AUDITION & PLACEMENT
An entrance audition is required for admission into the Music Education or Music Performance options of the Music Program at California State University, Dominguez Hills. During the audition students will also be considered for scholarship awards. If a student is unable to attend this audition date, they are asked to contact the Music Department in order to schedule an individual audition.
Audition Day for incoming students for the Fall 2018 semester is:
Saturday, February 17, 2018
To be accepted into the Department of Music, students must also apply and be accepted for admission to the University. Information on how to apply to CSUDH is available here: http://www.csudh.edu/future-students/
Please note that the Priority Application dates are October 1st – November 30th for freshmen and transfer students. The university does not accept late applications and there are no Spring semester admits.
To schedule an audition, complete and submit the audition application no later than the deadline of Wednesday, January 31, 2018. If you have any further questions, please contact the CSUDH Department of Music by emailing Dr. Scott Morris at ssmorris@csudh.edu or by calling (310) 243-2049.
AREA REQUIREMENTS
Each area of study has its own unique set of requirements. Any questions about specific requirements should be directed to the Area Supervisors listed below.
Voice
Incoming freshman vocalists should be prepared to sing two songs of contrasting style. An accompanist will be provided. Voice students wishing to transfer at the junior level should present three songs of contrasting style, one of which must be an art song or aria in a language other than English. An accompanist will be provided. Questions about the voice audition requirements should be directed to Dr. Dawn Brooks at dbrooks@csudh.edu.
Piano (classical) - all memorized:
Applicants to the Classical Piano Program must prepare:
- J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue (at least 3 voice) from Well Tempered Clavier
- Chopin: Etude (or equivalent)
- Classical Sonata (1st movement) OR 20th- 21st Century work
Questions about the piano audition requirements should be directed to Dr. Stephen Moore at sfmoore@csudh.edu.
Piano (jazz)
Applicants to the Jazz Piano Program must prepare:
- Movement from a Classical Sonata, Chopin Etude, OR Bach Prelude and Fugue (memorized)
- Rhythm Tune and a contrasting style
Questions about the piano audition requirements should be directed to Dr. Stephen Moore at sfmoore@csudh.edu.
Woodwinds and Brass
Trumpet
Applicants must prepare:
- Two solo pieces of contrasting styles. Example: Kennan Trumpet Sonata, movement 1, Hummel Trumpet concerto, movement 2.
- Standard etude. Example, Charlier, Etude #2. Arban, Characteristic study #1
- Orchestral Excerpts
- Mussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition, Promenade
- Respighi - Pines of Rome, offstage solo
- Beethoven - Leonore Overture No. 3
Saxophone (classical)
Auditions can be played on alto, tenor, baritone, or soprano saxophone. All saxophonists entering the saxophone performance program 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.
Woodwinds (clarinet, oboe, and flute)
Applicants must prepare:
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 the woodwinds and brass audition requirements should be directed to Dr. Rik Noyce at dnoyce@csudh.edu
Strings (violin, viola, cello, double-bass, and harp)
Applicants to the Strings Program must prepare:
- Two selections in contracting styles with or without an accompanist from the standard repertoire
- Major and minor scales
- Standard etude
Questions about the strings audition requirements should be directed to Dr. Scott Morris at ssmorris@csudh.edu.
Composition
Students applying to the Composition option must submit two original, fully notated works. Applicant must also supply 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.
Commercial or Jazz Guitar
Students applying for degrees in Music Performance or Music Education with guitar (non-classical) as their primary instrument must demonstrate the following skills at a satisfactory level before the start of their first semester of study:
- 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
- Some individual guitar instruction and a letter of recommendation from most recent teacher
Questions about the guitar audition requirements should be directed to Dr. Scott Morris at ssmorris@csudh.edu.
Classical Guitar
Applicants must prepare:
- Two pieces of contrasting styles
- Giuliani’s “120 studies, Op. 1”, numbers 1-50 (do not need to be memorized)
- Segovia’s Diatonic Major and Minor Scales (sharp keys only)
Questions about the guitar audition requirements should be directed to Dr. Scott Morris at ssmorris@csudh.edu.
PLACEMENT EXAMS
For appropriate placement in musicianship, theory, and piano courses a placement exam is required. Students planning to take 100-level musicianship, theory, or piano courses DO NOT need to take a proficiency exam.
Musicianship Placement and Proficiency Exam
Dr. Stephen Moore (Email: sfmoore@csudh.edu)
Time and Location TBD
Music Theory Placement and Proficiency Exam
Dr. Stephen Moore (Email: sfmoore@csudh.edu)
Time and Location TBD
Keyboard Placement and Proficiency Exam
Dr. Mary Au (Email: mau@csudh.edu)
Time and Location TBD
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