Audition Material

Classical Guitar | Composition | Percussion | Piano | String | Voice | Woodwind and Brass

Below is information for undergraduate audition material. Click here for information regarding graduate and certificate audition material.

**Videos of audition repertoire are optional for the School of Music application. Applicants MUST audition in person on their selected audition day to be considered. SHSU faculty may use videos to assess your current ability level.

Students are only required to audition on their primary instrument/voice type. For those interested in Music Therapy, please take note of the additional requirements. Composition majors also have additional requirements.

Classical Guitar

  • All auditioning students are required to perform on a nylon string guitar, and with proper classical guitar technique (no plectrum / pick).

Performance

Music Therapy

Theory & Composition

Composition

Applicants to the Bachelor of Music in Composition degree program will need to complete a virtual interview and informational session with Dr. Kyle Kindred well prior to the applicant's instrumental or vocal audition date. Instrumental or vocal audition materials may vary according to the ability of the composer applicant. This can be discussed during your preliminary interview.

Percussion

Percussion requirements and repertoire suggestions can be found here: https://www.shsu.edu/academics/music/ensembles-divisions/division/percussion/auditions.html​

Contact Dr. John Lane at jwl002@shsu.edu for any questions.

Piano

Performance

  • Students will perform up to thirty minutes of memorized repertoire representing a minimum of three of the following four style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionist/ Contemporary. Required: A complete sonata by Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven (excluding Opus 49, K. 282, 331, and 545). Recommended: Prelude and Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier, a solo piece from the Romantic repertoire, and a work by a representative 20th Century/Contemporary composer. The student will also be asked to play all Major and minor scales, 4 octaves ascending and descending (minimum speed: quarter note = 120) and an excerpt of sight-reading.

Music Therapy

  • Students will perform a fast movement from a classical period sonata (same exclusions apply) and two contrasting period works. The sonata must be memorized, and memorization for the two contrasting works is optional. Scales and sightreading requirements remain the same.
  • New age, popular, contemporary Christian, and other similar styles of music will not be accepted.

Music Education: Choral/Piano

  • Scales: Students should prepare major and harmonic minor scales, 4 octaves with hands together, and both major and minor arpeggios, 4 octaves with hands together.
  • Repertoire: Students should prepare three different pieces from three different periods. Two of the pieces should be memorized. There will also be a short sight reading exercise.
  • Additionally, to be accepted into the choral/piano music education degree, students must also audition for the voice faculty. Students should prepare one foreign language selection from the standard classical vocal repertoire. Students may bring their own accompanist or one will be provided. Please bring a copy of the sheet music to the audition to share with the accompanist. The accompanist's copy should be prepared with all the notes on the page, double-sided, and in a three-ringed binder. Music must be in the key in which you will sing. Students will have the opportunity to work with the accompanist briefly before their audition. Students will be asked to sight read a short musical passage, and may also be asked to repeat short melodic passages (played on the piano) to demonstrate tonal memory and musicianship skills. Contact music@shsu.edu to schedule an audition with the voice faculty.
  • Please contact Dr. Ilonka Rus at 936-294-1385 (lir001@shsu.edu) for questions about the piano requirements.

Strings

Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass

  • Memorization is required for music performance majors. For all other majors, memorization is optional.
    • Performance Majors will prepare a movement from a standard concerto with cadenza (if applicable), and a contrasting piece or movement from a sonata or concerto. In addition, applicants should be prepared to play any three-octave scale of the committee's choosing, major or minor (melodic mode), and two arpeggios (minor arpeggio and major arpeggio in three octaves).
    • Other Majors (Music Education, Music Therapy, Bachelor of Arts, Composition) will prepare one three-octave scale and two arpeggios (minor arpeggio and major arpeggio), and two contrasting pieces or movements from a sonata or concerto.
    • Transfer students will prepare two contrasting pieces or movements from a sonata or concerto and all major and melodic minor scales. Transfer Music Education majors will prepare three-octave scales. Transfer Music Therapy, Bachelor of Arts and Composition majors will prepare two-octave scales.

Harp

  • Applicants will prepare two contrasting pieces or movements from a sonata or concerto, and one orchestral excerpt from the standard literature. Performance majors must play at least one of the pieces or movements from memory.

Voice

Music Education, Performance, or Music Therapy

  • Students should prepare two selections from the standard classical vocal repertoire; one selection should be in a foreign language (examples of appropriate literature can be found in the “Texas UIL Prescribed Music List”). Contemporary Christian, musical theater, country, pop and jazz music will not be accepted. Music must be memorized.
  • Students may bring their own accompanist or one will be provided. Please bring a copy of the sheet music to the audition to share with the accompanist. The accompanist’s copy should be prepared with all the notes on the page, double-sided and contained in a three-ringed binder. Music must be in the keys in which you will sing. Students will have the opportunity to work with the accompanist briefly before their audition.
  • Prospective students will be asked to sight-read a short musical passage. Students may also be asked to repeat short melodic passages (played on the piano) to demonstrate tonal memory and musicianship skills.
  • Transfer students in voice must sing four standard classical selections with a minimum of three languages represented.

Woodwind and Brass

  • Wind players should prepare one or two solos or etudes, which demonstrate technical facility as well as lyrical, expressive playing. Sight-reading and/or scales may be requested. An accompanist is not necessary. Music may be used. Check with your applied instructor for instrument-specific requirements.

Saxophone

  • At the audition, you will be asked to play:
    • Full range chromatic scale (low Bb to high F# ascending and descending)
    • Full range major scales
    • One etude from the All-State audition, Ferling "48 Etudes," or Berbiguier "18 Studies" (Click the link to download the music from imslp.org)
    • Prepared piece (We will not require or provide accompanist, however, you are welcomed to bring your own if you wish.)
    • Please email Dr. Masahito Sugihara with any questions or concerns.
  • Suggested Repertoire:

Jean Absil, Sonata (Lemoine)
J.S. Bach-Mule, Sonata No. 6 (Leduc)
Eugene Bozza, Concertino (Leduc)
E. Bozza, Improvisation et Caprice (Leduc)
Paul Creston, Sonata (Shawnee)  
Claude Debussy, Rhapsodie pour Saxophone (Durand)
Jean Françaix, Cinq Danses Exotiques(Schott)
Alexander Glazounov, Concerto in E Flat (Leduc)
Ida Gotkovsky, Brillance (Billaudot)
Bernhard Heiden, Sonata (Schott)
Jacques Ibert, Concertino da Camera (Leduc)
Paule Maurice, Tableaux de Provence (Lemoine)
Darius Milhaud, Scaramouche (Durand)
Robert Muczynski, Sonata (Schirmer)
Claude Pascal, Sonatine (Durand)
Henri Tomasi, Introduction et Danse (Leduc)
Fisher Tull, Sarabande and Gigue (Boosey)

You can play one or two movements from the listed compositions above. You may also choose other works of similar difficulty.

Additional Music Therapy Requirements

  • In addition to the School of Music audition on your primary instrument/voice type, those applying for admission to the Music Therapy undergraduate program must interview with Music Therapy faculty. Students should contact the Director of Music Therapy at musictherapy@shsu.edu or (936)294-1376 to schedule the interview, which can take place at any time during the application process.