Primary Instrument Requirements
Guitar:
- One transcription of a work written before 1750
- One classical or romantic selection written for guitar
Harp:
- Handel: B-Flat Concerto - first movement
- Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker ‘Waltz of the Flowers’ cadenza
- Two contrasting solo pieces of your choice
Brass and Wind:
- Two contrasting pieces from the standard solo literature of your instrument (One lyrical; One technical).
Organ:
- One of each of the following pieces. Up to two of these pieces may be played on the piano.
- Baroque Composition
- Romantic Composition
- Contemporary Composition
Note: Please be prepared for sight-reading and ear tests.
Percussion:
- One snare drum piece
- One mallet piece using two or four mallets
- One timpani piece using two or four drums
Note: All three areas are desired, but consideration will still be given to those who are weak in one of the aforementioned instruments.
If you are interested in playing in Jazz Ensemble, please be prepared to audition on drum set as well, demonstrating various styles and grooves (Swing, rock and latin).
Piano:
- All students must play two of the three pieces or movements representing three different stylistic periods; the pieces performed must be memorized:
- Bach’s Two- part Invention or a movement from any of Bach’s Suite that contains counterpoint
- A Romantic piece of an appropriate difficulty level, such as Chopin Nocturne or Mazurkas
- Classical Sonata/Sonatina Allegro movement, such as Beethoven’s Sonatas Op. 49 or many of Kuhlau or Clementi Sonatinas
- Note: This audition does not affect your acceptance to the Conservatory as your composition submissions are the determining factor; this audition will be used to determine private lesson and/or course placement for your secondary area (the instrument you will study at Biola).
This repertoire is the minimum standard. More advanced selections are allowed; please contact at music@biola.edu for repertoire consideration.
If you wish to opt out of this piano audition, you will be automatically placed in the Keyboard Skills courses. To test out of the Keyboard Skills courses, you will need to take the Keyboard Placement Survey.
Strings:
- Violin
- One movement from a Bach unaccompanied sonata or partita.
- One movement from a concerto of your choice
- Sight-reading, scales and arpeggios may be requeste
- If submitting an online audition, include one major and one minor scale of your choice (can be the same or different keys); both scales should be three-octaves. (Additionally, see online submission guidelines below.)
- Viola
- One movement from a Bach unaccompanied sonata, partita, or suite.
- One movement from a concerto of your choice
- Sight-reading, scales and arpeggios may be requeste
- If submitting an online audition, include three octave D Major scale (ascending & descending) and a three-octave D Major arpeggio (additionally, see online submission guidelines below).
- Cello
- One movement from a Bach unaccompanied suite
- One etude by Popper or Duport (or equivalent)
- One movement from the concerto of your choice
- Sight-reading, scales and arpeggios may be requested
- If submitting an online audition, include three octave Eb and A minor scale and arpeggio (additionally, see online submission guidelines below).
- Double Bass
- Major and Minor scales or an etude of your choice
- One movement from baroque or classical sonata or concerto, or a one-movement piece
- If submitting an online audition, include one major and one minor scale of their choice (can be the same or different keys); both scales should be three-octaves. (Additionally, see online submission guidelines below.)
Voice:
- Two contrasting classical art songs (one can be an aria from any opera or oratorio) in any language.
- Both pieces must be memorized.
- Acceptable selections may be found in the 24 or 26 Italian Art Songs and Arias published by G. Schirmer, and any art song, aria, or oratorio anthology or collection published by Hal Leonard or G. Schirmer
Note: An accompanist will be provided.