Graduate Music Admissions

• Master of Music: Performance (Guitar, Keyboard, Instrument, or Vocal)
• Master of Music: Conducting (Wind Band)
• Master of Music: Education (Click Here - No Audition Necessary)

Graduate Audition Guidelines by Area:

• Brass (Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Euphonium, Baritone, Tuba)
• Guitar
• Keyboard (Organ, Piano)
• Percussion
• Strings (Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass)
• Voice
• Winds (Bassoon, Clarinet, Flute, Oboe, Saxophone)
• Conducting (Wind Band)

BRASS

• Trumpet
  
  
  • Solos: Choose two (2) from the following: Haydn Concerto; Telemann Concerto in D; Hummel Concerto; Hindemith Sonata; Kennan Sonata
  • Transposition: Must demonstrate the ability to transpose for trumpet in A, F, Eb, and D
  • Etudes: Choose two (2) contrasting etudes from Arban, Bitsch, Brandt, Charlier,Chavanne, or Reynolds
  • Four (4) standard and contrasting orchestral excerpts (i.e. Ravel, Beethoven, Mahler, Stravinsky, Respighi, Bizet, Mussorgsky, etc).
  • Scales: All Major and Minor scales (3 forms)
  • Arpeggios: Major, minor, and diminished
    
    
• French Horn
  
  • Concerto: Mvt. 1 from Mozart Horn Concerto No. 2 or No. 4, AND a movement from Strauss Horn Concerto No. 1, No. 2, OR Gliere Horn Concerto
  • A complete sonata of applicant's choice
  • A Verne Reynolds etude of choice
  • Excerpts: Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 (Mvt. II-horn solo); Beethoven
  • Symphony No. 9 (4th horn solo); Rossini La Gazza Ladra (horn solo)
  • AND one (1) excerpt of choice
  • All major and minor scales, 2 octaves with arpeggios
    
    
• Trombone
  
  • Baroque: Sonata or Concerto
  • 20th Century Concerto
  • Four (4) Orchestral Excerpts

• Tuba and Euphonium

  • All Major and minor scales
  • Two (2) etudes showing technical and musical excellence
  • One (1) major solo
  • Four (4) standard orchestral excerpts

   

GUITAR

• Classical Guitar
  
  
  1. Demonstration of scales and arpeggios. Any etudes or scales systems can be used.
  2. Major and minor scales from all keys will be expected.
  3. Demonstration of music reading ability. (Material will be supplied at the audition and will be commensurate with the Official Examination Repertoire and Studies of the royal Conservatory of Music, Grade 5. (Fredrick Harris Music)
  4. Memorized piece from each of the following eras: Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century

KEYBOARD

• Organ:

one (1) work to be memorized

• Major work from Baroque Era which contains a fugue
• Major Romantic work by Franck, Mendelssohn, or Guilmant
• Composition from the 20th Century (Messiaen recommended)

• Piano:

All works to be memorized

• Prelude and Fugue by J.S. Bach from WTC Books 1 or 2
• Two (2) etudes chosen from Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff or Scriabin
• Complete Classical Sonatas by Mozart, Haydn or Beethoven (excepting Op. 49/Op. 14/Op. 2, No. 1/Op. 54/Op. 79)
• Major Romantic work by Chopin, Brahms, Liszt, Schumann
• 20th Century Composition

PERCUSSION

Students must demonstrate a solid background on the standard percussion instruments by selecting audition repertoire from the following list of choices. Material listed below is merely a recommendation and other recognized graduate level repertoire will certainly be acceptable for audition.

Marimba/xylophone

• StoutMexican Dances; AbeMichior Dream of The Cherry Blossoms;RosauroConcerto for Marimba; BachUnaccompanied Sonatas and Partitasor Cello Suites

Timpani

• BeethovenSymphonies 1, 7, and 9; HindemithSymphonicMetamorphosis; StravinskyLe Sacre du Printemps; Elliott Carterselections fromEight Pieces forTimpani.

Snare Drum

• Delecluse 12 Etudes; Cirone Portraits in Rhythm; Ravel Bolero; Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade and Capricco Espagnol; Prokofiev Lt. Kije; Bartok Concerto for Orchestra.

Cymbals

• Crashes at assorted volumes and lengths. Tchaikovsky Symphony # 4 finale and Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture

Tambourine

• Thumb rolls, shake rolls. Tchaikovsky Trepak from Nutcracker; Dvorak Carnival Overture.

STRINGS

• Violin
  

  • SOLO - 1 movement from a standard concerto (from memory)
  • 2 contrasting movements of an unaccompanied sonata or partita by J. S. Bach
  • ETUDE - 1 etude by Dont, Rhode, or Paganini

• Viola

  • 1 movement of a standard concerto (Bartok, Hindemith, Walton, Stamitz, etc.)
  • 1 movement from a standard Romantic or 20th century sonata (Brahms, Schubert, Clarke, etc.)
  • 2 contrasting movements from transcriptions of the Bach suites for solo cello, or the sonatas and partitas for solo violin

• Cello

  • 1 movement from a standard concerto (from memory)
  • 2-3 contrasting movements of a unaccompanied suite by J. S. Bach
  • 1 movement from a standard Classical or Romantic sonata
  • 20th or 21st century work
    
    
• Bass

• Two (2) movements of a Bach unaccompanied cello suite
• 1st Mvt. Of Koussevitsky or Dragonetti Concerti or concerto of similar difficulty
• At least four (4) Orchestral Excerpts including Mahler Symphony No. 1 (2nd
  Mvt.) and Beethoven Symphony No. 9. 4th Movement Recitative.

VOICE

All works to be memorized

• Three (3) opera arias , one in each of the three major languages of Italian, French and German
• One Oratorio or Mass aria in any language
• One (1) Advanced German Lied
• One (1) Advanced French Chanson
• One (1) Advanced Art Song in English composed after 1950

Language Proficiency: Demonstrated command of singing in Italian, French, and German.

Candidates should bring to the audition a resume and complete repertoire list

WINDS

• Bassoon (Prof. Zachary Feingold)

• Scales: M, m and arpeggios; Chromatic from low Bb to high E using selected articulations and rhythms from the Oubradous Scales and Daily Exercises
• Solos: Repertoire comparable in difficulty to Mozart, Weber, or Vivaldi Concerti
• Tansman Sonatine, or Saint-Seans Sonata
• Four orchestral excerpts in contrasting styles
• Etudes: Select two (2) contrasting etudes

• Clarinet (Dr. Rie Suzuki)

• Prepare an audition program of repertoire that includes three complete works from contrasting periods (must include Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K.622)
• Etudes: Select two (2) contrasting etudes
• Excerpts: Select four (4) contrasting orchestral excerpts
• Sight-reading

• Flute (Dr. Susanna Loewy)
  
  
  • All Major and Minor Scales (all forms of minor scales), 2-octaves -- slurred up/tongued down
  • Chromatic Scale up to High D -- slurred up/tongued down
  • Repertoire (at least one by memory):
    • Bach Sonata or Partita, whole piece
    • Mozart Concerto in G or D, whole concerto
    • Piece from "Flute Music By French Composers"
    • Piece written in the 20th or 21st century
    • Piece of applicant's choice
  • Excerpts from the Baxtresser book -- pick 3 of the following
    • Bach Badinerie
      
    • Beethoven Leonore opening and solo
    • Brahms Symphony #4
    • Debussy Afternoon of a Faun
      
    • Hindemith Symphonic Metamorphosis solo
      
    • Mendelssohn Scherzo
    • Prokofiev Peter and the Wolf, first solo
    • Ravel Bolero
  • ​​Be ready to briefly discuss 
    
    • ​The role of music (classical or other genres) in today’s world
    • How you have influenced change in your community through music, and how you see that work evolving 

• Oboe (Dr. Marie Trudeau)

• First and second movements of either the Mozart oboe concerto or Mozart oboe quartet.
• Two contrasting etudes from either the Ferling or Barret books.
• Chromatic scale from low Bb to high E. Two major scales of your choice.
• Be prepared to talk about the role of music in your life thus far as well as how you see music continuing to be a part of your life.

• Saxophone (Dr. Noa Even)

• Three pieces or movements of larger pieces that contrast from each other in style. Please be sure to demonstrate lyrical playing, technical/fast/articulated passages, and contemporary styles. At least one piece should be composed after 2000.
• All major, harmonic minor, and chromatic scales, major and/or minor arpeggios, and major and/or minor thirds – all full range. Any other prepared scales are welcome.
• Sight-reading.
• Matching pitch vocally with a played pitch on the keyboard.
• Briefly discuss: 
  • Why you are interested in pursuing music.
  • Your career goals.
  • The contributions you’ve made to your community through music and how you see that work evolving.

CONDUCTING

• Wind Band: Applicants may contact Dr. Joseph Higgins, Director of Bands, to schedule an audition (higgins@rowan.edu). In-person auditions will be held on select dates, given the availability of Rowan University student ensembles. 

       Audition dates for Spring 2023 entry: 11/1/22 or 11/3/22

       Audition dates for Fall 2023 entry: 2/2/23, 3/2/23, or 3/7/23

       During the audition, applicants will:

  • Conduct the Rowan University Wind Ensemble (William Schuman’s Chester).
  • Submit a written analysis of William Schuman’s Chester (2-3 pages).
  • Discuss professional goals during interview with Dr. Higgins.