Audition Information
The student auditions for the appropriate faculty for acceptance to their chosen program of study. School of Music holds auditions on-campus and by appointment. For more information regarding the audition process, feel free to contact the instructor of your specific instrument.
The School of Music requires all Prospective Students to audition as part of their admission requirements.
The Audition Date for the upcoming school year have been announced:
Monday, February 17, 2020
All audition dates are for incoming students and transfer students. All on-campus auditions are held at Altgeld Hall on the SIU campus. If students are not able to make it to campus, arrangements can be made for live auditions via Skype, FaceTime or other video conferencing means, or by YouTube or other video submission. Please contact the instructor of your specific instrument if you would like to audition this way.
Instrumental
Flute
Oboe
Clarinet
Bassoon
Saxophone
Trumpet
Horn
Trombone
Tuba/Euphonium
Violin/Viola
Cello
Double Bass
Guitar
Piano
Percussion
Vocal
Flute suggested audition repertoire
- Mozart concerto for Flute, in G -- movement 1
- Mozart concerto for Flute, in D -- movement 1
- J.S. Bach, Sonata No. 2 in Eb -- any movement
- Hindemith Sonata -- movement 1 or movement 3 to the end of the work
- Poulenc Sonata -- movements 1 & 2, or 2 & 3
- Any solo from Flute Music by French Composers
- Dance of the Blessed Spirits -- Gluck
Oboe suggested audition repertoire
Major and melodic minor scales and arpeggios up to 4 sharps and 4 flats from Barret Oboe
Method (pp. 19-21) or IMEA scale sheet
Two contrasting etudes from Barret Oboe Method or Ferling 48 Studies
One or two movements from one of the following concertos or sonatas:
- Marcello - Concerto in c
- Albinoni - Concerto in d
- Cimarosa - Concerto in C
- Mozart - Concerto in C
- Corelli - Concerto in F
- Handel - Concerto in B flat or g
- Handel - Sonatas in c, g or F
Clarinet suggested audition repertoire
Major and minor scales from IMEA scale sheet, or Klose Method, page 123.
Two contrasting etudes from Rose 32 Etudes or Voxman Selected Studies.
One accompanied solo work with piano, such as the following:
- Henri Rabaud - Solo de Concours
- Ernesto Cavallini - Adagio and Tarantella
- Michael Bergson - Scene and Air
- Paul Jeanjean – Arabesque
Bassoon suggested audition repertoire
Applicants should be prepared to play major and minor scales and arpeggios
Applicants should choose 2 selections- one fast and one slow- from repertoire such as the following:
- A movement from a concerto by Vivaldi, Weber, or Mozart
- A movement from a sonata by Galliard, Hindemith, or Telemann
- An etude from Milde Concert Studies or Weissenborn Etudes
If you are interested in playing bassoon at SIUC as a non-music major, please contact Dr. Robert Jordan by email for more information.
Questions: Email Here
Saxophone suggested audition repertoire
All Major Scales (2 octaves or full range where applicable)
All Harmonic Minor Scales (1 octave minimum)
Concert Saxophone:
- One lyrical piece. Examples: a slow etude from Ferling, “48 Studies” for Oboe or Saxophone, Movement II from “Sonata” by Paul Creston, or comparable work.
- One technical piece. Examples: Heiden “Sonata” Movement I, Lawson Lunde, “Sonata” Movement I, or comparable work.
Jazz Saxophone (if interested in Jazz Studies):
- One “Jazz Standard” where the melody and minimum 2 choruses of improvisation are performed. Examples: “There Will Never Be Another You,” “Lady Bird,” “Take the ‘A’ Train,” or other appropriate work.
- One Blues (key of your choice)
- One transcription (memorized or notated)
- OPTIONAL: A Ballad such as “My Old Flame,” “Autumn in New York,” or something comparable.
Please contact Dr. Kelley with any questions, and to discuss options or a free lesson ahead of the audition.
Trumpet suggested audition repertoire
- All major and minor scales from either the IMEA scale sheet or from Arban's Method for Trumpet-#1 form each key, pp. 59-75. (Complete Conservatory Method For Trumpet - J.B. Arban, published by Carl Fischer
- A technical etude such as an Arban Characteristic Study, pp. 285-299.
- A lyrical etude such as one of the selections on pp. 191-192 in Arban.
- A solo that you would normally play for Solo/Ensemble contest. It should reflect your current ability level. Eg. - Haydn Concerto, Hummel Concerto, Concert Etude-Goedicke, Andante and Allegro - Ropartz, Aria con Variazioni - Handel/Fitzgerald, Petite Piece Concertante - Balay, Allegro - Vivaldi/Fitzgerald
- Sight reading
Horn Audition Requirements
All audition material selected should be representative of the highest level possible for the individual player.
Bachelor of Music – Performance and Music Education majors:
- Two etudes in contrasting styles by Kopprasch, 60 Selected Studies Book 1 or 2; Concone/Shoemaker, Legato Etudes; or Maxime-Alphonse, Book II-IV
- R. Strauss, Concerto No. 1, first movement OR Mozart, Concerto No. 3, K. 446, first movement
- All Major Scales – covering the largest part of the individual player’s range
Bachelor of Arts
- Two etudes in contrasting styles by Kopprasch, 60 Selected Studies Book 1; Pottag, 335 Melodius Progressive, and Technical Studies, Maxime-Alphonse, Book II-III
- Saint-Saëns, Romance, Op. 36
- All Major Scales – 2 octaves
Trombone suggested audition repertoire
- Perform a prepared solo (accompaniment optional)
- Perform 2 contrasting etudes (one melodious and the other technical)
Not sure of what to play? Feel free to contact me directly.
Tuba/Euphonium Majors and Minors Audition Material:
- Perform a prepared solo (accompaniment optional)
- Perform 2 contrasting etudes (one melodious and the other technical)
Not sure of what to play? Feel free to contact me directly.
Violin/Viola suggested audition repertoire>
- One movement of an Unaccompanied Bach Sonata or Partita
- One movement of a concerto, preferably with accompaniment
- One short piece from the 19th Century Romantic period.
Cello suggested audition repertoire
- Two contrasting movements from a Bach Suite
- One movement from a concerto or major solo work by Haydn, Boccherini, Elgar, Saint-Saens, or Popper
Double Bass suggested audition repertoire
One-octave major scales: all
Two-octave major scales: F, G, Ab and A
Two-octave melodic minor scales: E and F#
Simandl: "Etude No. 17: Tempo di Polacca" from 30 Studies
A slower, lyrical movement from a Baroque or Classical sonata, or a comparable work such as:
- Purcell: Aria
- Rachmaninoff: Vocalise
A faster, rhythmic movement from a Baroque or Classical sonata, or a comparable work such as:
- Russell: any allegro movement from Buffo Set
- Saint-Saens: "L'Elephant" from Le Carnaval des Animaux
Guitar suggested audition repertoire
Audition requirements are listed in either of these documents:
Here, in MS Word .docx format, and here, in .pdf format.
Applied Piano Placement Auditions- Requirements and Guidelines
Undergraduate Music Majors & Graduates/Undergraduates Seeking Elective Credit:
- TECHNIQUE: Be prepared to play any of the 12 Major scales, hands together, a minimum 2 octaves ascending and descending, at a metronome speed in the range of 60-100, 4 notes per beat. Minor scales in natural, harmonic and melodic forms, as well as triad and 4-note arpeggios may also be examined at the audition, but are not necessarily required for acceptance into an applied piano studio.
- REPERTOIRE: Perform 2 pieces of contrasting periods/styles from the standard classical piano literature, at least one of which should be performed from memory. Representative examples include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Baroque: J. S. Bach 2 or 3-Part Inventions or Prelude & Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier; Scarlatti Sonata, etc.
- Classical: Sonata movement by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Clementi, etc.
- Romantic: Chopin Waltzes or Nocturnes, Mendelssohn Songs without Words, Brahms Intermezzi, or works by Schumann, Liszt, etc.
- 20th Century: Debussy Preludes, Bartók Bagatelles, shorter works by Kabalevsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, etc.
- SIGHT-READING: Sight-read a brief excerpt selected by the piano faculty.
Contact: yukokato@siu.edu
Steven Barwick Piano Scholarship For Undergraduate Piano Performance Majors:
»Please click here to see the Barwick Piano Scholarship page.
M.M. Graduate Performance And Pedagogy Majors:
Present a memorized performance of a well-balanced solo program of a minimum of 30 minutes length including at least 3 different style periods from the standard Classical literature. Technical requirements will include solid proficiency in all Major and minor scales and arpeggios, hands together, 4 octaves at a minimum metronome speed of 80, 4 notes per beat. A brief sight-reading demonstration will also be required.
Audition For Accompanying Graduate Assistantship:
If you are applying for MM Piano Performance or Pedagogy track and wish to audition for an accompanying graduate assistantship position, please prepare an instrumental sonata movement or an art song to be performed (with an instrumentalist or a singer who will be provided by SIUC) at a live audition. In case you are not able to visit the campus for a live audition due to the distance from your home and Carbondale and you choose to mail a recorded audition CD/DVD, please include a performance with an instrumentalist or a singer of your choice in your audition CD/DVD.
M.M. Graduate Collaborative Piano Majors:
Please click here for M.M. Collaborative Piano audition requirements.
Contact: yukokato@siu.edu
Percussion Audition Guidelines
A percussion candidate will be scheduled a 30-minute audition on the announced audition days in the spring semester. For auditions any other time of the year, please contact Professor Butler.
Prospective music majors and minors are required to demonstrate their ability on Snare Drum and Mallet Keyboard, but are encouraged to also audition on Timpani and Drum Set. Jazz performance majors are required to play drum set. Please see audition repertoire requirements below.
Since time constraints of the audition process limit the total interview time, students may choose to submit additional video/DVD materials that includes other performance areas such as Multiple Percussion, Drum Set, or World Percussion that would enhance their application (this is optional and not required).
If a personal audition is not possible, you may submit an online video recording. However, live auditions are preferred and will have greater weight on scholarship decisions.
Finally, if you have questions or concerns about this audition repertoire, please feel free to contact me at cbutler@siu.edu! If you can’t satisfy all of the listed requirements below, please continue to plan on auditioning. I can’t wait to meet you and start working with you!
AUDITION REPERTOIRE
SNARE DRUM
- A solo or etude in concert style. Examples include #11 from Portraits in Rhythm (Cirone), #29 from Intermediate Snare Drum Studies (Peters), and any etude from Douze Études (Delécluse)
- Sight Reading
KEYBOARD
- Understanding of all major and minor scales with arpeggios (two octaves)
- A standard solo work or etude to demonstrate basic musicianship (2 or 4 mallets). Examples include Rhythm Song (Smadbeck), Sea Refractions (Peters), and select etudes from Four-Mallet Marimba Playing (Zeltsman).
- Sight Reading
TIMPANI
- Demonstrated tuning ability and pitch matching
- A solo or etude in concert style. Examples include #45 or #31 from Fundamental Method for Timpani (Peters).
- Sight Reading
DRUM SET
- Demonstration of styles – swing, jazz waltz, funk, rock, Afro-Cuban (mambo, mozambique), Brazilian (samba, bossa-nova), etc.
- Prepared Solo or Transcription (optional)
Christopher Butler
Lecturer in Percussion
Southern Illinois University
Vocal
BFA Musical Theater Audition Repertoire
- 2 contrasting musical theater selections and 1 monologue appropriate to age, physical type, and vocal abilities, the total of which not to exceed 5 minutes. An accompanist will be provided.
- Please bring 8 x 10 picture and one page resume (on back of pic) of performance experience and training to audition.
Voice suggested audition material
Applicants should sing from memory any two contrasting art songs from the following or similar collections:
- 24 Italian Songs and Arias
- The Singing Book by Meribeth Bunch & Cynthia Vaughn
- Any collection edited by Joan Frey Boytim or Richard Walters
- You may also offer one musical theater song in place of an art song
Auditionees are expected to present themselves professionally. They should bring sheet music as an accompanist will be provided. Aural skills may be assessed by singing several short phrases played first on the piano.