Apply / Audition

Apply, Audition, and Interview for the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance

Request a Personalized Visit with CSU Music

Fall 2021 Music Audition/Interview Application

Process

Admission into all music degree programs as an undergraduate major or minor requires an audition for and acceptance into the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance as well as acceptance by the CSU Office of Admissions.

PART 1: Audition/interview for CSU Music
- Please refer to your degree and instrument/voice audition requirements.
- For Fall 2021 entry, auditions will be via video.
- You may audition/interview prior to applying to CSU.
- Fill out your application for a CSU Music audition/interview
PART 2: Apply to CSU through the Office of Admissions.
- We urge you to apply for admission to the university as soon as possible during your senior year.

If you have questions about this process, please contact SMTD@colostate.edu.

Degree Area Audition/Interview Requirements

B.M. Composition Concentration

All students wishing to enroll in this degree program must first be accepted to the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance by completing an audition on their primary instrument/voice. Prospective composition students should meet the Bachelor of Arts level requirement for their instrument. After completion of the audition, students will be enrolled as general music majors during their freshman year.

During the spring semester of their freshman year, prospective composition majors will complete an entrance interview with the composition faculty. Students will provide at least two scores (original compositions only) composed in the past five years as part of the interview process. Successful completion of the interview will be based on the quality of the scores submitted and the student’s general knowledge of music and background in composition.

Please also follow the requirements for your instrument/voice listed below. Please follow the audition/interview day details listed on the right side of this page.

PLEASE COMPLETE THE FALL 2021 MUSIC AUDITION/INTERVIEW APPLICATION HERE

B.M. Music Education Concentration

Music Education Interview and Audition (3 parts)

Interview: Students are required to interview with members of the Music Education faculty. Your audition will be 10 minutes in length. Make sure to sign up for an interview slot when you register for your audition.
Skills Test: After your interview, you will be asked to take a basic skills test for diagnostic purposes:
- Sightsinging
- Keyboard proficiency
Instrument Audition: prepare the required materials for your principal instrument.
PLEASE NOTE: In addition to the CSU Music audition, students must apply to CSU through the Office of Admissions.

Please also follow the requirements for your instrument/voice listed below. Please follow the audition/interview day details listed on the right side of this page.

PLEASE COMPLETE THE FALL 2021 MUSIC AUDITION/INTERVIEW APPLICATION HERE

Suggested Preparation for Your Music Education Interview

Formal dress is recommended.
Come prepared to discuss your reasons for pursuing music education, your personal goals, and any experience you have working with kids.
Bring 1-2 questions you have about the degree program.

B.M. Music Therapy Concentration

Undergraduate Music Therapy Audition/Interview Process

Students applying to the B.M. in Music Therapy are required to interview with members of the Music Therapy faculty, in addition to auditioning on their principal instrument. Interviews will take place on the same day you audition.

What to expect:

Interviews will be approximately 10 minutes in length.

The faculty will ask about the student’s reasons for pursuing music therapy, personal goals, and experience working with people.

Students will also be asked to:

Sing a children’s song (while the music therapy faculty accompany)
Match pitches with their voice

Please also follow the requirements for your instrument/voice listed below. Please follow the audition/interview day details listed on the right side of this page.

PLEASE COMPLETE THE FALL 2021 MUSIC AUDITION/INTERVIEW APPLICATION HERE

B.M. Performance Concentration

B.M. Performance Concentration—Jazz Studies

Audition Requirements

In addition to the performance degree audition requirements listed on the individual instrument web pages, students must also audition for the jazz area.

Prepare two jazz standards and/or classics of your choice, including melody and improvisation (accompaniment will be provided, or the auditioning student can provide an audio track)
- Pianists should also be prepared to play accompaniment (comp) on the chord progression
- Bassists should also be prepared to play a bass line in the appropriate style on the chord progression
- Drummers should prepare multiple jazz styles including swing, bossa nova, samba, ballad, funk and rock, as well as ¾ time. Drummers should also be prepared to demonstrate knowledge of blues and AABA form.
Sight reading will also be included in all auditions

Please also follow the requirements for your instrument/voice listed below. Please follow the audition/interview day details listed on the right side of this page.

PLEASE COMPLETE THE FALL 2021 MUSIC AUDITION/INTERVIEW APPLICATION HERE

B.A. and Music Minor

Instrument/Voice Audition Requirements

Violin

Bachelor of Music, Performance

First movement of a standard concerto
Two contrasting movements of a Solo Sonata or Partita by J.S. Bach
Two scales: one major, one minor (three octaves - fast/slow)
Memorization is strongly encouraged for the concerto portion of the audition.

Bachelor of Music, Music Education; and Bachelor of Music, Music Therapy

First movement of a concerto (or equivalent)
Contrasting piece
Two scales: one major, one minor (three octaves - fast/slow)
Memorization is strongly encouraged for the concerto portion of the audition.

Bachelor of Music, Composition

Two contrasting pieces
Two scales: one major, one minor (three octaves - fast/slow)
Prospective composition students will interview for admission to the composition degree at the end of their freshman year; students submit a portfolio of at least two compositions completed in the past five years during the interview.

Bachelor of Arts; and Music Minor

Two contrasting pieces
Two scales: one major, one minor (three octaves - fast/slow)

Viola

Bachelor of Music, Performance

First movement of a concerto C. Stamitz, Hoffmeister, Zelter, or Hummel: Fantasie.
Two movements of a Bach suite.
One major and one minor scale (three octaves).
An etude of either Mazas or Kreutzer.

Note: memorization of Bach is strongly encouraged.

Bachelor of Music, Music Education; and Bachelor of Music, Music Therapy

First movement of a concerto by J. Schubert or Zelter
One movements of a Bach Suite
Two scales (three octaves)

Bachelor of Music, Composition

One movement of a concerto or Bach suite
Two scales (three octaves)
Prospective composition students will interview for admission to the composition degree at the end of their freshman year; students submit a portfolio of at least two compositions completed in the past five years during the interview.

Bachelor of Arts in Music

One movement of a concerto or Bach suite
Two scales (three octaves)

Minor in Music

One movement of a Bach Cello Suite and a movement of the Telemann Viola Concerto.
Two scales (three octaves)

Cello

Bachelor of Music, Performance

One concerto movement
One movement of a Bach suite
Two scales (three octaves)
One etude

Memorization for the concerto and Bach are strongly encouraged.

Bachelor of Music, Music Education; and Bachelor of Music, Music Therapy

Two contrasting pieces of your choice (i.e. Saint-Saens:Allegro appassionato; a Vivaldi sonata; Bach: G Major Suite
Two scales

Bachelor of Music, Composition

Two contrasting pieces of your choice (i.e. Saint-Saens:Allegro appassionato; a Vivaldi sonata; Bach: G Major Suite
Two scales
Prospective composition students will interview for admission to the composition degree at the end of their freshman year; students submit a portfolio of at least two compositions completed in the past five years during the interview.

Bachelor of Arts; and Minor in Music

Two contrasting pieces of your choice (i.e. Saint-Saens:Allegro appassionato; a Vivaldi sonata; Bach: G Major Suite
Two scales

Double Bass

Bachelor of Music, Performance

A standard etude selected from Simandl: 30 Studies (or comparable)
Two contrasting movements from a standard solo, sonata or concerto
An orchestral excerpt of the applicant’s choice from any Brahms, Beethoven, or Mozart symphony
Three major and three melodic minor scales of the applicant’s choice (three octaves)

Bachelor of Music, Music Education; and Bachelor of Music, Music Therapy

One movement from a standard solo, concerto, or sonata
Two major and two melodic minor scales of the applicant’s choice (three octaves)

Bachelor of Music, Composition

One movement from a standard solo, concerto, or sonata
Two major and two melodic minor scales of the applicant’s choice (three octaves)
Prospective composition students will interview for admission to the composition degree at the end of their freshman year; students submit a portfolio of at least two compositions completed in the past five years during the interview.

Bachelor of Arts; and Minor in Music

One movement from a standard solo, concerto, or sonata
Two major and two melodic minor scales of the applicant’s choice (three octaves)

Harp

Guitar

Flute

Undergraduate Audition Requirements (all degrees):

I. Auditions will consist of prepared repertoire, major scales with arpeggios, harmonic minor scales with arpeggios, and sight reading.

II. Prepare one (1) standard work for flute such as:

Bach: Sonatas (any)
Mozart: Concerto (G or D)
Any works from the book “Flute Music by French Composers” (ed. by L. Moyse)
Hindemith: Sonata
Poulenc: Sonata

III. Prepare one (1) work of your choice. May be one movement from a selected piece.

Oboe

Clarinet

Undergraduate Audition Requirements (all degrees)

I. Repertoire

Two (2) Contrasting works: Record and upload two separate audition videos to the Get Acceptd platform. These may be movements from the standard clarinet literature and/or etudes.

Suggestions (not requirements)

Etude Books (student may choose to perform an etude from one of the following books)

Melodious and Progressive Etudes, Book 2, edited by David Hite, published by Southern Music
Rose's 32 Etudes

Standard Clarinet Literature (only a suggestion, other pieces may be used without prior permission)

II. Scales

During the live interview portion of your audition (which you schedule on the Get Acceptd platform) you will be asked to play 3 - 4 scales. Be prepared to play any major or minor scales (harmonic minor is preferable but you may perform a different form if that is what you are used to.

III. Sight Reading

During the live interview portion of your audition (which you schedule on the Get Acceptd platform) you will be asked to play some sight reading. Dr. Ferreira will contact you once you have completed your audition registration, uploaded your two contrasting audition video recordings to speak to you about the sight-reading portion of your interview.

Bassoon

Undergraduate Audition Requirements (all degrees)

FUNDAMENTALS:

All major scales and arpeggios, at a tempo of your choosing
Chromatic scale, indicating your full range, at a tempo of your choosing

One concert etude selected from:

Jancourt: 26 Melodic Etudes
Milde: Concert Studies
Weissenborn: 50 Advanced Studies

One solo composition of your choice

Include selections to demonstrate both lyrical (slow) and technical (fast) playing.

Suggested solos at or above approximate level of:

Bourdeau: Premier Solo
Brandon: Colored Stones
Mozart: Sonata, K. 292 or Concerto, K. 191
Hindemith: Sonate
Telemann: Sonata in F minor

Undergraduate Transfer Audition Requirements (all degrees)

If you are interested in transferring for your senior undergraduate year only, please contact me so we can discuss the specifics of your situation and expectations for study.

FUNDAMENTALS:

All major and minor scales and arpeggios
Chromatic scale, indicating your full range

One concert etude selected from:

Milde: Concert Studies
Weissenborn: 50 Advanced Studies
Piard: 90 Etudes or 16 Characteristic Studies

One solo composition of your choice, at or above the approximate level of:

Fasch: Sonata in CM
Siqueira: Drei Etuden
Mozart: Concerto, K. 191
Villa Lobos: Ciranda Das Sete Notas
Weber: Concerto in F Major

Two (2) orchestral excerpts of your choice

Saxophone

Undergraduate Audition Requirements (All Degrees)

Scales
- Major scales with arpeggios (as many keys as possible).
- Minor scales (ability to perform in at least one minor form) with arpeggios (also in as many keys as possible).
Sight reading (provided at audition)
Two Contrasting works: Audition should consist of contrasting selections or movements from standard saxophone literature and/or etudes.

Suggested Etude Books

A.M.R. Barret, Forty Progressive Melodies (for Saxophone), edited by Hite, Southern Music
W. Ferling, 48 Famous Studies (for Oboe or Saxophone), revised by Andraud, Southern Music (note: other editions of these studies, including the edition edited by Mule and published by Leduc, are fine as well)
Guy Lacour, 50 Etudes (50 Easy and Progressive Etudes): Book 2, Gerard Billaudot (publisher)

Suggested Standard Literature

Bozza, Aria
Creston, Sonata (any movement)
Glazounov, Concerto
Maurice, Tableaux de Provence (any movement)

OPTIONAL: A jazz etude or the performance of a jazz standard or classic with or without pre-recorded accompaniment. Improvisation is not required, but encouraged.

Trumpet

Horn

Undergraduate Audition Requirements (all degrees)

Required Solo Work (accompaniment optional)

All candidates for admission must perform the first movement or rondo of a Mozart Concerto for Horn (K.412, K.417, K.447, or K.495). The Mozart Concert Rondo (K.371) or Mozart Horn Quintet (K.407) are also acceptable works.

Solo Work of Choice (accompaniment optional)

A solo movement of the candidate’s choice. This repertoire may include (but is not limited to):
- Beethoven, Sonata, Op. 17
- Bozza, En Foret
- Dukas, Villanelle
- Saint-Saens, Morceau de Concert
- Strauss, Franz, Concerto Op. 8
- Strauss, Richard, Concerto No. 1 or 2

Orchestral Excerpts (OPTIONAL)

Please choose any three (3) excerpts from the following list:
- Beethoven, Symphony No. 6, mvmt. III (horn 1)
- Brahms, Symphony No. 3, mvmt. III (horn 1)
- Mahler, Symphony No. 1, mvmt. III (horn 2)
- Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5, mvmt. I low tutti (horn 1)
- Strauss, Till Euilenspiegel, opening call (horn 1)
- Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 4, mvmt. I opening (horn 1 and/or 2)
- Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 5, mvmt. II (horn 1)
- Wagner, Gotterdammerung, Siegfried’s Rhine Journey Short Call (horn 1)

Trombone

Undergraduate Audition Requirements (all degrees)

Auditions to be accepted as a music major or music minor at CSU are performed for the entire brass faculty. Please be prepared to perform music from the categories listed below. There will also be a short interview portion with questions from the brass faculty, as well as a chance for the applicant to ask questions and tolearn more about the degree programs and brass department.

I. Scales

The applicant will be asked to perform a few two octave major scales and a chromatic scale of at least two octaves.

All scales must be performed ascending and descending
All scales must be performed by memory

IIa. Prepared Music, Undergraduate Tenor Trombone:

A prepared piece of the applicant's choice, featuring differing styles and showcasing the best of their abilities. The applicant may perform two short pieces/etudes, in contrasting styles, if they choose.

Suggested repertoire (not required):

Morceau Symphonique, Guilmant
Concertino Op.4, David
Cavatine, Camille Saint-Saens
Concerto, Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Melodious Etudes, Bordogni/Rochut
Any all-district/all-state audition piece, or piece of equal difficulty/quality

Please contact Dr. Drew Leslie, Assistant Professor of Trombone with any questions about repertoire choices.

IIb. Prepared Music, Undergraduate Bass Trombone

Suggested repertoire (not required):

Concerto Allegro, Lebedev
Concertino Basso, Lieb
Cameos, Jacob
Any all-district/all-state audition piece, or piece of equal difficulty/quality

Please contact Dr. Drew Leslie, Assistant Professor of Trombone with any questions about repertoire choices.

III. Sight-reading

All applicants will be asked to perform a short sight-reading passage.

Tuba and Euphonium

Undergraduate Audition Requirements (all degrees):

One complete, multi-movement work (concerto, sonata, or suite) from any historical period.
One lyrical, and one technical etude. Blazhevich, Rochut/Bordogni, Fink, Kopprasch, Snedecor, Tyrell, and Voxman etudes are highly recommended.
All major and minor scales, in quarter notes, quarter = 120 minimum. Be able to demonstrate the upper and lower extremities of your range.

Percussion

Undergraduate Audition Requirements (all degrees)

No pre-screen video is required.

Freshman Audition Requirements:

Snare drum: Contest solo from Peters, Cirone, Wilcoxon, Whaley, or the equivalent.
Mallet Percussion: Major/Natural Minor/Harmonic Minor Scales 2 octaves, Contest solo or etude for 2 mallets AND a contest solo or etude for 4 mallets.
Timpani: Contest solo or etude for at least 3 drums that includes rolls
Drum set (optional, but recommended): A demonstration of basic styles, i.e., Swing (trade 4’s), Latin, Rock.

Additional Requirements for Freshman Audition:

Snare drum rudiments from the PAS 40 Rudiments performed open-closed-open. Sight-reading on mallets.

Transfer Audition Requirements (demonstrate the following areas):

Snare drum: Etudes reflecting a concert and rudimental approach, i.e., Concert: Peters, Delecluse, Cirone: Rudimental: Wilcoxon; Pratt or equivalent.
Mallet Percussion: J.S. Bach transcription (2 or 4 mallet)
Four-Mallet suggested repertoire: Burritt: October Night, Deane: Etude for a Quiet Hall, Dietz: Madison’s Unicorn, Edwards: Marimba Dances, Klatzow: Inyanga, Sammut: Four Rotations, Smadbeck: Virginia Tate, Tanaka: Two Mvts. For Marimba, Stasack: Six Elegies Dancing, Stout: Astral Dance, Yoshioka: Suites 1-3
Timpani: Etude or Solo i.e., Delecluse, Hochrainer, Carter, or equivalent.
Drum Set: (demonstration of basic Swing, Rock, and Latin styles as listed below, and trade fours in each style)

Additional Requirements for Transfer Audition:

Snare drum rudiments from the PAS 40 - open/closed/open
Major and minor (natural, harmonic) scales (two octaves)
Sight-reading on mallets and snare drum

Voice

Undergraduate Voice Audition Information

Audition Information and Suggested Repertoire (all music majors and the minor)

I. Prospective first-year voice majors in Vocal Performance, Music Education, Music Therapy and Bachelor of Arts will demonstrate vocal technique as well as musical skills:

Perform two prepared vocal solos from memory (see repertoire suggestions below). A piano accompanist will be provided. Bring sheet music in the key you are singing.
Demonstrate musical skills through a brief music-reading exam (note names, key signature, time signatures, etc.), melodic sight-reading, rhythmic sight-reading, aural recall (tonal memory), and minimal piano proficiency (playing a single line vocal melody on the piano).

II. Audition Repertoire: solos are comparable to songs that would be prepared and memorized for high school All-State Choir auditions and solo/ensemble competitions. Prepare two contrasting selections:

One art song or aria* in Italian or English
A second art song or aria in English, Italian, German, French, or Spanish (one musical theater, spiritual, or folk song selection may be substituted for either song).

*Opera arias from the 19th century (Puccini, Verdi etc.) are discouraged for freshman singers. Opera or oratorio arias from the 17^th and 18^th century are appropriate (Handel, Caldara, Scarlatti, etc.).

III. Suggested Repertoire – selections from:

The First Book of Soprano (or Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone) Solos
The Second Book of Soprano (or Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone) Solos
26 Italian Songs and Arias, (Medium High or Medium Low)
Folk Songs for Solo Singers, (Medium High or Medium Low) – (published by Alfred)

IV. Audition Dress – Professional dress is recommended: skirts/dresses/dressy slacks for women; dress slacks/dress shirt for men. Please, no jeans, T-shirts, or sneakers.

V. Transfer Student Auditions

Perform two prepared vocal solos or arias from memory, appropriate to your training and experience. A piano accompanist will be provided. Bring sheet music in the key you are singing. Bring a performance resume and/or repertoire list if you have one.
Demonstrate musical skills as requested.

VI. Voice students seeking the Music Education or Music Therapy degree path will also have an interview with faculty from those areas.

Piano

Undergraduate Audition Requirements

Two contrasting pieces: A movement of a classical sonata (Mozart, Haydn, or Beethoven), a work form the 19th century (e.g., Chopin Prelude, Nocturne, or Fantasy Impromptu; Brahms Intermezzo, etc.) a Bach Invention or Prelude & Fugue from the WTC, an Impressionistic work (Debussy Prelude or Ravel piece), or 20th Century (Bartok, Ginastera, Gershwin, etc.).
Scales: major and minor
Sight reading: Level of vocal arias, hymns, etc.
NOTE: Performance major auditions should be played from memory; music therapy and music education auditions may use music.

Piano and the B.M., Music Education Concentration

Pianists may audition for the keyboard faculty for the B.M. Music Education Concentration as either choral-track or instrumental-track. Piano will be considered as their principal instrument on which they will pursue applied study. Piano applicants must also interview with the Music Education area to be considered for the B.M. Music Education degree program, and should have experience as a performing member of one or more large, secondary music ensembles to receive consideration for admittance into the degree program.

Organ and Liturgical Studies

Fall 2021 Start

Our official audition/interview days have concluded, however, we are still accepting late auditions. Auditions and scholarship will be considered on a space-available basis.

If you have additional concerns or questions, please email Murray.Oliver@colostate.edu.

Fall 2022 Start - Audition Dates

Saturday, Dec. 4 (in-person only, half day)
Saturday, Jan. 22 (in-person/online, full day)
Monday, Feb. 14 (in-person only, half day)
Saturday, Feb. 19 (in-person/online, full day)

The Fall 2022 start audition application will open on Sept. 1, 2021.

Audition Details for All Applicants

All prospective students will submit an application through the Acceptd audition portal.
Please refer to the audition requirements and suggested repertoire for your instrument and degree area.
Once the application is complete, you will schedule your live audition and interview sessions.
Interview Session Details:
- Students will have a 10-minute interview with an applied music faculty panel. Additional scales and sight reading may be requested. Voice students will be vocalized during the interview.
- Music Therapy and Music Education applicants will have an additional interview with faculty from these areas.
  - Sight-reading and pitch-matching ability will be assessed during the interview.
  - The interview will be hosted by the faculty and recorded in Zoom.

Audition Details for Online Auditions

All prospective students choosing to audition virtually will submit an application and video audition through the Acceptd audition portal.
Please refer to the audition requirements and suggested repertoire for your instrument and degree area.
After your application is submitted, including your audition video, you will be able to schedule your interview session(s).
- Percussionist, please note: Percussion auditions and interviews will be hosted by the student in Zoom. You will invite Dr. Hollenbeck and record the session. This is the video that will be uploaded to Zoom.
- Video audition length should be approximately ten minutes and selected pieces should be representative of your best ability.

Resume and Letters

As part of the audition registration process, please upload an artistic/performance resume. An artistic resume is a list of the performances of which you have been a part, groups with which you have performed, a list of solos or instances that you been individually featured in a piece of music, competitions you have entered, awards you have won, Teachers with whom you have studied, and any other information that you feel tells us something about what you have done as an artist.
You are also asked to provide the names and email addresses of two references.

Notification

Acceptance letters and notifications of scholarships awarded will occur on an ongoing basis throughout the acceptance process.

Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded based on audition day results. There is no separate audition for scholarships and you must audition in-person for full scholarship consideration. Full list of undergraduate scholarships.

Ensemble Auditions

Auditions for your placement in the ensembles are held each semester the weekend before classes begin. Ensemble audition information.