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Washington State University
College of Arts and Sciences School of Music

Audition Requirements

Brass

Generic Brass Audition Requirements

Audition/tape material 10-15 minutes in length. For live auditions: informal setting 3-4 brass Faculty present, an accompanist is not necessary. Criteria: all major scales; an allegro etude or solo; a lyrical slow etude or solo; jazz improvisation (if desired by student); sight reading; any tape from previous concerts or solo performances which demonstrates student’s ability.
WSU student brass instrumentalists

Horn Audition Requirements

  • Major scales in two octaves
  • Sight-reading
  • Two contrasting movements from works that are comparable in difficulty to the following samples: (Mozart – Concerto No. 2, 3, or 4; F. Strauss -Nocturno; R. Strauss – Concerto No. 1)
    • or Two contrasting etudes by Gallay, Kopprasch or Maxime Alphonse

Trombone Audition Requirements

  • Major scales
  • A solo piece chosen from the following or other solo of comparable difficulty: Guilmant’s Morceau Symphonique, Saint-Saën’s Cavatine, Barat’s Andante and Allegro, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Concerto
    • or two contrasting etudes from Rochut, Arban, Hering, or Tyrell.

If you have questions about repertoire selection, please contact Dr. Miller via email at s.miller@wsu.edu.

Euphonium Audition Requirements

  • Major scales
  • Sight-reading
  • A solo piece chosen from the following or other solo of comparable difficulty: Guilmant’s Morceau Symphonique, Capuzzi’s Andante and Rondo from Concerto for Double Bass, Hutchison’s Sonatina, Curnow’s Rhapsody for Euphonium, or Telemann’s Sonata in F Minor
    • or two contrasting etudes from Rochut, Arban, or Tyrell.

If you have questions about repertoire selection, please contact Dr. Dickey via e-mail at chris.dickey@wsu.edu.

Tuba Audition Requirements

  • Major scales
  • Sight-reading
  • A solo piece chosen from the following or other solo of comparable difficulty: Lebedev’s Concerto in One Movement, Haddad’s Suite for Tuba, Bach’s Air and Bouree, or Capuzzi’s Andante and Rondo from Concerto for Double Bass
    • or two contrasting etudes from Bordogni, Tyrell, or Blazhevich.

If you have questions about repertoire selection, please contact Dr. Dickey via e-mail at chris.dickey@wsu.edu.

Graduate Euphonium and Tuba Auditions

Prospective students should prepare two solo pieces, one of which should be a sonata or a concerto, as well as two standard band/orchestral excerpts. Repertoire selections should come from different style periods. Transcriptions are welcome. Choose music that represents your current playing level. You may be asked to sight read at the audition. If you have questions about your repertoire, please contact Dr. Dickey via e-mail at chris.dickey@wsu.edu.

Percussion

Undergraduate audition/tape material should be 10-15 minutes in length. You may also include a recording of your performance with a group (school jazz ensemble or combo, for example). For live auditions: same as above with an informal setting in front of faculty. Accompanist is not necessary. The following audition requirements are for those interested in general percussion degrees and participation. For those interested in pursuing only jazz percussion, please visit: https://music.wsu.edu/area-information/jazz-studies/jazz-ensembles/jazz-big-bands/

Undergraduate Music Major Auditions:

  • Must present the following:
    • Snare drum solo or etude, and be prepared to play basic rudiments
    • Mallet keyboard solo or etude, and be prepared to play major scales
  • Present at least one of the following:
    • Timpani solo or etude
    • Drum set, including a short sample of the following styles:
      • 1) Slow swing (mm=80); 2) Medium swing (mm=132); 3) Latin style (bossa nova and/or samba); 4) rock style (fusion, funk, linear)
    • Multiple percussion solo or etude

Undergraduate Auditions for Music Minor or Non-Major Participation:

  • Choose two or more of the following:
    • Snare drum solo or etude
    • Mallet keyboard solo or etude
    • Timpani solo or etude
    • Drum set
    • Multiple percussion solo or etude

Students auditioning for the master’s in music should prepare a 15-30 minute audition demonstrating their technical abilities and musical sensitivity.

Graduate Student Auditions:

  • Must include the following:
    • Snare Drum – at least two of the following
      • Concert solo or etude
      • Rudimental solo or etude
      • Two standard orchestral excerpts
    • Mallet Keyboards
      • Must perform a four-mallet solo
      • Choose either a two-mallet solo or two standard orchestral excerpts
    • Timpani
      • Perform a solo/etude and/or two standard orchestral excerpts
    • May Include:
      • Drum set styles
      • Multiple percussion solo or etude
      • Standard orchestral excerpts on auxiliary percussion (cymbals, tambourine, triangle)
      • Non-Western percussion demonstration (Afro-Cuban, West African, etc.)
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