Audition Requirements

Music/Music Education major auditions are scheduled by the School Coordinator. Typically students audition in advance of their matriculation at Trinity; alternately a sign up sheet is posted at the beginning of the fall semester, and auditions are scheduled during the first week of classes. Upon request, and with sufficient notice, an accompanist will be supplied for non keyboard players. In addition to filling out the forms (available from the Coordinator), and being ready to play scales/technical drills or to sight-read if asked, prospective majors should prepare the following repertoire for the audition:

Pianists

1. Any prelude and fugue from The Well-Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach
2. Any first movement of a sonata by Beethoven, Haydn, or Mozart
3. A short work from the nineteenth century (e.g., by Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Mendelssohn, or Brahms) or twentieth century (e.g., by Bartok or Kabalevsky)

Organists

Two contrasting works from the standard classical organ literature

Vocalists

For those who are currently or have recently studied voice with a private teacher:
Three contrasting songs or arias, including at least one in Italian, French, or German.

For those who have never studied or not recently studied voice privately:
Two challenging vocal passages from pieces sung in high school choir--considered one piece; Hymn or National Anthem; and Music theatre piece or contemporary Christian song.

String players (including guitarists), woodwind players, and brass players

1. Two contrasting (i.e., style, tempo) pieces from the standard classical solo literature
2. Excerpts from band/orchestral literature (selections)

Percussionists

1. Snare drum: an etude demonstrating your present level of technical ability (e.g., from Portraits in Rhythm by Anthony Cirone, Contemporary Studies for Snare Drum by Fred Albright, or 12 Etudes for the Snare Drum by Jacques Delecluse), rudiments, and orchestral style rolls at all dynamic levels
2. Two of the following:

a) Mallets: a two and/or four mallet solo demonstrating present level of technical ability and musicianship. Major and minor scales and arpeggios (with inversion)--two octaves up and down with right an/or left hand lead

b) Timpani: a two-drum (or more) timpani solo (e.g., from The Modern Method for Timpani by Saul Goodman, The Solo Timpanist by Vic Firth or Technique for the Virtuoso Timpanist by Fred Hinger.) Demonstrate rolls at various dynamic levels and ability to tune to given pitches.

c) Drum Set: demonstration of various styles (e.g., swing, funk, samba, bossa nova, mamba, waltz, rock, trading "fours" in 3/4 and 4/4.

Performance from memory is generally more impressive if the performer is secure; if not, the auditioners will listen to a performance from the score. Also, please submit three copies of each audition piece to the jury with your completed forms.