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Audition Repertoire for Undergraduate Applicants

For undergraduate applicants, the audition day at Eastman includes a general convocation, theory and musicianship testing, a question-and-answer session for parents, a group interview with a staff member, and the audition. Composition, Music Education and Theory majors will have interviews scheduled with faculty members of those departments.

Repertoire listed below is for auditions to the Bachelor of Music degree. Other application requirements may apply.

Repertoire listed is subject to change but will generally not change after September 1.  Audition repertoire, with the exception of voice, should be performed without accompaniment.

  • Brass
  • Composition
  • Jazz
  • Keyboard (Piano & Organ)
  • Music Education
  • Percussion
  • Strings
  • Theory
  • Voice
  • Woodwinds
 

Brass

EUPHONIUM

2015 Rochester Audition Dates: January 30th, February 6th, February 13th, and February 27th

    • Solos by Barat, Jacob, Capuzzi, Herbert L. Clarke, or other works of similar difficulty
    • Etudes by Bordogni/Rochut, Blazhevich, Kopprasch, or Tyrell
    • Band or orchestra excerpts as appropriate to training and experience

HORN

2015 Rochester Audition Dates:February 6th, February 13th, February 20th, and February 27th

  • Any complete concerto from the standard concerto repertoire, such as Mozart, Strauss, Gliere, Jacob, Haydn, etc.
  • A movement from the standard recital repertoire, such as Hindemith, Ewazen, Beethoven, Schumann, Cherubini, Dukas, etc.
  • Three etudes from any three of the following: Maxime-Alphonse Etudes, Book 4, 5, or 6; Kling; Kopprasch; Neuling; Belloli; Gallay; Reynolds
  • Three to five orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire (Beethoven, Mahler, Brahms, Strauss, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, etc.)
  • All major and harmonic minor scales, 2-3 octaves, in eighth notes at quarter note=112-126, and corresponding arpeggios

TROMBONE

2015 Rochester Audition Dates: January 30th, February 6th, February 13th, February 27th

BM: Pre-screening Requirement: All BM Trombone and BM Bass Trombone candidates must upload a pre-screening video containing the following material:

  • One complete Bordogni/Rochut etude from nos. 1-30 of Book 1
  • One complete technical etude from Kopprasch “60 Selected Studies” or Blazhevich “Clef Studies”
  • A three minute excerpt from any solo work (piano optional)

Tenor Trombone Audition Requirements:

  • A solo work chosen from the following: Grondahl concerto, Jacob concerto, Wagenseil concerto, Hindemith sonata, Sulek sonata, Casterède sonata, Galliard sonata, Guilmant, Bozza, or a work of similar difficulty
  • One etude from Rochut Melodious Etudes 1-24
  • Orchestral excerpts as appropriate to training and experience
  • Sight-reading in alto and tenor clefs

Bass Trombone Audition Requirements:

  • A solo work chosen from the following: Spillman concerto, George concerto, McCarthy sonata, Galliard sonata, or a work of similar difficulty
  • One etude from Rochut Melodious Etudes 1-24
  • Orchestral excerpts as appropriate to training and experience
  • Sight-reading in bass clef

TRUMPET

2015 Rochester Audition Dates: February 6th, February 13th, February 20th, and February 27th

  • Theme, double and triple tongue variations from either Arban’s Fantasy Brilliant or Carnival of Venice
  • Either Hindemith, 1st movement; Haydn, 1st movement; Kennan 1st movement; Arutunian, opening through the slow section; Hummel, 1st movement; Tomasi, 1st movement
  • Either Charlier Etude #1 or #4
  • Orchestral excerpts: Mahler, Symphony No. 5 (opening); Beethoven, Leonore Overture No. 3 (offstage call); Stravinsky, Petrushka (Ballerina’s dance & waltz); Mussorgsky-Ravel, Pictures at an Exhibition (“Promenade”)
  • Basic sight-reading and transposition

TUBA

2015 Rochester Audition Dates: February 13th, February 20th, and February 27th

  • One Bordogni melodic study
  • One Kopprasch technical etude #17 or #21
  • All scales
  • Excerpts: Wagner, “Meistersinger” Overture (Letter J to the end), Berlioz Hungarian March, and Ride of the Valkyries
  • Performance applicants must also play the cadenza from the Hindemith Sonata (mvt. 3) and either the Vaughn Williams Concerto (mvt. 1 & 2) or the Hindemith Sonata (mvt. 1 & 2); Music Education applicants whose instrument is tuba must play the Edward Gregson Concerto (mvt. 1 only) and the cadenza from Mvt. 3, Hindemith Sonata

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Composition

2015 Rochester Audition Dates: February 20th and February 27th (with additional restrictions by instrument)

Pre-screening Requirement: Applicants must submit copies of a minimum of three or a maximum of four scores of original compositions via postal mail by the application deadline. Scores must be reduced to 11”x17” or smaller. Recordings of composed works are strongly encouraged, but not required. Due to the large number of scores and recordings submitted, materials will not be returned; do not submit originals.

Composition applicants must also fulfill any pre-screen requirements listed for their primary instrument.  If your primary instrument requires a pre-screen recording, that recording must be uploaded within your online application and will be reviewed by the instrumental or vocal faculty.

Interview & audition requirement: Composition applicants will be interviewed by the composition faculty. Interviews are not conducted at regional audition centers; all composition applicants must audition and interview in Rochester. On the same day the applicant interviews in Rochester, he or she will also be scheduled for an audition on his or her applied instrument or voice. Applicants should follow the repertoire guidelines given in this section. (Pianists: Note that there is a specific repertory listing for composition majors.)

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Jazz

2015 Rochester Audition Dates:

Jazz Double Bass, Drumset, Piano and Guitar: January 30th, February 13th and February 20th, February 27th

Jazz Saxophone: February 20th, February 27th

Jazz Trumpet and Trombone: January 30th, February 13th and February 27th

Pre-screening Requirement for all Jazz instruments:
Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Guitar, Piano, Double Bass, and Drumset

Note: Private jazz studio instruction is not available at Eastman for the following instruments: Cello, Electric Bass, Euphonium, French Horn, Harp, Organ and Electronic Keyboards, Percussion (other than drum set), Tuba, Vibraphone /Mallet instruments, Viola, Violin, Voice (Vocal Jazz), or Woodwinds other than Saxophone (which may be studied as a secondary instrument).

Before December 1, all applicants to the jazz studies and contemporary media program must upload a preliminary audition recording. The prescreening recording should comprise 3-4 varied jazz selections in different styles (such as ballad, swing, straight 8th-note, etc).  Each selection must include improvisation, and must be recorded in a separate file with a total combined length of not more than 20 minutes.  Recordings that feature the applicant as a soloist in a small group are preferred. Recordings with play-along recordings are also acceptable. Large ensemble recordings that feature the applicant as soloist may also be used, but must be edited down to include only the applicant’s solo segments.

The guidelines given below apply to those invited for a live audition. Jazz applicants may not audition at regional audition sites or by self-prepared recording.  An on-campus audition in Rochester is required for this major.

On-Campus Audition Requirements for All Jazz Instruments

Applicants invited to a live audition must perform two jazz auditions and an individual audition.

  • Jazz audition: Applicants must be prepared to perform 3-4 jazz selections in varied styles and improvise on each of them. Applicants must bring lead sheets with them to this audition.  Selections should include some material that was not heard on the prescreening recording.
  • Group improv session: performed with other applicants
  • Individual audition (see below for requirements)

JAZZ DOUBLE BASS

Perform from each of the following categories:

  • Etude by composers such as Storch-Hrabe (57 Studies), Simandl (Gradus Ad Parnassum), or Bille* (arco preferred)
  • A Bebop melody by composers such as Charlie Parker (Donna Lee, Confirmation, etc.), Bud Powell (Web City, Celia, etc.), or other representative Bebop repertoire
  • A walking bass line on a standard tune
  • Note: Only acoustic double bassists are considered for admission. However, applicants who double on electric bass may bring both instruments to the audition.  An amp will be provided.

JAZZ DRUM SET

Perform each of the following:

  • Drum set solo: Thompson: Jazz Solos for Drum Set, V.1; Thompson: Modern Jazz Solos for Drum Set; or an appropriate transcription from a classic jazz drum set solo
  • Snare drum etude by Wilcox or commensurate with NYSSMA Level 6
  • Demonstration of various styles such as swing, latin, funk, brushes, etc.
  • Note: kit will be provided.  Applicants should bring sticks, brushes, and cymbals (if desired), but keep in mind that time allows for only minor adjustments to equipment.

JAZZ GUITAR

  • Chord melody on a jazz standard (rubato or in tempo)
  • Very short sight reading example
  • 1 bebop head
  • 1 chorus chord comping on a jazz standard
  • 1 classical piece or étude (fingerstyle or with pick)
  • Note: an amp will be provided.

JAZZ PIANO

Perform representative repertoire from the following composers/idioms by memory:

    • J.S. Bach (baroque era)
    • Mozart (classical era)
    • Chopin or an impressionistic composer

JAZZ SAXOPHONE

Examples of recommended repertoire:

    • Any concerto or sonata from the standard repertoire, such as Glazunov, Creston, or equivalent
    • Two etudes of contrasting tempo, such as Voxman, Ferling, or Karg-Elert
    • A Bebop melody by Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk or Miles Davis such as Bloomdido, Cheryl, Donna Lee, Well you Needn’t, etc and improvise over the form
    • Possible sight-reading

JAZZ TRUMPET

    • Either Charlier Etude #1 or #4
    • Either Haydn 1st movement; Kennan 1st movement or Hummel 1st movement
    • Basic sight-reading

JAZZ TROMBONE

  • A solo work chosen from the following: Grondahl concerto, Jacob concerto, Wagenseil concerto, Hindemith sonata, Sulek sonata, Casterède sonata, Galliard sonata, Guilmant, Bozza, or a work of similar difficulty
  • One etude from Rochut Melodious Etudes 1-24
  • Sight-reading in alto and tenor clefs

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Keyboard

ORGAN

2015 Rochester Audition Dates: February 6th, February 13th and February 27th

Organ applicants must audition either on-campus or by self-prepared recording.  Regional auditions are not offered for organ.

  • At least one work by Bach or another Baroque composer
  • Two selections by romantic or contemporary composers, one primarily lyrical and one primarily virtuosic

PIANO

Piano- Applied Music Majors

2015 Rochester Audition Dates:  February 13th, February 20th and February 27th

Applied Majors pre-screening requirement: Before December 1, all undergraduate piano performance applicants seeking a live audition must upload a preliminary audition recording. The prescreening recording must be a minimum of 30 minutes in duration of solo music. Repertoire requirements for the pre-screening recording must  include at least two works representing different styles, plus one virtuoso etude by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff,  Scriabin, Debussy, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, or Bartok (etudes in slow tempos such as Chopin Op 10 #3, Op 10 #6, Op 25 #7, Rachmaninoff Op 39 #2 or Debussy Etude No. 11, pour les arpeges composes are not acceptable). The following lists repertoire requirements by degree for applicants invited to a live audition and those auditioning only by recording.

Applicants must prepare an audition program to be performed from memory, including:

    • One virtuoso concert etude (see etude requirement listed above)
    • A work by Bach that contains a fugue
    • A complete classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert
    • One Romantic work from the 19th century
    • One work from the 20th or 21st century

Piano – Majors in Composition, Music Education, or Theory

2015 Rochester Audition Dates:February 6th, February 13th, February 20th and February 27th

Applicants for each degree should prepare three contrasting pieces from three different stylistic periods, including one piece by Bach. Student compositions and pieces in jazz or popular styles are not acceptable for the purpose of this audition. Applicants who apply in these majors and audition on piano are not compared to applied piano majors.

Applicants in jazz studies and contemporary media should refer to the section on jazz for audition requirements.

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Music Education

2015 Rochester Audition Dates:February 6th, February 13th, February 20th, and February 27th

Music Education applicants who audition in Rochester, will be interviewed by the music education faculty.

A skills assessment will be administered to all undergraduate applicants to the major in Music Education. It consists of sight-reading rhythm and tonal patterns, sight-singing melodies, improvising on the major instrument/voice, and harmonizing a melody at the keyboard. A guide for this skills assessment test is found online at: Music Education Skills Assessment

On the same day the applicant interviews in Rochester, he or she will also be scheduled for an audition on his or her applied instrument or voice. Applicants should follow the repertoire guidelines given in this section for all undergraduate students. (Pianists: Note that there is a specific repertory listing for music education majors.)

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Percussion

2015 Rochester Audition Dates:February 13th and February 27th

Percussion applicants must audition either on-campus or by self-prepared recording.  Regional auditions are not offered for percussion.

Pre-screening requirement: Before December 1, all undergraduate applicants seeking a live audition must upload a preliminary audition video recording. The following repertoire is required.  Any substitutions, with the exception of where multiple options are offered, will not be acceptable.

Snare drum: Long Roll-

spacer

Delecluse Etude No. 1 – Play from the measure 1 to the downbeat of the 5th measure of line 7.

 Wilcoxen or Pratt soloof the applicant’s choice.

Marimba:

Two Mallet solo:Bach from either the Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin or the Six Suites for cello alone. (2-3 minute excerpt of the solo from the beginning.)

Four mallets:2 minute excerpt or movement of a contemporary solo for marimba from the standard repertoire.  Stout, Sammut, Abe, Burritt, Tanaka, Miki, etc.)

Timpani:

 Etude from Hochrainer, Beck, Goodman, Firth or the equivalent demonstrating basic timpani concepts.

**Each applicant is expected to demonstrate intonation efficiency and accuracy by tuning the etude on the video recording prior to performing it.

The following lists repertoire requirements for applicants invited to a live audition and those auditioning only by recording. Audition must include snare drum, timpani and keyboard percussion.  Suggested repertoire and methods from the following:

  • Snare drum:  Cirone Portraits in Rhythm; Delecluse Etude 1 or 6 from Douze Etudes; Peters’ Intermediate or Advanced Snare Drum Studies
  • Timpani:  Beck Sonata for Timpani; Carter Eight Pieces for Solo Timpani; Firth The Solo Timpanist, Hochrianer Etuden fur Timpani
  • Keyboard percussion: 2 mallet Bach from the Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin or the Six Suites for Solo Cello; Abe Dream of the Cherry Blossoms, Wind in the Bamboo Grove; Burritt October Night, Preludes, Creston Concertino for Marimba; Musser’s Etudes and Preludes; Sammut Rotations, Stout Mexican Dances, Astral Dance, Etudes; Tanaka Two Movements for Marimba: G. H. Green’s Xylophone Solos; Rosauro Concerto for Marimba
  • Sight-reading required
  • Orchestral Excerpts are also recommended from the standard repertoire. Audition may also include drum set.

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Strings

VIOLIN