Audition Information

Auditions for 2014 TBA

In keeping with the rich tradition of liberal arts at Albion College, the Music Department does not hold auditions to become a music major. Any student interested in being a music major may do so. Music Department auditions at Albion College are intended solely for the purpose of scholarships. All students are eligible for scholarships, regardless of their major.

Sophomore juries are used to help advise/direct students into appropriate areas of the curriculum. Visit our Majors page to learn more about the various music majors we offer.

To schedule an audition, contact the Admission Office. Those who are unable to audition on the scheduled audition day may arrange an alternate date.

 

Scholarship Amounts and Requirements

Department scholarships range from $500 to $2,500 and each has a requirement that the student perform in one of the department's major ensembles (concert choir, jazz ensemble, marching band/symphonic band, or symphony orchestra). Although students are assigned to one of these ensembles based on their abilities and the ensemble's needs, the Music Department encourages all students to participate in more than one. In addition to the ensemble requirement, students accepting scholarships of $1,750 or higher are also expected to take private lessons on their instrument/voice. Once awarded, all scholarships are guaranteed for all four years of college as long as all requirements are fulfilled and the student is in good standing in the department.

The Westbrook Scholarship

The Music Department also offers the Westbrook Scholarship to students majoring in music who show outstanding potential as a musician and leader/role model for others in the department. Click here for more information on the Westbrook Scholarship and an application.

Audition Logistics

Every audition takes between 15 and 20 minutes. Due to the limited amount of time, and the large number of auditions on most dates, you may be asked to stop short of completing your solos/etudes. Plan on between 6 and 8 minutes of prepared music, 2-4 minutes of sight-reading, and an interview with the audition committee of between 8-10 minutes.

Accompanists

The Albion College Music Department makes every effort to provide each student with an accompanist for their audition. Each student is allotted time to rehearse with the accompanist prior to their audition. If you have your own accompanist, you are welcome to bring them. You must bring music for the accompanist! This is not provided.

Audition Expectations

Below is a suggested list of repertoire for each instrument. While we encourage students to perform music which best showcases their abilities, this will provide an example of the type of audition the Albion College Music Department expects from incoming first-year students. In addition to the prepared materials, a brief sight-reading exercise is expected.

Specific Audition Suggestions

Select an instrument to see the suggestions, or scroll down.

Bassoon		Clarinet
Euphonium		French Horn
Oboe		Piano
Trombone		Tuba
Cello		Voice
Violin		Double Bass
Trumpet		Flute
Percussion		Saxophone
Viola		Harp

 

• Voice

  • Solos: Select two to three total to prepare. English text required. French, German, and Italian encouraged only if currently studying privately. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos of equal difficulty may be substituted.
    • Recommended Solos:
      • Visit the MSVMA website for a list of appropriate solos for auditioning.
      • MSVMA Approved Solo List
  •  Pop music is strongly discouraged.

• Piano

  • Scales
    • Play major and harmonic minor scales (four octaves), parallel motion through 4 sharps and 4 flats.
      
      
  • Solos: Select two total to prepare. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
    
    
    • Recommended Solos:
      • Bach, J.S. - Two or Three Part Inventions. Any.
      • Bach, J.S. - Suite. Any.
      • Beethoven - Sonata. Any sonata, any movement.
      • Haydn - Sonata. Any sonata, any movement.
      • Mozart - Sonata. Any sonata, any movement.
      • Chopin - Any piece.
      • Debussy - Any piece.
      • Liszt - Any piece.
        
        
  • Pop music and show tunes are strongly discouraged. If you are interested in jazz, and intend to audition in that area, please consult with Dr. James Ball, director of the Albion College Jazz Ensemble.

• Harp

  • Scales
    • Play major and harmonic minor scales (full range), through 4 sharps and 4 flats.
      
      
  • Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
    
    
    • Recommended Solos:
      • Corelli - Giga
      • Dussek - Sonatina IV
      • Grandjany - Fantasie on a Theme by Haydn
      • Hasselmanns - Brook
      • Naderman - Sonata I
    • Recommended Ensemble Pieces:
      • Grandjany - Aria in Classic Style
      • Dittersdorf - Concerto for Harp. 1st movement.
      • Mozart - Concerto for Harp and Flute. 1st movement.

• Violin

  • Scales
    • Play major and melodic minor scales (two to three octaves where practical) through 4 sharps and 4 flats.
      
      
  • Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
    
    
    • Recommended Solos:
      • Accolay - Concerto
      • Bach - Concerto No. 1 in a-minor
      • Bach - Partita. One movement from any partita.
      • Handel - Sonata. Any.
      • Kreisler - Preludium and Allegro
      • Viotti - Concerto No. 23
      • Vivaldi - Concerto in g-minor
        
        
    • Recommended Etudes:
      • Kayser
      • Kreutzer - 42 Studies. Any.
      • Sitt
      • Whistler - Prep to Kreutzer. Any.
      • Wohlfahrt, Op. 45

• Viola

  • Scales
    • Play major and melodic minor scales (two to three octaves where practical) through 4 sharps and 4 flats.
      
      
  • Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
    
    
    • Recommended Solos:
      • Bach - Cello Suite. Any movement.
      • Marais - Four French Dances
      • Marcello - Sonata in G-Major
      • Telemann - Concerto in G-Major
      • Vivaldi - Concerto in d-minor
        
        
    • Recommended Etudes:
      • Kayser
      • Kreutzer - 42 Studies. Any.
      • Sitt
      • Whistler - Prep to Kreutzer. Any.
      • Wohlfahrt, Op. 45

• Cello

  • Scales
    • Play major and melodic minor scales (two to three octaves) through 4 sharps and 4 flats.
      
      
  • Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
    
    
    • Recommended Solos:
      • Bach, J.S. - Cello Suites 1, 2, or 3. Any movement.
      • Bach, J.S. - Prelude. Any.
      • Breval - Sonata in G-Major. Any movement.
      • Dvorak - Concerto. Any movement.
      • Elgar - Concerto. 1st or 2nd movement.
      • Haydn - Concerto in C-Major. 3rd movement.
      • Haydn - Concerto in D-Major. 1st or 3rd movement.
      • Saint-Saens - Concerto. Any movement.
        
        
    • Recommended Etudes:
      • Grutzmacher - Book 2 (Nos. 13 through 24). Any.
      • Popper - High School of Cello Playing

• String Bass

  • Scales
    • Play major and melodic minor scales (two to three octaves) through 4 sharps and 4 flats.
      
      
  • Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
    
    
    • Recommended Solos:
      • Capuzzi - Concerto in F. Any movement.
      • Corelli - Sonata. Any.
      • Johnson - Lento and Zapateado
      • Marcello - Sonata. Any.
        
        
  • If you are interested in jazz, and intend to audition in that area, please consult with Dr. James Ball, director of the Albion College Jazz Ensemble.

• Flute

  • Scales
    • Play major and melodic minor scales (two octaves) through 4 sharps and 4 flats.
      
      
  • Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
    
    
    • Recommended Solos:
      • Bach - Sonatas. Any.
      • Bloch - Suite Modale
      • Cavally - 24 Short Concert Pieces. Any.
      • Handel - Sonatas. Any.
      • Hindemith - Sonata. Any movement.
      • Mozart - Concertos in D-Major or G-Major. Any two movements.
      • Various - Flute Music by French Composers. Any piece.
        
        
    • Recommended Etudes:
      • Andersen - Op. 41. 21 or higher.
      • Berbiquier - 18 Studies
      • Boehn
      • Cavally - Melodius and Progressive Studies
      • Kohler

• Oboe

  • Scales
    • Play major and melodic minor scales (two octaves preferably) through 4 sharps and 4 flats.
      
      
  • Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
    
    
    • Recommended Solos:
      • Albinoni - Concerto. Any movement.
      • Handel - Concerto. Any movement.
      • Hindemith - Sonata. Any movement.
      • Schumann - Three Romances
      • Telemann - Any Sonata.
      • Vivaldi - Concerto. Any movement.
        
        
    • Recommended Etudes:
      • Barrett - Any melodic study.

• Clarinet

  • Scales
    • Play major and harmonic minor scales (up to two octaves where practical) through 3 sharps and 3 flats.
      
      
  • Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
    
    
    • Recommended Solos:
      • Hindemith - Sonata. Any two movements.
      • Mozart - Clarinet Concerto, K. 622. 2nd movement, and either 1st or 3rd movement.
      • Rabaud - Solo de Concours
      • Schumann - Fantasy Pieces, Op. 73. Any two movements.
      • Weber - Concertino
        
        
    • Recommended Etudes:
      • Cavallini - 32 Caprices
      • Rose - 32 Etudes
      • Rose - 40 Studies

• Saxophone

  • Scales
    • Play major and harmonic minor scales (two octaves) through 4 sharps and 4 flats.
      
      
  • Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
    
    
    • Recommended Solos:
      • Bozza - Impromptu et Danse
      • Bozza - Improvisation et Caprice
      • Creston - Sonata. Any movement.
      • Debussy/Rousseau - Rhapsody
      • DuBois - Concerto. Any movement.
      • Hartley - Concerto
      • Heiden - Sonata
      • Hindemith - Sonata
      • Ibert - Concertino da Camera
        
        
    • NOTE: Original solo saxophone literature is preferred.
      
      
    • Recommended Etudes:
      • Ferling/Mule - 48 Studies
      • Berbiguier/Mule - 18 Studies
        
        
  • If you are interested in jazz, and intend to audition in that area, please consult with Dr. James Ball, director of the Albion College Jazz Ensemble.

• Bassoon

  • Scales
    • Play major and melodic minor scales (two to three octaves) through 4 sharps and 4 flats.
      
      
  • Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
    
    
    • Recommended Solos:
      • Galliard - Sonata. Any.
      • Hindemith - Sonata. Any movement.
      • Mozart - Concerto, K. 191. Any movement.
      • Philips - Concertpiece
      • Stevens - Three Pieces. Any movement.
      • Weber - Concerto. Any movement.
        
        
    • Recommended Etudes:
      • Milde - Concert Studies. Any.
      • Weissenborn - 50 Bassoon Studies or Practical Method for Bassoon. Any.

• Trumpet

  • Scales
    • Play major and melodic minor scales (up to two octaves where practical) through 4 sharps and 4 flats.
      
      
  • Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
    
    
    • Recommended Solos (with or without accompaniment):
      • Balay - Prelude et Ballade, or similar piece.
      • Barat - Any piece.
      • Clarke - Bride of the Waves, or similar piece.
      • Haydn - Concerto in E-flat. Any two movements.
      • Hindemith - Sonata. Any two movements.
      • Hummel - Concerto. Any two movements.
      • Kennan - Sonata. Any two movements.
        
        
    • Recommended Etudes:
      • Arban - Characteristic Studies. Any study.
      • Clarke - Any characteristic etude or study.
      • Hering - Any etude.
        
        
  • If you are interested in jazz, and intend to audition in that area, please consult with Dr. James Ball, director of the Albion College Jazz Ensemble.

• French Horn

  • Scales
    • Play major and melodic minor scales (two octaves) through 4 sharps and 4 flats.
      
      
  • Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
    
    
    • Recommended Solos:
      • Dukas - Villanelle
      • Heiden - Sonata
      • Hindemith - Sonata
      • Mozart - Concertos 1, 2, 3, or 4, or Concerto Rondo. Any 2 movements.
      • Saint-Saens - Romance
        
        
    • Recommended Etudes:
      • Kopprasch
      • Maxime-Alphonse

• Trombone

  • Scales
    • Play all major and melodic minor scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats (two octaves where possible).
      
      
  • Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
    
    
    • Recommended Solos:
      • Barat - Andante and Allegro
      • David - Concertino
      • Grondahl - Concerto. Any movement.
      • Guilmant - Morceau Symphonique
      • Jacob - Concerto. Any movement.
        
        
    • Recommended Etudes: (anything by)
      • Blazhevich
      • Rochut
      • Tyrrell
        
        
  • If you are interested in jazz, and intend to audition in that area, please consult with Dr. James Ball, director of the Albion College Jazz Ensemble.

• Euphonium

  • Scales
    • Play major and melodic minor scales (two octaves when possible) through 4 sharps and 4 flats.
      
      
  • Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
    
    
    • Recommended Solos:
      • Barat - Introduction and Dance
      • Guilmant - Morceau Symphonique
      • Mozart - Concerto for Bassoon. 1st or 3rd movement.
        
        
    • Recommended Etudes:
      • Arban
      • Fink
      • Rochut
      • Tyrell
      • Voxman

• Tuba

  • Scales
    • Play major and melodic minor scales (two octaves where possible) through 4 sharps and 4 flats.
      
      
  • Solos: Select two total to prepare. One from each category or two from one category. Must be contrasting (technical and lyrical). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted.
    
    
    • Recommended Solos:
      • Curnow - Concertino
      • Gregson - Tuba Concerto. 1st movement.
      • Haddad - Suite for Tuba. 1st movement.
      • Vaughan-Williams - Concerto in f-minor
        
        
    • Recommended Etudes:
      • Arban
      • Blazevich
      • Bordogni
      • Fink
      • Tyrell

• Percussion

  • Solos: Select two total to prepare (one pitched and one non-pitched). These are recommendations only. Other solos or etudes of equal difficulty may be substituted. Solos with 2 mallets are required. 4 mallets are optional. The timpani skill level test is also required of students interested in music as a major.
    
    
    • Recommended Snare Solos/Etudes:
      • Symphonic
      • Cirone - Portraits in Rhythm
      • Delecleuse - Methode or Douze Etudes
      • Peters - Intermediate Studies for Snare
        
        
    • Rudimental
      • Markovich - Any individual solos
      • Pratt - 14 Modern Contest Solos
      • Wolcoxon - All-American Drummer
        
        
  • NOTE: A multiple percussion work may be substituted for the rudimental snare drum demonstration. Arrangements must be made in advance if there are additional instruments needed for a set-up. It is recommended that the student bring their own smaller instruments.
    
    
    • Recommended Mallet Solos:
    • Four Mallet (optional)
      • Abe - Works for Marimba
      • Gomez - Any.
      • Musser - Any transcriptions.
      • Peters - Any.
      • Zivovic - Funny Mallet Series
        
        
    • Two Mallet (required)
      • Bach, J.S. or other baroque/classical
        • transcriptions for flute, violin, or cello.
      • Breuer
      • Goldenberg - Modern School for Xylophone
      • Green - Any rags.
      • Joplin - Any rags.
        
        
  • Timpani Skill Level Test
    • Demonstrate current ability to match/sing pitches and scales, tune timpani without the aid of a tuner, basic timpani stroke, dampening technique, rolling (single stroke), knowledge of drum sizes and ranges.
      
      
    • NOTE: These skills are not required for acceptance, but are part of the audition to assess current ability level. However, the ability to sing and match pitches is required of music students in general and part of the timpani curriculum for percussion students.
      
      
    • Recommended Timpani Etudes (optional):
      • Goodman - Modern Method for Timpani
      • Peters - Fundamental Method for Timpani
        
        
  • Drum set (optional)
    • It is recommended to demonstrate as many drumming styles as to your current ability level - i.e.: rock, jazz/swing, funk, Latin. You may also choose to perform a transcription of a jazz tune or of another style which accurately represents your current ability level.
      
      
  • If you are interested in jazz, and intend to audition in that area, please consult with Dr. James Ball, director of the Albion College Jazz Ensemble.