Auditions are held periodically throughout the year for enrollment the following academic year.
Entering graduate students intending to study composition must submit a portfolio of original compositions; audio tapes are encouraged.
Those prospective music students unable to audition in person due to geographic distance from the campus may submit an audio or video cassette recording representative of their performing abilities.
Applied Studios
Vocal
Freshmen are to prepare 2 songs. 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. Graduates will also be asked to perform a monologue of no more than one minute in length, from a time period no earlier than 1900.
You will choose and sing one piece; the faculty may choose to hear more at their discretion. You may also be asked to do some exercises in pitch-matching, range, etc., also at the faculty's discretion.
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. All materials 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)
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]). 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 need to perform on snare and a keyboard instrument. Students will also be asked to sight read. An accompanist is not required.
Students interested in majoring in Sound Recording Technology must perform an audition on snare drum using the criteria above and perform a piece on drumset. Students with no background in drumset will need to prepare a marimba etude or solo.
Instrumental (orchestral strings)
Two contrasting works chosen from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic and Contemporary periods. 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. Double-Bass requirements: 2 octave scales of up to 4 sharps and 4 flats.
(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.
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 (bass guitar - SRT only) (Jazz majors see below)
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. Scales requirements: 2 octave scales of up to 4 sharps and 4 flats. Please be prepared to sight-read.
Jazz Studies
Auditioning for the Texas State University-San Marcos Jazz Studies Department is a two part process:
Each instrument's Audition Repertoire select below:
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