Auditions

Guitar

Musical examples listed in parentheses are recommended but may be substituted by works of comparable length and technical difficulty.

• Scales, all keys: major, minor, chromatic
• One technical study (Twenty-five Melodious Studies by Carcassi, H. Villa-Lobos, Sor, Giuliani, etc.)
• One work from the standard repertory (Giuliani, Bach, Sor, Tarrega)
• One work from the 20th century (Brindle, Turina)
• Sight reading

Harp

• One sonatina from Seven Progressive Sonatas by Naderman (Martenot Edition) or an etude from 48 Etudes by Dizi (Hasselmans Edition)
• One work from the 17th or 18th century (Largo from the Fifth Violin Sonata by Bach-Grandjany, Partita in B by Bach-Renie)
• One of the following works:
  • Fantaisie on a Theme of Haydn by Grandjany,
  • The Harmonious Blacksmith, Theme and Variations by Handel-Salzedo, or
  • Legende by Renie
• One work from the 20th century (Prelude in C by Prokofiev, First Arabesque by Debussy-Renie, Preludes by Marcel Tournie)
• A cadenza from the symphonic or operatic literature (Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky, Overture to Mignon by Thomas)
• Sight reading

Percussion

Musical examples listed in parentheses are recommended but may be substituted by works of comparable length and technical difficulty. Proficiency in each of the following three areas is expected.

Mallets

• Scales, all keys: major, minor, chromatic, through two octaves
• A technical study (Modern School of Xylophone by M. Goldenberg)
• One solo work (such as the first or third movement from Violin Concerto in A minor by J.S. Bach)
• Sight reading

Snare Drum

• A technical study (Etudes in Modern School for Snare Drum by M. Goldenberg)
• Excerpt passages from the standard symphonic repertory (Third Symphony by William Schuman)
• Sight reading

Timpani

• Singing of all intervals and tuning the drums in 4ths, 5ths, and octaves
• Technical studies (two each of the two-drum and three-drum exercises from Modern Method for Timpani by S. Goodman)
• Excerpt passages from any Beethoven symphony
• Sight reading

Piano and Organ

Music performance applicants must perform all works by memory, although exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis with departmental approval. All other applicants must perform at least one piece by memory.

(Musical examples listed in parentheses are recommended but may be substituted by works of comparable length and technical difficulty.)

Piano

B.Mus. in music performance applicants:

• One work by J.S. Bach containing a fugue
• The first movement of a Classical-era sonata
• One work from the Romantic period
• One work from the Impressionist or early-Modernist eras to the present day
• Sight reading

All non-performance applicants (B.A. in music, B.Mus. in music composition, B.Mus. in music education):

• A work from the Baroque or Classical era
• A composition of the applicant’s choice
• Sight reading

Harpsichord

• An invention, prelude or movement from a French Suite by J.S. Bach
• One movement of a work by a composer of the French School (Rameau, Couperin)
• A Scarlatti sonata
• Sight reading

Organ

• One work from the standard 18th-century repertory (a prelude and fugue from the Eight Little Preludes and Fugues by J.S. Bach, or other work of comparable length and technical level)
• One work from the standard repertory of a period other than the 18th century
• Sight reading

Strings

Musical examples listed in parentheses are recommended but may be substituted by works of comparable length and technical difficulty. Note that all sonatas and concertos should be prepared with piano accompaniment and that an accompanist will be provided for the audition. Non-standard repertoire should, therefore, be communicated in advance of the audition.

Cello (Music Performance Majors)

• Two 3-octave scales and corresponding arpeggios from keys of the applicant’s choosing
• One Etude of the applicant’s choosing
• Two different movements from contrasting works

Cello (Music Education Majors)

• One 2- or 3-octave scale and corresponding arpeggio from a key of the applicant’s choosing
• Two different movements from contrasting works

Double Bass

• Scales, all keys: major, minor, chromatic, through three octaves
• A technical study (Thirty Etudes by Simandl)
• One work from the standard repertory (two contrasting movements from a concerto or sonata by Vivaldi)
• An orchestral excerpt from a 20th-century work (Prokofiev, Stravinsky)
• Sight reading

Viola

• Scales, all keys: major, minor, chromatic, through three octaves
• A technical study by Kreutzer
• One work from the standard repertory (two contrasting movements from a concerto or sonata by J.S. Bach, Handel, Telemann, Schubert)
• One movement from a cello suite by J.S. Bach
• One work from the 20th century (Hindemith sonatas)
• Sight reading

Violin

• Three different movements from contrasting works
• One three-octave scale and arpeggios from a key of the applicant’s choosing

Voice

Two contrasting selections:

• One song originally written in English (Spiritual, Copland, Barber, Rorem, Price, Bonds, Vaughan Williams, Britten, Haydn, Purcell, Handel, lute songs)
• One song or aria originally set in a foreign language presented in the original language (Mozart, Bach, Puccini, Debussy, Schubert, Brahms, 17th- and 18th-century Italian literature, or other opera and oratorio selections).

All selections must be performed from memory.

Woodwind

Musical examples listed in parentheses are recommended but may be substituted by works of comparable length and technical difficulty.

Bassoon

• Scales, all keys: major, minor, chromatic, through two octaves
• A technical study (25 Studies, Op. 24 in All Keys by L. Milde)
• One work from the standard repertory (two contrasting movements from a sonata by Galliard, a concerto movement by Mozart)
• One work from the 20th century (Hindemith Sonata)
• Sight reading

Clarinet

• Two contrasting clarinet pieces that demonstrate your musical and technical ability. One of the selections may include a work outside the classical music repertoire.
• A technical study/etude such as Rose 32 or 40 Etudes (other suggested etudes: Klosé, Baermann, Cavallini, Jeanjean, Polatschek, or Jettel)
• A piece from the 20th/21st century (for example: Stravinsky, William O. Smith, Berio, Finzi, or a modern or avant-garde work); this may be non-classical.
• For further guidance please contact Professor Marianne Gythfeldt at mgythfeldt@brooklyn.cuny.edu.

Flute

• Scales, all keys: major, minor, chromatic, through two octaves
• A technical study (Twenty Four Caprices by W. Schade, Studies by Andersen)
• One work from the standard repertory (two contrasting movements from a concerto by Mozart)
• One work from the 20th century (two contrasting movements from the Hindemith Sonata, Poulenc Sonata)
• Sight reading

Oboe

• Scales, all keys: major, minor, chromatic, through two octaves
• A technical study (Forty-eight Famous Studies by W. Ferling)
• One work from the standard repertory (two contrasting movements from a sonata or concerto by Handel, Vivaldi)
• One work from the 20th century (two contrasting movements from the sonatas by Poulenc, Hindemith)
• Sight reading

Saxophone

• Scales, all keys: major, minor, chromatic, through two octaves
• A technical study (Thirty Grand Exercises or Etudes by M. Mule, or a jazz etude)
• One work from the standard repertory (two contrasting movements from a solo work by E. Bozza, P. Creston)
• Sight reading