to the music department. (Note: Drumset is not acceptable for auditioning into the Percussion Major. It is, however, required for entrance into the Jazz Major.)
Audition Expectations for freshmen BA Majors
You must play at least ONE major percussion instrument well to gain entrance into this major. You should prepare a substantial non-original solo to demonstrate your capabilities. Appropriate etudes and exercises may also be used instead of a solo. (See Materials suggestions below.)
Audition Expectations for freshmen BM Majors
You must play at least TWO major percussion instruments well to gain entrance into this major. You should prepare a substantial non-original solo on each. Substantive etudes/exercises may be used to further enhance your audition. (See Materials suggestions below.)
Suggested Materials for the Entering Freshman
Following is a listing of books that are highly recommended for use in auditioning. You are not limited to this list; you may use anything comparable in level and content. (Note: You are not necessarily expected to play all of the materials listed below. Read the Audition Expectations above for details regarding B.A. and B.M. audition differences.)
SNARE DRUM: Musical Studies for the Intermediate Snare Drummer (Garwood Whaley); Intermediate Snare Drum Studies (Mitchell Peters); various rudimental studies by Pratt, Wilcoxon, or others. Also be prepared to play rudiments and to sightread.
MALLETS: Fundamental Studies for Mallets (Garwood Whaley); Modern School for Xylophone, Vibraphone, and Bells (Morris Goldenberg); Bach for Bars, Book 1 (Faulman), etc. Also be prepared to demonstrate major scales and to sightread.
TIMPANI: Modern Method for Timpani (Saul Goodman); Fundamental Method for Timpani (Mitchell Peters); Musical Studies for the Intermediate Timpanist (Garwood Whaley), etc. Also be prepared to demonstrate tuning capabilities and to sightread.
Suggested Materials for the Junior Transfer
Following is a listing of books that are highly recommended for use in auditioning. You are not limited to this list; you may use anything comparable in level and content. (Note: As a junior transfer you are expected to perform on at least two instruments.)
SNARE DRUM: Portraits in Rhythm (Anthony Cirone); Advanced Snare Drum Studies (Mitchell Peters); rudimental studies by Pratt, Wilcoxon or others. Also be prepared to sightread.
MALLETS: Musical Studies for the Intermediate Mallet Player (Garwood Whaley); Masterpieces for Marimba (Thomas McMillan). Or solo works similar to: Yellow after the Rain (Mitchell Peters); Contemporary Etudes for 3 or 4 Mallets (Karen Ervin). Also be prepared to demonstrate major/minor scales and to sightread.
TIMPANI: Modern Method for Timpani (Saul Goodman); Fundamental Method for Timpani (Mitchell Peters); Musical Studies for the Intermediate Timpanist (Garwood Whaley), or something comparable. Also be prepared to demonstrate tuning capabilities and to sightread.
Suggested Materials for the Master of Music Candidate
Following is a listing of books that are highly recommended for use in auditioning. You are not limited to this list; you may use anything comparable in level and content. (Note: as a master of music candidate you are expected to perform on all of the following instruments.)
SNARE DRUM: Portraits in Rhythm (Anthony Cirone); Advanced Snare Drum Studies (Mitchell Peters); Douze Etudes pour Caisse Claire (Jacques Delecluse). Also be prepared to sightread.
MALLETS: Something by Bach; a 4-mallet solo grade 5 or higher such as those by Abe, Musser, Stout, etc. Also be prepared to demonstrate major/minor scales and to sightread.
TIMPANI: Modern Method for Timpani (Saul Goodman); Fundamental Method for Timpani (Mitchell Peters); Exercises, Etudes and Solos for Timpani (Raynor Carroll), or something comparable. Optional: Orchestral Excerpts. Also be prepared to sightread.
Jazz
The Jazz audition is restricted to the Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies majors only.
1. Prepare 3 "standard" tunes. One medium swing, one ballad and one
straight
8th (bossa nova, samba). Be prepared to improvise on each tune as well
as
embellish the melody (with jazz interpretation).
2. Play "Blues" in any key of your choice. Be able to play a melody
(head)
and improvise.
3. Scales: Be able to play ALL major scales and ALL natural, melodic,
and
harmonic minor scales. Quarter note M.M.=240
The audition will also consist of sight reading different styles of
music.
Jazz, Latin, Straight 8th (Latin or Rock).
Drums/Percussion: prepare a solo piece (2-5 minutes) demonstrating
various
styles including: med. swing, fast swing, shuffle, funk (hip-hop),
straight
8th (bossa nova, mambo, salsa, samba, songo etc.) Be prepared to trade
4's
in the above styles.
Piano and Guitar may play one standard unaccompanied.
Vocal jazz students need to be functional in an instrumental jazz setting.
The vocalists who have gone through this program have emerged
with high levels of musicianship and experience working with a band. This requires you to
have skills coming into the major, including basic knowledge of vocal jazz improvisation,
the ability to write your own lead sheets, a strong theory background, and the ability
to play basic chords on the piano (major / minor / dominant). Knowledge of music notation
software is strongly recommended as well.
Examples of standards: All The Things You Are, Autumn Leaves, Blue Bossa, But Beautiful, Darn
That Dream, My Romance, There Will Never Be Another You, Yesterdays,
Watch What Happens, Trustee, Like Someone in Love, Take the A Train,
There Is No Greater Love.
Examples of blues: Sonny Moon for Two, Tenor Madness, Blues Walk, Straight No Chaser,
Footprints, All Blues, Blue Monk, Billie's Bounce, Now's the Time.
The Jazz Area supplies the following:
*Live Accompaniment (jazz trio)
*All amplifiers
*Drum Set
*Piano
For more information visit the jazz area website at www.csunjazz.com
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