Audition & Placement

Guitar

• Play the following scales in steady rhythmic time with both straight eighth and swing; eighth notes (two octaves): C major, A minor, G major, E minor, major pentatonic, minor pentatonic.
• Play basic major and minor chords related to a major key. EXAMPLE: C major = CM, Dm, Em, FM, G7, Am, Bdim.
• Perform two well-known tunes (jazz/pop/blues) in contrasting styles accompanied by backing tracks
• Demonstrate the ability read simple melodies
• Experience playing in a rock or jazz band and/or school orchestra/choir/band
• Questions about jazz and contemporary guitar audition requirements should be directed to Dr. Scott Morris at ssmorris@csudh.edu.

Voice

• Voice students should present two songs of contrasting style
• Questions about voice audition requirements should be directed to Professor Kendra Vuk at kvuk@csudh.edu

Woodwinds and Brass

• Scales - Play the following scale types in at least two different keys:
• • Major
  • Minor (Dorian preferred)
• Play the following songs with an instrumental accompaniment such as a live band or a play-a-long track such as iReal (for smartphones) or Jamey Aebersold.
• A 12-bar blues in either the key of Bb or F.
• A tune of your choice – play the melody and improvise.
• • Suggestions include: Autumn Leaves, Summertime, Maiden Voyage, Mr. P.C.
• A transcription by a master performer on your instrument.
• Questions about jazz and contemporary woodwinds and brass audition requirements should be directed to Dr. Teodross Avery at teavery@csudh.edu.

Percussion

• Two pieces in contrasting styles such Jazz, Rock, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and Funk accompanied by a backing track
• A rudimental snare drum etude/study
• Questions about jazz and contemporary percussion audition requirements should be directed to Professor Efa Etoroma at eetoroma@csudh.edu

Bass

• Ability to create walking jazz & modern bass lines and explain the approach chosen
• Understanding of all the features of the bass & how they work together to create notes
• Ability to play a basic major, minor, & other scales
• Understanding of basic diatonic harmony including the ability to play intervals from a root
• Questions about bass audition requirements should be directed to Professor Trevor Ware at tware@csudh.edu.

Guitar

• Two pieces of contrasting styles.
• Giuliani’s 120 studies, Op. 1, numbers 1-50 (does not need to be memorized)
• Segovia’s Diatonic Major and Minor Scales (sharp keys only).
• Questions about classical guitar audition requirements should be directed to Dr. Scott Morris at ssmorris@csudh.edu

Voice

• Voice students should present two songs of contrasting style, one of which must be an art song or aria in a language other than English
• Questions about voice audition requirements should be directed to Professor Kendra Vuk at kvuk@csudh.edu

Woodwinds and Brass

• Two selections of contrasting periods/styles from the standard repertoire such as a movement from a standard sonata or concerto.
• Technique:
• • Major scales (two or three octaves when applicable)
  • An unaccompanied etude
  • Questions about woodwinds and brass audition requirements should be directed to Dr. Kathleen Janert at kjanert@csudh.edu.

Classical Saxophone

• Auditions can be played on alto, tenor, baritone, or soprano saxophone. All saxophonists entering in classical saxophone performance are required to play alto saxophone for individual instruction.
• Select one solo and perform two movements:
• • Henri Eccles/Sigurd M. Rascher: Sonata (1st and 2nd movement, or 1st and 4th movement
  • Paule Maurice: Tableaux de Provence (1st, 2nd, and 3rd movement, or 4th and 5th movement)
  • George Frederick Handel/Marcel Mule: Sonata No.1 (1st and 2nd movement)
• Scales: major, minor, and chromatic (two or three octaves when applicable)
• Etudes: Two contrasting (fast-slow) selections from the Ferling 48 Studies or comparable etudes
• Note: Saxophone auditions do not need to be played from memory. You may use sheet music for reference
• Questions about classical saxophone audition requirements should be directed to Dr. Chika Inoue at cinoue@csudh.edu

Brass (High and Low)

• Two selections of contrasting periods/styles from the standard repertoire such as a movement from a standard sonata or concerto.
• Technique:
• • Major scales (two or three octaves when applicable)
  • An unaccompanied etude
• Questions about woodwinds and brass audition requirements should be directed to Dr. Kathleen Janert at kjanert@csudh.edu

Percussion

• Two selections in contrasting styles
• Standard etude
• Questions about percussion audition requirements should be directed to Dr. Kathleen Janert@kjanert@csudh.edu.

Piano

• Note: All piano auditions must play from memory.
• Transfer at the 200 level:
• • J.S. Bach: Two- or Three-Part Invention.
  • A piece or movement in a contrasting style.
• Transfer at the 300 level:
• • J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue (at least 3 voice) from Well-Tempered Clavier
  • A piece or movement in a contrasting style
• Questions about piano audition requirements should be directed to Dr. Stephen Moore at sfmoore@csudh.edu.

Classical Strings (violin, viola, cello, double-bass, and harp)

• Two selections in contracting styles with or without an accompanist from the standard repertoire
• Major and minor scales
• Standard etude
• Questions about strings audition requirements should be directed to Dr. Kathleen Janert at kjanert@csudh.edu

Composition

• Two original, fully notated works.
• An audio recording of submitted works. Traditional recordings, MIDI files, or video links are all acceptable.
• Noted scores should be mailed or emailed before the audition date to Dr. Jonathon Grasse at jgrasse@csudh.edu
• Once accepted, composition students are also eligible for the New Century Music Scholarship in Composition.
• Questions about composition audition requirements should be directed to Dr. Jonathon Grasse at jgrasse@csudh.edu