Applied Studios
Vocal
Freshmen are to perform one song. Transfer students are to prepare two songs, one in a foreign language. Graduate students are to prepare a program of six memorized songs, representing major style periods and languages (English, Italian/Latin, German, French) from which the voice faculty will choose selections for the audition. Musical Theatre majors can sing musical theatre songs. Songs must be from the Texas UIL Prescribed Music List (solos) or other standard classical vocal repertoire. No country, pop or jazz music is allowed. Music must be memorized. Taped accompaniments are not allowed. Please bring a copy of the sheet music to the audition to share with the accompanist that is provided. You will have a chance to briefly work with the accompanist prior to your audition.

Keyboard
Memorization is required for all students applying to the piano program.

Undergraduate Performance Majors – Three contrasting works chosen from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic and Contemporary periods

Non-Performance Majors – Two contrasting works chosen from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic and Contemporary periods

Graduate
A recital program of at least 30 minutes representing a minimum of three contrasting works chosen from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic and Contemporary periods, demonstrating high levels of technical and musical abilities. The repertoire should include all or part of a Classical Sonata.

Jazz Piano requires an additional jazz audition. Please see the Jazz Area below.

Instrumental (brass & woodwind)

• Oboe / Flute
  The student will be asked to demonstrate knowledge of scales by playing a chromatic scale encompassing the practical range of the instrument and major scales chosen by the faculty from the following list: C, G, D, A, E, F, Bb, Eb, and Ab.The student will perform excerpts from contrasting movements of a Class I solo from the Texas UIL Prescribed Music List or two etudes (one slow & one fast). Students will also be asked to sight read. An accompanist is not required.
• Sax
  *Due to unexpected high enrollment in saxophone, only a limited number of new students can be accepted. The student will be asked to demonstrate knowledge of scales by playing a chromatic scale encompassing the practical range of the instrument and major scales chosen by the faculty from the following list: C, G, D, A, E, F, Bb, Eb, and Ab. (Download a scale sheet here - for Saxophone) The student will perform excerpts from contrasting movements of a Class I solo from the Texas UIL Prescribed Music List or two etudes (one slow & one fast). Students will also be asked to sight read. An accompanist is not required.
• Clarinet
  Students auditioning on clarinet will be expected to play the chromatic scale for three octaves (from low E to high E and back down), and they should also play major and minor scales (up and down) to whatever extent, and in whatever forms, they have learned them.The student will perform excerpts from contrasting movements of a Class I solo from the Texas UIL Prescribed Music List or two etudes (one slow & one fast). Students will also be asked to sight read. An accompanist is not required.
• Bassoon
  The student will perform excerpts from contrasting movements of a Class I solo from the Texas UIL Prescribed Music List or two etudes (one slow & one fast). Students will also be asked to sight read. An accompanist is not required.
• Trumpet
  The student will be asked to perform major and chromatic scales as well as excerpts from contrasting movements of a Class I solo from the Texas UIL Prescribed Music List or two etudes (one slow & one fast). Students will also be asked to sight read. An accompanist is not required.
• Trombone (Download a scale sheet here - [for Tenor Trombone ] [for Bass Trombone ]).
  The student will be asked to perform major and chromatic scales as well as excerpts from contrasting movements of a Class I solo from the Texas UIL Prescribed Music List or two etudes (one slow & one fast). Students will also be asked to sight read. An accompanist is not required.
• French Horn
  The student will be asked to perform major and chromatic scales as well as excerpts from contrasting movements of a Class I solo from the Texas UIL Prescribed Music List or two etudes (one slow & one fast). Students will also be asked to sight read. An accompanist is not required.
• Tuba / Euphonium (Download a scale sheet here - [for Tuba ] [for Euphonium ]).
  The student will perform excerpts from contrasting movements of a Class I solo from the Texas UIL Prescribed Music List or two etudes (one slow & one fast). In addition to the required 12 major scales the candidate will be asked to perform a chromatic scale, two-octaves from F-F.Students will also be asked to sight read. An accompanist is not required.
  

Instrumental (percussion)
Perform excerpts from contrasting movements of a Class I solo from the Texas UIL Prescribed Music List or two etudes (one slow & one fast). Students will also need to perform on snare and a keyboard instrument. Drum set and timpani are optional. Students will also be asked to sight read. An accompanist is not required.

Instrumental (orchestral strings)
Prepare two contrasting sections or movements from a concerto, sonata, or equivalent piece that show contrasting musical style and tempo. One piece should be slow and lyrical, and the other should be faster and more technical. Students will also be asked to play one or two 3-octave scales and sight read. An accompanist is not required.

Instrumental (classical guitar) (Jazz majors see below)
Music majors auditioning with guitar as their primary instrument (Guitar Performance, Music Education, Jazz Studies and SRT Sound Recording Technology) are required to perform two selections from the classical repertoire (on a nylon string guitar, no plectrum, with proper classical technique) such as a Carcassi study, Sor study (anything from the Sophocles Papas edition Nos. 1 - 30) or a Brouwer Etudes Simples (nos. 1 - 5).  If capable, you may also perform a concert work such as a single movement from a Bach Lute Suite, Giuliani Sonatine, Torroba Castles of Spain or like material.  We will also ask you to play scales.  Usually we ask for major scales in any key, two octaves are preferred.  Preparations of Segovia scales are encouraged (from C to B major and their relative harmonic minors).  Also, work on sight-reading as we include that as part of your audition.

Instrumental (electric bass) SRT only (Jazz majors see below)
SRT majors need to audition on electric or acoustic bass. Prepare two pieces of contrasting tempos from the standard repertoire. They must be solos, not bass lines. Standard repertoire can be found in Jaco Pastorius repertoire (Dotzauer Cello Etudes, Bach Cello Suites, etc.) or from other publications that are appropriate (written out jazz solos, double bass etudes, etc.). Please bring copies to the audition. Please be prepared to sight-read.

• All wind, string, percussion, and piano students must audition and be accepted on his/her primary instrument by the classical applied faculty listed above. For information regarding the classical component of the audition please check on this page under your instrument heading.
• All wind, string, drum, and piano students must audition on his/her primary instrument for the Jazz Studies faculty.
  
  • Piano majors must audition for Hank Hehmsoth: Hank@txstate.edu.
  • Trumpet majors must audition for Dr. Keith Winking: kw09@txstate.edu
  • Drum-Set players must audition for Butch Miles: cm52@txstate.edu
  • All others (Bass, and others) audition for Freddie Mendoza: fm11@txstate.edu

Each instrument's Audition Repertoire select below:

Ensembles
Bobcat Marching Band
By audition only. Auditions open to all TxState students, regardless of major. Auditioning students must perform excerpts from contrasting movements of a Class I solo from the Texas UIL Prescribed Music List or two etudes (one slow and one fast). Students will also be asked to sight read. An accompanist is not required.

Symphonic Band
By audition only. Auditions open to all TxState students, regardless of major. This ensemble meets only during the spring semester. Auditioning students must perform excerpts from contrasting movements of a Class I solo from the Texas UIL Prescribed Music List or two etudes (one slow & one fast). Students will also be asked to sight read. An accompanist is not required.

Wind Ensemble
By audition only. Auditions open to all TxState students, regardless of major. Auditioning students must perform excerpts from contrasting movements of a Class I solo from the Texas UIL Prescribed Music List or two etudes (one slow & one fast). Students will also be asked to sight read. An accompanist is not required.

Concert Band
No audition required. All students, regardless of major, may participate in this band.

Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra
By audition only. Auditions open to all TxState students, regardless of major. Auditioning students must prepare the excerpts provided here and on the orchestra website. Play three of the excerpts to audition only for the Symphony Orchestra or play ALL FIVE excerpts to audition for both the Chamber and Symphony Orchestra. You must also perform a short excerpt from a piece of music of your choosing. Your choice should include both lyrical and technical passages.  Sight-reading will be required.

Jazz Bands
By audition only. Auditions open to all TxState students, regardless of major. Auditioning students should have knowledge of the jazz idiom, perform a prepared piece as well as sight read music chosen by the directors. The student should also be able to improvise at least at a beginning level.

University Chorale
By audition only. This ensemble is made up of primarily voice majors and experienced singers who are non-majors. This ensemble tours throughout the Southwest. Singers do not need to prepare a solo for this audition. The audition will include vocalizing, pitch memory and ear training exercises, and sight reading.

Opera Workshop
By audition only.  Auditioning students must prepare an opera aria, musical theatre or dramatic style art song for this audition.  This ensemble serves beginner and intermediate singers chosen from Vocal Performance, Vocal Music Education, BA and Musical Theater majors, and specializes in establishing the connection between acting and singing.  A performance of arias and opera scenes is presented at the culmination of the semester.  Some casting for the mainstage opera season occurs from this ensemble.  This ensemble fulfills a requirement for the degree of Vocal Performance in Voice.

Opera Theatre
By Audition only. Auditioning students must prepare an opera aria, as well as a one minute monologue from a play written after 1900.  This ensemble is open to Master’s students, as well as those undergraduate students who have completed the prerequisite Opera Workshop, and show high potential in this area.  Two fully staged performances each year, as well as scenes programs, are cast primarily from this ensemble.  May be repeated for credit.

Men's Choir
By audition only. This ensemble performs great music written for tenor/bass choirs. Singers do not need to prepare a solo for this audition. The audition will include vocalizing, pitch memory and ear training exercises, and sight reading.

University Singers
By audition only. This popular ensemble is comprised of students from a wide variety of majors. This group performs throughout central Texas. Singers do not need to prepare a solo for this audition. The audition will include vocalizing, pitch memory and ear training exercises, and sight reading.

Women's Choir
By audition only. This ensemble performs music written for soprano/alto choirs and it travels to Texas Collegiate Women's Choir festival each year. Singers do not need to prepare a solo for this audition. The audition will include vocalizing, pitch memory and ear training exercises, and sight reading.

Voce Libre
By audition only. This vocal jazz ensemble performs primarily a cappella vocal jazz music and works in other popular singing styles. Auditioning students will need to sing one memorized piece from a current entertainment genre (Rock and Roll, County & Western, Christian contemporary, jazz, blues, etc.). A pianist and CD/tapeplayer will be available.

You must have applied to TxState before you schedule your audition for admission to the School of Music.