Priority Scholarship Audition Deadline: March 11, 2023
To become a music major or minor at CMU, you are required to audition.
Step One:
• Complete the audition application.
Step Two:
• Arrange an in-person or online audition by contacting the instructor for your instrument listed below.
In-person auditions for Fall 2023 are offered in the afternoon during the March 11, 2023 Mesa Experience. We also encourage you to sign up for Mesa Experience.
All applicants will perform an audition, which also serves as a scholarship audition. Please contact your instrument/voice instructor if you are unable to make this date.
Before your audition:
• Apply for CMU general admission (please also apply for CMU financial aid).
• Schedule your audition time with your instrument/voice instructor.
• Confirm your audition materials with your instrument/voice instructor.
Your audition will consist of:
• CMU music orientation
• Music theory placement examination (note names, major and minor key names from key signatures, time signature, scales, intervals, triads)
• Audition performance
Contact Instructors
Please contact appropriate instructor to schedule your audition and confirm your audition materials.
Your instructor is Dr. Christopher McKim. Please contact Dr. McKim to schedule your audition time and to confirm your audition materials.
Audition Requirements
- Come prepared to sing two contrasting pieces from memory. Songs/arias may be from the styles of classical, musical theater, folk, jazz or popular music.
- You will be asked to complete a music theory placement test, so you may want to brush up on some basic music theory before your audition.
Your instructor is Professor Brian Krinke. Please contact Prof. Krinke to schedule your audition time and confirm your audition materials.
Audition Requirements
Violin:
- Two scales in three octaves up to 4 sharps/flats (one major and one minor)
chosen by the applicant from either Scale System by C. Flesch or Scales for Advanced Violinists by B. Barber - Any one movement from Six Violin Sonatas & Partitas, BWV 1001-1006 by J.S. Bach
- The first movement from one of the following standard Concertos for Violin (J.B. Accolay – No.1 in A minor, J.B. Viotti, No.20, 21,22 or 23), J.S. Bach – Concerto in a minor BWV 1041, any of Mozart Violin Concertos)
Viola:
- Two scales in three octaves up to 4 sharps/flats (one major and one minor) chosen by the applicant from either C. Flesch’s “Scale System for Viola” or B. Barber’s “Scales for Advanced Violists)
- Any one movement from J.S. Bach’s “ Six Cello Suites”, BWV 1007-1006 arr. for Viola
- First or last movement from any of the following Viola Concertos ( J.C. Bach/Cassadesus: Concerto for Viola in C minor, GF. Telemann: Concerto for Viola in G Major, J. Stamitz: Concerto for Viola in D Major)
Your Area Coordinator is Professor Brian Krinke. Please contact Prof. Krinke to schedule your audition time.
Audition Requirements
Cello:
Performance concentration
- A movement from a Bach Suite
- A movement from a concert or a sonata
- A major and a melodic minor scales of student's choice (3 octaves)
Music Education/Business concentration
- Two contrasting pieces
- A major and a melodic minor scales of student's choice (2 octaves)
Liberal Arts concentration
- One piece of student's choice
- A major and a melodic minor scales of student's choice
Bass:
Performance/Music Education concentration
- Two contrasting pieces
- A major and a melodic minor scales of student's choice (2 octaves)
Business/ Liberal Arts concentration
- One piece of student's choice
- A major and a melodic minor scales of student's choice
Your instructor is Dr. Jonathan Hinkle. Please contact Dr. Hinkle to schedule your audition time and to confirm your audition materials.
Audition Requirements
For best consideration of music major placement and scholarship opportunity, trumpet students should demonstrate several (4 or more) of the following to best showcase their specific abilities:
- 4 major scales (2 octaves where possible)
- 2 octave chromatic scale
- long tone or flow study
- upper register exercise (demonstrate upper register abilities)
- 2 or more advanced scales/modes (e.g. Dorian, Blues, Natural Minor, Lydian, Whole-Tone, etc.)
- 16-32 measure except from a Grade 4 or higher solo (e.g. Ropartz, Andante et Allegro, Geodicke, Concert Etude, Kennan,Sonata, etc.)
- 16-32 measure technical excerpt of etude or exercise from advanced method book (e.g. Arban, Charlier, Clark, Rubank, Brandt, Schlossberg)
- short sight reading demonstration (grade 2/3)
- free improvisation or open demonstration of trumpet fundamental abilities
- performance of a jazz standard melody or blues head and 2-3 choruses of improvisation with play-along track (e.g. Aebersold, YouTube, etc.)
- example of other music performance or project (i.e. video of live performance, composition/arrangement, media production with significant music editing, video of directing/conducting or ensemble leadership, etc.)
Please contact Dr. Calvin Hofer to schedule your audition time and confirm your audition materials.
Audition Requirements
• chromatic scale (two octaves)
• 2 major scales (any keys, two octaves)
• 1 lyrical etude or section of a solo work
Suggested Repertoire
• Pottag: Preparatory Melodies to Solo Work for French Horn
• Maxime Alphonse: 200 New Melodic and Progressive Etudes for the Horn, Book I or Book II
• Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 3, second movement
• Franz Strauss: Nocturne, Op. 7, first page
Your instructor is Dr. Sean Flanigan. Please contact Dr. Flanigan to schedule your audition time and confirm your audition materials.
Audition Requirements
- Scales (all instruments)
Major scales by memory up to 4 flats or 3 sharps (C, F, G, D, A, Bb, Eb, Ab,)
Chromatic Scale – 2 octaves - 2 Contrasting Etudes – one lyrical/melodic, one technical
- One solo or single movement of your choice
Suggested Materials
Etude Examples for Trombone/Euphonium:
- Melodious Etudes for Trombone, by Bordogni/Rochut
- Selected Studies for Trombone (or Baritone), by H. Voxman
- 40 Progressive Studies for Trombone, by H.W. Tyrrell
Etude Examples for Bass Trombone
- 43 Bel Canto Studies, by Bordogni/Roberts
- 60 Progressive Studies for the Modern Bass Trombonist, by Lew Gillis
Etude Examples for Tuba
- 60 Musical Studies for Tuba Book I or II, edited by David Kuehn
- 70 Studies for BBb Tuba Volume I, by Vladislav Blazhevich
- 40 Advanced Studies for Bb Bass, by H.W. Tyrrell
Solo Examples for Trombone/Euphonium:
- Concerto for Trombone, by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov
- Morceau Symphonique, by Alexandre Guilmant
- Andante et Allegro, by Joseph Edouard Barat
- Sonatas 1-6 (one slow movement, one fast movement), by Johann Ernst Galliard
(Or a piece of similar difficulty)
Solo Examples for Bass Trombone
- Concerto in One Movement, by Alexej Lebedev
- Allegro Maestoso, by Jan Koetsier
Your instructor is Ms. Kelly Latshaw. Please contact Ms. Latshaw to schedule your audition time and confirm your audition materials.
Audition Requirements
- A chromatic scale (3 octaves)
- Two major scales (2 octaves)
- Two contrasting solo or etude works
- Brief sight-reading
Suggested materials
- Melodious and Progressive Studies for Flute, Book One, revised by Robert Cavally
- Rubank, Concert and Contest Collection for Flute, edited by H. Voxman
Your instructor is Dr. William Aikens. Please contact Dr. Aikens to schedule your audition time and confirm your audition materials.
Audition Requirements
Applicants should come prepared with major scales (two octaves up to E-flat), as well as an etude and a solo (preferably of contrasting tempi/style).
Etudes can be taken from the list below or from a work of similar difficulty:
- Barret: Oboe Method
- Brod: Oboe Method
- Ferling: Forty-Eight Etudes
Solos can be taken from the list below or from a work of similar difficulty:
- Marcello: Concerto (D or C Minor)
- Telemann: Sonata in A minor or Concerto in F minor
- Hindemith: Sonata
- Albinoni: Concerto (D or G minor)
Your instructor is Dr. Jun Watabe. Please contact Dr. Watabe to schedule your audition time and to confirm your audition materials.
Audition Requirements
- Full-Range Chromatic Scale
- 2 Full-Range Major Scales (any keys)
- 1 Solo Work or 2 Short Etudes (1 technical & 1 lyrical)
Suggested Repertoire
- Rose: 32 Etudes for Clarinet
- Rubank: Advanced Studies for Clarinet
- Mozart: Clarinet Concerto
- Saint-Saens: Clarinet Sonata
- Brahms: Clarinet Sonata No. 1, No.2
- Weber: Concertino for Clarinet Op. 26
Your instructor is Dr. Jun Watabe. Please contact Dr. Watabe to schedule your audition time and to confirm your audition materials.
Audition Requirements
- Full-Range Chromatic Scale
- 2 Full-Range Major Scales (any keys)
- 1 Solo Work or 2 Short Etudes (1 technical & 1 lyrical)
Suggested Repertoire
- Ferling: 48 Etudes for Saxophone
- Rubank: Advanced Studies for Saxophone
- Creston: Saxophone Sonata
- Handel/Mule: Sonata No.6 (Leduc)
- Maurice: Tableaux de Provence
Your area coordinator is Dr. Jun Watabe. Please contact Dr. Watabe to schedule your audition time and to confirm your audition materials.
Audition Requirements
- Full-Range Chromatic Scale
- 2 Major Scales (two octaves - any keys)
- 1 Solo Work or 2 Short Etudes (1 technical & 1 lyrical)
Suggested Repertoire
- Weissenborn: Bassoon Studies, Op. 8, Vol. II
- Rubank: Advanced Studies
- Boismortier, Joseph Bodin de – Sonata in D, Op. 26, No. 1 (Benjamin Productions)
- Galliard, Johann Ernest- Six Sonatas (International)
- Hindemith, Paul - Sonata – 1st movement recommended (Schott)
- Phillips, Burrill - Concert Piece (Fischer)
- Telemann, Georg Philipp - Sonata in F minor
- Mozart - Concerto in Bb Major - movement II or III recommended (Luck or Carl Fischer)
- Vivaldi, Antonio – any concerto
- Weber, C.M. – Concerto, Op. 75
Your instructor is Dr. Darin Kamstra. Please contact Dr. Kamstra to schedule your audition time and to confirm your audition materials.
Audition Requirements
Percussionists should prepare one etude or solo for each of the following areas: snare drum (concert or rudimental style), keyboard percussion (2 and/or 4 mallets), and timpani. In addition, students with drumset experience should be prepared to demonstrate time and solo playing in various styles.
Suggested Materials
- Snare Drum:
Portraits in Rhythm, by Anthony Cirone
The All-American Drummer, by Charley Wilcoxon
- Keyboard Percussion:
Musical Studies for the Intermediate Mallet Player, by Garwood Whaley,
Recital Pieces for Mallets, by Garwood Whaley
Funny Marimba Book 1, by Nebojša Jovan Živković
Various solos by Mitchell Peters and Alice Gomez
- Timpani:
Musical Studies for the Intermediate Timpanist, by Garwood Whaley
Modern Method for Tympani, by Saul Goodman
Your instructor is Dr. Darin Kamstra. Please contact Dr. Kamstra to schedule your audition time and to confirm your audition materials.
Audition Requirements
Your instructor is Dr. Adrian Herrera. Please contact Dr. Herrera to schedule your audition time and to confirm your audition materials.
Audition Requirements for Piano Major- Students auditioning on piano major should perform 3 different selections:
- Two contrasting pieces from the selection listed below (one from list 1 and one from list 2)
- One etude from any of the Czerny’s etudes opus 299, 335, 740, & 849.
- Sight-reading ability will also be assessed at the audition.
- At least one of the pieces or an etude selected has to be performed by memory.
List 1:
- Clementi Sonatinas Op. 36, Nos. 1,2,3,4,5, & 6(three Movements)
- Chopin Preludes Op. 28 Nos. 4, 6, & 7
List 2:
- Bach Three-Part Inventions BWV 774, 776, 778 & 780
- Chopin Nocturnes Op. 9/2, 15/3, & 37/1
- Bartok Mikrokosmos Vol. 5, No. 138
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Audition Requirements for Piano Minor
- One piece from:
- Any Minuet from the Anna Magdalena Notebook, or
- Schumann Album for the Young, Op. 68 Nos. 11, 14, & 18
- One etude from any of the Czerny’s etude opus 335,740, or 849
- At least one selection has to be performed by memory.
Your instructor is Mr. Javier de los Santos. Please contact Mr. de los Santos to schedule your audition time and confirm your audition materials.
Audition Requirements
- A Major Scale: two or three octave (Any key)
- A Minor Scale: two or three octave (Any key)
- One solo Guitar Etude
- One solo Guitar Piece
Suggested Repertoire
Solo Etudes:
- Leo Brouwer: Estudios Sencillos I to XX
- Matteo Carcassi: 25 Estudios, Op 60
- Dionisio Aguado: 35 Etudes
- Fernando Sor: Twenty Studies for the Guitar
Solo Pieces:
- Francisco Tarrega: Lagrima, Adelita
- Joao Texeira Guimaraes Pernambuco: 11 Famous Choros
- S. Bach: Bourree from BWV 996
- S. Bach: Prelude from BWV 999
- Tomas Marco: Tarots (22 Piezas para guitarra)
Colorado Mesa University embraces and values all musical styles, so you should perform a piece that you are comfortable with and that displays your strengths as a musician. Select songs that highlight what you feel represents your best abilities rather than songs you think the audition team wants to hear. You will perform two songs from memory. The songs should be in contrasting styles and show your vocal abilities. Either cover songs or originals are accepted. You can accompany yourself, use backing tracks, or an accompanist can be provided.
Some examples that may help with your selection include the following:
- A tune from a well-known artist or band (any style)
- A standard or jazz tune
- Songs from the classical vocal repertoire
- Songs from musical theatre
- Two major and minor scales, (Up and Down), two major and minor pentatonic sales (up and Down). They have to be performed with two hand and two octaves
- Perform three complete and contrasting Keyboard parts (riff) from any contemporary popular music such as funk, rock, country, R&B, soul, salsa, merengue, folk, and pop (left and right hand). Use the following list as a reference of styles and riffs: Jump - Van Halen, Axel F - Harold Faltemeyer, The Final Countdown - Europe, Superstition - Stevie Wonder, Take On Me - A'Ha, Light My Fire - The Doors, Thriller - Michael Jackson, Billie Jean - Michael Jackson, Clocks – Coldplay, Tubular Bells (The Exorcist) - Mike Oldfield, Don't Stop Believin' - Journey, River Flows In You - Yiruma, Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This - Eurythmics, The Way It Is - Bruce Hornsby, Tainted Love - Soft Cell, Sunglasses At Night - Corey Hart, Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode, Cars - Gary Numan, Don't You Want Me - Human League, Dancing In The Dark - Bruce Springsteen, Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles, You´re my best friend – Queen, She is a Rainbow - The Rolling Stones, Somebody to Love - Queen, Virtual Insanity - Jamiroquai, Oye Como Va - Santana
- Sight reading of chord symbols and of written piano score
Your Area Coordinator is Dr. Darin Kamstra. Please contact Dr. Kamstra to schedule your audition time.
Your instructor is Eric Nohe. Please contact Mr. Nohe to confirm your audition materials.
Audition Requirements
- Two minor and major pentatonic scales in keys of your choice
- Perform the guitar part to two songs of contrasting style, including classic rock, funk, reggae, hip-hop, and other popular music styles (representative examples: "Sunshine of Your Love" by Cream, "Daytripper" by The Beatles, "Livey Up Yourself" by Bob Marley, "Born Under a Bad Sign" by Freddie King/Stevie Ray Vaughn, "I Feel Good" by James Brown, "Money" Pink Floyd, "Under Pressure” by Queen, "What's Goin' On” by Marvin Gaye, "YYZ” by Rush, "Come Together” by The Beatles, "Give It Away” by Red Hot Chili Peppers, "My Generation” by The Who, “Blue Suede Shoes” by Elvis, “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash)
- Perform the guitar part to another song of your choice
Your Area Coordinator is Dr. Darin Kamstra. Please contact Dr. Kamstra to schedule your audition time.
Your instructor is Timothy Emmons. Please contact Mr. Emmons to confirm your audition materials.
Audition Requirements
- Two minor and major pentatonic scales in keys of your choice
- Perform the bass line to two songs of contrasting style, including classic rock, funk, reggae, hip-hop, and other popular music styles (representative examples: "Sunshine of Your Love" by Cream, "Daytripper" by The Beatles, "Livey Up Yourself" by Bob Marley, "Born Under a Bad Sign" by Freddie King/Stevie Ray Vaughn, "I Feel Good" by James Brown, "Money" Pink Floyd, "Under Pressure” by Queen, "What's Goin' On” by Marvin Gaye, "YYZ” by Rush, "Come Together” by The Beatles, "Give It Away” by Red Hot Chili Peppers, "My Generation” by The Who)
- Perform the bass line to another song of your choice
Your Area Coordinator and instructor is Dr. Darin Kamstra. Please contact Dr. Kamstra to schedule your audition time and to confirm your audition materials.
Audition Requirements
- Perform the following snare-drum rudiments open-closed-open (slow to fast to slow): single strokes, double strokes, paradiddles, flams
- Alternate four bars of time and four bars of solo in the following styles: medium rock, fast rock, rock shuffle, funk/hip hop, swing, Latin (such as samba or mambo)
- Perform the drum groove to a song of your choice
- Suggested: perform a short snare drum and/or keyboard percussion etude