Please start with the "Graduate Students > Application Process" page before proceeding with instructions on this page. Requirements, supplementary materials, and deadlines vary by program.
Graduate Audition Information
Updated July 28, 2021
Sections on this page:
About Your Audition
Performance Audition Repertoire
Conducting Reqirements
Academic Area Reqirements
Audition Video Guidelines
Audition Form and Audition Video Link
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we will not have in-person auditions for the Spring 2022 semester. Auditions will be accepted in video format.
Please check back here for your audition submission deadline.
Please read this entire page carefully. Audition processes, requirements, and repertoire differ depending on your instrument and area of study. If something is unclear, additional questions pertaining to auditions can be found in the Graduate FAQ.
About Your Audition
Prospective students in the MM programs (not Composition) must submit an audition recording before you receive notification of your acceptance into the university.
MA applicants (and MM Composition applicants) are not required to audition. All entering students who have been admitted to the university are required to pass a performance audition and take a theory placement examination.
Audition Requirements
For specific Audition Repertoire and requirements pertaining to your instrument/voice, select your instrument below.
Performance Audition Repertoire
Please select your instrument area below for specific repertoire and requirements.
If you have additional questions about your audition, please contact the Area Director of your instrument directly using the email address provided.
Brass Audition Requirements
Area Director: Rob Frear rob.frear@csulb.edu
Please refer to the Audition Video Guidelines section when preparing your Audition Video.
Audition Repertoire
Applicants for admission should perform:
- Music from the standard solo repertoire, lyrical and technical études, and orchestral excerpts. Music from your senior recital and excerpts from any orchestral audition list are appropriate. Etudes need to be from a graduate level étude book (i.e Charlier, Bordogni, Bitsch, and Blazevich).
Instrumental Jazz Audition Requirements
Area Director: Jeff Jarvis jeff.jarvis@csulb.edu
*Instrumental Jazz requires you to submit a prescreen audition in video format.
Jazz Prescreen auditions are now closed. If you have further questions, please contact the Area Director.
All instrumentalists (both undergraduate and graduate) who are interested in becoming Jazz Studies majors must submit a video recording as the first step in the audition process. Please refer to the Audition Video Guidelines section when preparing your Audition Video.
Based on the video, you will be notified if you have been selected to advance to the next step of the audition—a live Zoom meeting during which time we will email you a jazz étude or excerpt to sight read. During this portion of the audition, we evaluate rhythmic and note accuracy in a consistent time feel.
Audition Repertoire by Instrument
Wind Players
Prepare two medium-tempo or up-tempo jazz standards/études in contrasting styles. Be prepared to perform the melody of the tune and improvise to the chord changes accompanied by live musicians or accompaniment tracks provided by you.
Saxophonists should be prepared to demonstrate woodwind-doubling skills on a jazz or classical étude or excerpt. Alto saxophonists should be prepared to play soprano sax and flute. Tenor saxophonists should be prepared to play clarinet and flute. Baritone saxophonists should be prepared to play bass clarinet and flute.
Guitar and Piano
Prepare two medium-tempo or up-tempo jazz standards/études in contrasting styles. Be prepared to perform the melody of the tune, perform a chord melody (guitar only), "comp" the chord changes, and improvise on the chord changes accompanied by live musicians or accompaniment tracks provided by you. Guitarists will be asked to play the written melody line; Pianists will be asked to play the written melody while comping the chord changes in the left hand.
Bass
Prepare two medium-tempo or up-tempo jazz standards/études in contrasting styles. Be prepared to perform the melody of the tune, provide a bass line (comp), and improvise to the chord changes accompanied by live musicians or accompaniment tracks provided by you.
Candidates must audition on acoustic bass, but may also demonstrate their electric bass skills. The Jazz Studies area does not admit candidates who play electric bass only.
Drums
Prepare two medium-tempo or up-tempo jazz standards/études in contrasting styles. Be prepared to perform the tunes accompanied by live musicians or accompaniment tracks provided by you. Candidates who advance to the second part of the audition will be asked to demonstrate proficiency in a variety of styles, plus the ability to play in odd meters. Additionally, you will be asked to sightread a portion of a big band chart to demonstrate your ability to play a consistent groove in the style, play set-up figures, and accurately play notated ensemble cues.
Jazz Vibraphone Audition Repertoire
Graduate Students
- Play the melody of, and improvise over the chord changes to three jazz standards of contrasting styles accompanied by live musicians or pre-recorded accompaniment tracks which you are required to provide. One of the pieces must be performed at a tempo marking of at least 240 bpm.
- Comp the chord changes to both tunes using four mallets.
- Prepare a "chord melody" of an entire jazz standard and one of the final 10 pieces from Vibraphone Technique: Dampening and Pedaling by David Friedman.
- Perform a the melody of and improvise over a jazz standard rearranged in an odd meter such as 5/4, 7/8 or 9/8.
Additional Resources
Is "Jazz At The Beach" right for you?
Undergraduate and Graduate jazz studies degree programs are designed to put the finishing touches on your previously acquired jazz skills. Collegiate jazz programs are not designed to accommodate those with little or no jazz background and/or those with undeveloped music notation reading skills. Here are some general guidelines and prerequisite skills that indicate whether the Jazz Studies degree programs at "Jazz At The Beach" are a good fit for you:
Master of Music in Jazz Studies Candidates
Successful candidates have a history of excellence in secondary school and collegiate academics, have 6-8years of experience as the star performers of their secondary school and undergraduate Jazz Studies programs, possess an extensive repertoire of jazz standards, and can sightread notation at a near professional level. We must limit acceptance to those candidates who qualify for and will perform with our top jazz ensembles.
The Jazz Studies Handbook
The Jazz Studies Handbook was compiled and is updated annually to publicize jazz area policies, offer helpful advice, and answer frequently asked questions from prospective and current Bob Cole Conservatory jazz majors. If you have any further questions specific to the Jazz Studies area that are not covered in this handbook, please e-mail the area director at jeff.jarvis@csulb.edu.
All of us at "Jazz At The Beach" are eager to help you realize your goals.
Vocal Jazz Audition Requirements
Area Director: Christine Guter christine.guter@csulb.edu
*Vocal Jazz requires you to submit a prescreen audition in video format.
Jazz Prescreen auditions are now closed. If you have further questions, please contact the Area Director.
For acceptance into the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music as a Jazz Voice Major, graduate students must submit a video recording as the first step in the audition process.
Please refer to the Audition Video Guidelines section when preparing your Audition Video.
Audition Repertoire
Your Audition Video must include three song selections: a ballad, a medium swing, and another contrasting style (Latin, ECM, bebop, etc.). At least two of the pieces must include vocal improvisation.
Based on your prescreen video, you will be notified if you have been selected to advance to the next step of the audition process—a live Zoom Audition.
If Offered a Callback / Live ZOOM Audition
- You will sing:
- One medium swing tempo song (from standard jazz repertoire)
- One jazz ballad (from standard jazz repertoire)
- One song in an alternate jazz style (Latin, ECM, etc.)
- Improvise on at least two of your song selections
- Sight-read one jazz excerpt (sent during your Zoom audition)
- Repeat a random series of pitches played on the piano
Please Note
- Accompaniment cannot be provided for your audition. You must sing with pre-recorded accompaniment, or a live accompanist in real time.
- Jazz études or solo transcriptions are also acceptable, but not required.
- There is no classical voice requirement for Graduate Jazz Voice Majors
Graduate Assistantships
The Bob Cole Conservatory may have Graduate Teaching Assistantships available during some academic years. If you are interested in being a Graduate Assistant, please notify the Area Director, Christine Guter.
Interested students must complete an audition for a Graduate Teaching Assistantship. In most (but not all) cases, this would happen during your audition into the Conservatory.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships could be a one- or two-year appointment.
Graduate Assistantship Audition and Interview Requirements
- Play random (requested) ii-V-I patterns at the piano
- Play through (sight-read) changes on a lead sheet provided by the audition committee
- Sightread (play on piano) vocal parts to a vocal jazz arrangement provided by the audition committee
- Be prepared to do a live teaching demonstration with one of the Conservatory’s vocal jazz ensembles. (Details of this process can be discussed at a later date)
- Provide a résumé of all teaching and performing experience. If you have directed a vocal jazz group in the past, please include audio and/or video recordings if available
- Copies of three recommendation letters from people who have worked with you, or observed your work as a professional musician and/or educator. These can be the same letters as the ones you provided for your application to the university
- Discuss your strengths, weaknesses, goals, and philosophy of music and teaching
If you have any questions, please contact: Christine Guter christine.guter@csulb.edu
Keyboard Audition Requirements
Area Director: Shun-Lin Chou sam.chou@csulb.edu
Due to the pandemic, the prescreen requirement for Keyboard Studies has been suspended.
All Keyboard applicants must submit an Audition Video according to the repertoire guidelines and must follow the directions in the Audition Video Guidelines section.
Audition Repertoire
Piano
Master of Music in Piano Performance
Your Audition Video must include:
- A minimum of three (3) works in contrasting styles
- At least one work from the Baroque or Classical era
- At least fifteen (15) minutes of music
- Must be unedited and recorded within the past year
- Demonstrate both virtuosic and lyrical playing at a level sufficient for graduate studies
Sample Program, representing MINIMUM level of difficulty
- J.S. Bach: Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue
- Beethoven: Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 81a
- Chopin: Scherzo No. 4 in E Major, Op. 54
- Rachmaninoff: Etude Tableau
- Bartók: Dance Suite
Organ
Applicants for admission on organ should be prepared to perform a work demonstrating both musical registration and technique. This may be done with one composition or with two contrasting works. Playing from memory will be considered as denoting serious preparation.
Repertoire may include:
Graduate
- J.S. Bach: Doric Toccata
- J.S. Bach: Wedge Prelude and Fugue
- J.S. Bach: Preludes and Fugues in G Major, D Major, A Minor, and B Minor
- J.S. Bach: Trio Sonatas
- Vierne: Symphonies
- Widor: Symphonies
- Reubke: Sonata on 94th Psalm
- Dupre: Variations on a Noel, and/or Preludes and Fugues
Juries
Following each semester of required private study the student must pass a performance examination before a jury composed of the studio instructor and Conservatory of Music faculty members.
Additional Organ Jury Requirements
All or portions of a work from each of the periods in music history studied during the semester. Registration, pedal dexterity, finger legato, manual changes and use of the expression pedals are essential achievements.
Percussion Audition Requirements
Area Director: Ted Atkatz ted.atkatz@csulb.edu
Please refer to the Audition Video Guidelines section when preparing your Audition Video.
Audition Repertoire
Your Audition Video must include:
- 4-mallet Marimba solo
- Snare Drum Etude from Delécluse
- Orchestral excerpts: 3 excerpts on 3 separate instruments
Your recording will be reviewed to determine your advancement in the audition process—a live ZOOM audition.
If Offered a Callback / Live ZOOM Audition
If you are offered a live ZOOM audition, you should prepare the following:
Repertoire may include:
Mallet Keyboard
- A contemporary work that demonstrates 4-mallet technique such as works by Abe, Deane, Lansky, Sammut, or equivalent
- Demonstration of 2-mallet playing with a movement from Sonatas & Partitas for Violin or Six Suites for Cello by J.S. Bach
- Three standard orchestral excerpts of your choice
Snare Drum
- Any concert solo or étude by Delécluse, Masson, Tompkins, The Noble Snare Collection or equivalent
- Three standard orchestral excerpts of your choice
- Sightreading
Timpani
- A solo or étude to demonstrate musicianship and technique such as works by Bergamo, Cahn, Carter or equivalent
- Two standard orchestral excerpts of your choice
Strings Audition Requirements
Area Director: Moni Simeonov moni.simeonov@csulb.edu
Please refer to the Audition Video Guidelines section when preparing your Audition Video.
Audition Repertoire
Please note: if you wish to audition with a different set of pieces, please email the Area Director.
Violin
Applicants for admission on violin should be prepared to perform the following:
Violin Repertoire
- An Etude or a Caprice
- Two movements from an Unaccompanied Bach Sonata or Partita, or the Chaconne
- A movement of a Concerto
- A virtuoso piece or a work written after 1975
Viola
Applicants for admission on viola should be prepared to perform the following:
Viola Repertoire
- An Etude or a Caprice
- Two movements from an Unaccompanied Bach Sonata or Partita, or the Chaconne
- A movement of a Concerto
- A virtuoso piece or a work written after 1975
Cello
Applicants for admission on cello should be prepared to perform the following:
Cello Repertoire
- An Etude or a Caprice
- Two movements from an Unaccompanied Bach Sonata or Partita, or the Chaconne
- A movement of a Concerto
- A virtuoso piece or a work written after 1975
Bass
Applicants for admission on bass should be prepared to perform the following:
Bass Repertoire
- Baroque: One movement of a Sonata (Vivaldi, Eccles, Corelli…) or one movement of a Bach Cello Suite
- Solo of choice from Classical, Romantic or Contemporary
- Two excerpts from the following list (Wagner counts as 2):
(Download sheet music here)- Bach: Brandenburg #3 first mov.
- Mozart: 40 First
- Beethoven: 5 Trio
- Beethoven: 3 End of first mov.
- Beethoven: 9 6/8 fugue
- Berlioz: Symphony Fantastique (IV)
- Tchaikovsky: 4 first page
- Brahms: 1 first and last mov.
- Dvořák: 8 last mov.
- Wagner: Meistersinger prelude
- Strauss: Don Juan first page
- Prokofiev: Lt. Kije solo
Voice Audition Requirements
Vocal Performance Area Director: Alexander Hahn alexander.hahn@csulb.edu
Vocal/Choral Music Education Area Director: Joshua Palkki joshua.palkki@csulb.edu
Please refer to the Audition Video Guidelines section when preparing your Audition Video.
Audition Repertoire
Your Audition Video should contain:
- One Italian aria
- One German Lied
- One French mélodie
- One other aria or art song
Repertoire must be performed from memory. Accompaniment is recommended but not required.
If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the area directors.
Woodwind Audition Requirements
Area Director: Rob Frear rob.frear@csulb.edu
All applicants, regardless of degree program, must audition for the Woodwind area director and/or appropriate faculty members. At this time no live auditions are permitted for Fall 2021 matriculation. An audition video will substitute for a live audition.
Please refer to the Audition Video Guidelines section when preparing your Audition Video and submit your link using the Audition Form at the bottom of this page.
Audition Repertoire
Bassoon
Applicants for admission on bassoon should prepare two contrasting selections (lyrical & technical) from the standard classical bassoon repertoire totaling at least 10 minutes in length. Please use the list below to help you select a work that best showcases your abilities; they are only suggestions. Feel free to choose a work not on this list. Etudes are not appropriate to play for this audition.
Bassoon Repertoire
- Solo concerto of applicant’s choice
- One Milde Concert Study Op. 26
- Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4—movement 2 solo
- Overture to Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro
Clarinet
Applicants for admission on clarinet should prepare selections that reflect the best of your ability to play musically and technically.
Clarinet Repertoire
Prepare a minimum of 3 compositions representing different styles from the basic clarinet repertoire. It can be a movement from each work.
Also prepare 2 orchestral excerpts.
Flute
Applicants for admission on flute should prepare selections that reflect the best of your ability to play musically and technically.
Flute Repertoire
Prepare two contrasting selections (lyrical & technical) from the standard classical flute repertoire, either flute and piano or solo flute, totaling at least 15 minutes in length.
Oboe
Applicants for admission on oboe should be prepared to play two contrasting selections from the standard repertoire.
Repertoire may include:
Method and Exercise Books
- A.M.R. Barrett: Complete Oboe Method, Original Edition (Boosey and Hawkes)
- H. Brod: Études et Sonates pour Hautbois, 2nd Volume (A. Leduc)
- W. Ferling: 48 Famous Studies (Southern Music Co.)
- G. Gillet: Studies for the Advanced Teaching of the Oboe (A. Leduc)
- A. Andraud: Vade Mecum of the Oboist (Southern Music Co.)
Sonatas and Solo Works
- F. Poulenc: Sonata for Oboe and Piano (Southern Music Co.)
- C. Saint-Saëns: Sonata for Oboe and Piano
- G. Handel: Sonata No. 1 in C minor, No. 2 in G minor
- A. Vivaldi: Sonata in C minor
- G.P. Telemann: Sonata in G minor
- G.P. Telemann: Twelve Fantasias
- E. Paladihle: Solo
- E. Lutyens: Presages Op. 53
- G. Guilhaud: Premiere Concertino
- C. Nielsen: Romance and Humoresque
- R. Gipps: The Piper of Dreams for solo oboe
- M. Maxwell: Pibroch for solo oboe and drone
- P. Hindemith: Sonate für Oboe und Klavier (Schott)
- M. Dranishnikova: Poem for oboe and piano
- K. Hoover: Sonata Op. 44
- F. Onovwerosuoke: Six Sketches for Oboes and Piano
- H. Dutilleux: Sonata pour Hautbois et Piano (Leduc)
- B. Britten: Six Metamorphoses after Ovid
- J. Brandon: Three Desert Fables
- A. Morris: Four Personalities
- A. Morris: Six Collision Etudes
- E. Bozza: Fantasie Pastorale
- W. Piston: Suite for Oboe and Piano
- W.G. Still: Incantation and Dance
- R. Schumann: Three Romances for oboe and piano
- M. Dring: Italian Dance
- M. Dring: Three Piece Suiteli
Concerti
- A. Vivaldi Concerti: A minor RV 461, D Major RV 453, D minor RV 454
- T. Albinoni Concerti: Op. 7, No. 3 / Op. 9, No. 2 / Op. 9, No. 8
- D. Cimarosa-Benjamin: Concerto for Oboe
- B. Marcello: Concerto in C Minor
- G.P. Telemann: Concerto in F minor (Southern Music Co.)
- G.P. Telemann: Concerto in C minor
- F.J. Haydn: Concerto in C major (Breitkopf)
- B. Martinu: Concerto for Oboe
- W. Mozart: Concerto in C Major
- E. Goossens: Concerto en un Mouvement (Leduc)
- R. Strauss: Oboe Concerto (Boosey and Hawkes)
- V. Bellini: Concerto in Ebli
Chamber Works
- W. Mozart: Oboe Quartet K.370
- B. Britten: Phantasy Quartet Op.2
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Trio in C major Op. 87 for oboe trio
- Viet Cuong: Suite for oboe trio
- F. Poulenc: Trio: Oboe, Bassoon, and Piano
- Thea Musgrave: Take Two Oboes
Orchestral Studies
- E. Rothwell: Difficult Passages for Oboe and Cor Anglais (3 Volumes)
- E. Rothwell: J. S. Bach Difficult Passages
- W. Heinze: Bachstudien für Oboe (2 Volumes)
- A. Andraud: Vade Mecum of the Oboist
Saxophone
Applicants should prepare two contrasting selections (lyrical & technical) from the standard classical saxophone repertoire totaling at least 10 minutes in length. Please use the list below to help you select a work that best showcases your abilities, they are only suggestions. Feel free to choose a work not on this list. Etudes are not appropriate to play for this audition.
Repertoire may include:
Alto Saxophone
- Alfred Desenclos: Prelude, Cadence, et Finale
- Robert Muczynski: Concerto
- Claude Debussy arr. Rousseau or David: Rhapsodie
- Pierre Sancan: Lamento et Rondo
- Ida Gotkovsky: Brillance
- Roger Boutry: Divertemento
Conducting Requirements
Prescreen requirements vary by area. Please review the requirements below for information and deadlines.
Choral Conducting
Choral Conducting Faculty: Jonathan Talberg jonathan.talberg@csulb.edu
Dear Prospective MM Candidate:
Thank you for your interest in the Master of Music in Choral Conducting at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music. Our choral program, with its focus on individual lessons, score study, repertoire, significant podium time for all applicants, and outstanding performing ensembles, is recognized as one of the finest in the country.
CSULB’s highly selective Conducting area accommodates no more than 2 graduate students per year, each of whom will gain experience conducting rehearsals and performances with the choirs, chamber ensembles, and opera choruses. Student conductors have opportunities to conduct various chamber ensembles and student composer premieres as well as their own ensembles. Based on your previous experience, strengths, and weaknesses, we will design an appropriate plan of training to help you become an extremely well-rounded conductor.
The Bob Cole Conservatory Chamber Choir tours yearly both nationally and internationally. We’ve been invited to perform at the ACDA National Conference in Dallas in 2021. Most graduate students sing in this ensemble.
With competitive scholarships and graduate assistantships available, we consistently offer a Conservatory education at a very affordable price. We have a 100% success rate into DMA programs or the profession. You are welcome to visit and attend a rehearsal—or a virtual rehearsal—by emailing me at jonathan.talberg@csulb.edu.
If you are interested in applying, please don’t hesitate to email me as a first step.
Fall 2021 admission application and materials are due by January 15, 2021. In addition to the requirements set by the University, your letter of interest, recommendations and transcripts, please send me 10 minutes of rehearsal AND 10 minutes of performance video by the due date.
I look forward to hearing from youand send you best wishes,
Jonathan Talberg, DMA
Director of Choral Activities, CSULB
Orchestral Conducting
Orchestral Conducting Faculty: Johannes Müller Stosch johannes.stosch@csulb.edu
Dear Prospective MM Candidate:
Thank you for your interest in the Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music. Our orchestral program, with its focus on performing ensembles, is recognized as one of the finest in Southern California.
Our selective program accommodates no more than 1-2 students, each of whom will gain experience conducting rehearsals and performances with the Symphony, Chamber, and possibly Opera Orchestras. Student conductors also have opportunities to conduct the mostly non-major Orchestra at The Beach, various chamber ensembles and student composer premieres. Based on your previous experience, strength, and weaknesses, we will design an appropriate plan of training to help you become a well-rounded conductor.
The Bob Cole Conservatory Symphony is the flagship ensemble of the school and performs more concert cycle than any other of our performing groups. Six annual symphonic concerts are held in the prestigious 1100-seat Carpenter Performing Arts Center, adjacent to the Conservatory. We collaborate with opera, dance and film/animation on a regular basis.
If you are interested in applying, emailing johannes.stosch@csulb.edu is the first step.
The university application can be found at: https://www2.calstate.edu/apply
Additional Requirements
You will be required to send:
- A résumé
- Three (3) letters of recommendation
- An Audition Video link (using the Audition Video Guidelines below) of you conducting 10 minutes of performance and 10 minutes of rehearsal by December 28, 2020.
You will be notified by January 25, 2021 if you will be invited to an in-person audition and interview. The audition will be on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 7:00pm on the campus with live orchestra. The repertoire will be decided at a later date.
Thank you for your interest,
Johannes M. Stosch
Director of Orchestral Studies
Professor or Conducting, CSULB
Winds Conducting Audition Requirements
Winds Conducting Faculty: John Carnahan john.carnahan@csulb.edu
Students interested in Graduate Winds Conducting should email John Carnahan for more information.
Academic Area Requirements
There is no audition requirement for Graduate studies in Composition or Music Education. Please see additional information regarding requriements for these programs:
Composition Requirements
Area Director: Raymond Torres-Santos raymond.torres-santos@csulb.edu
There is no performance audition requirement for prospective Graduate Students in Composition. Prospective Graduate Students in Composition should contact Raymond Torres-Santos regarding required portfolio materials.
Graduate Composition Portfolio
Prospective Graduate Students in Composition must submit a portfolio of their creative work as part of their audition. The portfolio should contain three to five recent original notated works that show your awareness of 20th-21st century practices in composition. These scores should be accompanied by live recordings (preferred); however, electronic versions are acceptable. Composition applicants should also include a complete list of works including title, duration, instrumentation, and performances for each piece.
Portfolios are due on or before January 15 to the graduate advisor.
For applicants to the MM in Composition with Interactive Media, accepted portfolio materials may include audio recordings, videos, scores, or any documentation of your performances, installations or collaborative projects that illuminate your work.
Students Currently Enrolled at CSULB
Composition Portfolio
Applicants to the MM in Composition must submit a portfolio of their creative work. The portfolio should contain three to five recent original notated works that show your awareness of 20th-21st century practices in composition. These scores should be accompanied by live recordings (preferred); however, electronic versions are acceptable.
For applicants to the MM in Composition with Interactive Media, accepted portfolio materials may include audio recordings, videos, scores, or any documentation of your performances, installations or collaborative projects that illuminate your work.
The Music Education Major
Instrumental Music Education Area Director: Tamara Thies tamara.thies@csulb.edu
Choral Music Education Area Director: Joshua Palkki joshua.palkki@csulb.edu
There is no audition for the gradaute Music Education program. Please email one of the area directors above for application requirements.
Audition Video Guidelines
Your Audition Video will be reviewed to determine your advancement in the audition process. The audition repertoire is outlined above by the area of your instrument. In addition to preparing your repertoire, make sure you meet the following criteria:
- At the beginning of the recording, state clearly:
- Your full name
- The name of each piece and respective composer names
- Recordings must be unedited and without artificial enhancement such as reverb or pitch correction.
- Be sure that it is clear that you are playing your instrument live. This means make sure your instrument and your fingers, mouth, embochure, diaphragm (if you are a singer), drum kit, etc. are clearly visible while you are playing.
- Be sure that you can be heard clearly. If you are playing with accompaniment, be sure you can be heard above the accompaniment/rhythm section.
- Watch your video all the way through to check the quality, playability, and completeness of your recording before you upload it.
- Upload your audition video to YouTube, and be sure to make it UNLISTED (not private).
Additionally, it will be helpful if you use the following best practices for video:
- Find a quiet location without background distractions
- Adjust lighting so that you are well lit and not in shadows
- If possible, use a microphone for better quality audio
