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Washington State University
College of Arts and Sciences School of Music

Woodwind Audition Requirements

General Woodwind Auditions

Undergraduate audition/tape material should be 10-15 minutes in length. For live auditions there may be 2-4 woodwind area faculty present. For pre-recorded auditions YouTube or file links are preferred. An accompanist is not required.

Graduate audition materials should be 20-25 minutes in length. For live auditions, an accompanist is not required; there may be 2-4 woodwind area faculty present. For pre-recorded auditions, accompanists are recommended but not required. YouTube or file links are preferred.

General Requirements

  • All major scales
  • Fast etude or solo
  • A lyrical slow etude or solo
  • Sight reading may be requested at the audition

Flute Audition Requirements

Undergraduate

  • Major scales in two octaves (three octave C Major recommended)
  • Fast etude or solo
  • A lyrical slow etude or solo

Graduate

  • One orchestral excerpt from the following list:
    • Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune (Beg. – Reh. 3)
    • Brahms’ Symphony No. 4, Movement 4 (m. 89–105)
    • Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé (Reh. 176 – 2 after Reh. 179)
  • Two-three works, or movements from those works, that are from different style periods and show both lyrical and technical skills. The repertoire below are suggestions to determine skill level only, they are not requirements. Diversity of repertoire is encouraged and appreciated.
    • A Mozart Concerto, Bach or Bon sonatas, any major 20th-century sonata or concerto, Dutilleux’s Sonatine, Coleman’s Danza de la Mariposa, Hailstork’s Yuhwa, etc.

If you have questions about repertoire selection, please contact Dr. Tegart via email at sophiat@wsu.edu

Oboe Audition Requirements

  • Major scales
  • Fast etude or solo
  • A lyrical slow etude or solo

If you have questions about repertoire selection, please contact Dr. McCarthy via email at kmccarthy@wsu.edu

Clarinet and Bass Clarinet Audition Requirements

Undergraduate

  • Your choice of major scales, one or two octaves, both ascending and descending, any articulation, slow tempo
  • The chromatic scale from low E to either high C above staff or high E above staff, both ascending and descending, any articulation, slow tempo
  • A solo or etude that shows both your lyrical and technical abilities, OR part of a fast etude or solo and part of a lyrical slow etude or solo to show both your lyrical and technical abilities

Graduate, no performance emphasis

  • Major and melodic minor scales up to two sharps or two flats, ascending and descending, eighth notes at quarter = 60
  • Full chromatic scale, low E to G (three ledger lines above staff), ascending and descending, eighth notes at quarter = 60
  • Etude, sonata or concerto movement, or unaccompanied work that shows both your lyrical and technical abilities
  • Recordings from senior recitals are welcome

Graduate, performance emphasis

  • Advanced major and melodic minor scales (three sharps or flats to seven sharps or flats), two octaves, ascending and descending, eight notes at quarter = 60
  • Full chromatic scale, low E to G (three ledger lines above staff), ascending and descending, sixteenth notes at quarter = 60
  • Full concerto or sonata movement, with or without accompaniment, or a full unaccompanied solo
  • Recordings from senior recitals are welcome

If you have questions about repertoire selection, please contact Dr. Scott via e-mail at shannon.scott@wsu.edu

Bassoon Audition Requirements

Undergraduate

  • Major scales in two octaves
  • Fast etude or solo
  • A lyrical slow etude or solo

Graduate

  • One unaccompanied piece or etude
  • Two contrasting movements from a standard concerto or sonata (Mozart, Weber, Saint-Saëns, etc.)
  • An additional work of the applicant’s choice that represents a stylistic contrast to their other audition repertoire

If you have questions about repertoire selection, please contact Dr. Wilson via e-mail at jacqueline.wilson1@wsu.edu

Saxophone Audition Requirements

  • Major scales: Full range
  • Chromatic Scale: From low Bb to high F (F#)
  • Fast etude or solo
  • A lyrical slow etude or solo
  • For Jazz Majors Only: Jazz improvisation – Improvise on a 12 Bar blues in any key

If you have questions about repertoire selection, please contact Dr. Aaron Hill via e-mail at aaron.hill@wsu.edu

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