Instrumental Music Audition Instructions

Applicants seeking admission into the Music Department for instrumental music will be expected to

  • Play two memorized scales
  • Play a prepared solo selection of their choice
  • Be prepared to play a second solo should the jury so require
  • Sight read on their instrument from music selected by the jury panel
  • Demonstrate ability to match with their voices pitches that will be played on the piano by a panel member

The Baltimore School for the Arts supplies a piano, practice drum pads, timpani and mallet instruments, and music stands. Percussion will be required to audition solely on the snare drum. Applicants must bring with them all other instruments and music equipment needed in the audition.

The music jury/panel considers the potential of each applicant. Previous training or the lack thereof is not necessarily a determining factor in the department’s decision on acceptance of an applicant.

Suggested Audition Repertoire

Flute and Oboe

Any repertoire from the Rubank Advanced Method or Rubank Selected Studies

Clarinet

Any repertoire from the Rubank Advanced Method for Clarinet, Volume 1 (recommended – Page 24 #6 or

Page 56 #18)

Bassoon

Any repertoire from the Weissenborn Studies Op. 8 Book I or II

Saxophone

Any repertoire from the Rubank Advance Method for Saxophone, Volume 1 (recommended: Page 23 #5

or Page 34 #18)

Trumpet

Contempora Suite – Gordan Young

Bist du bei mir – J. S. Bach, arr. by Fitzgerald

Ballad — Fitzgerald

French Horn

Mozart Concert #3, mvt. II

Hunt – Ployahr

Scales: C Major and Chromatic (slur and tongue)

Trombone

Etude #5 from Rubank Advanced Method for Trombone

Euphonium/ Baritone

Bass clef:  same as trombone

Treble clef:  Page 7, #8 Rubank Method

Tuba

Any selection from Rubank Advanced Method (recommended:  Page 8, #15)

Piano

All major and minor scales, 2 octaves

Two selections from repertoire such as:

  • J.S. Bach:  Two-part Inventions
  • Any Kuhlau or Clementi Sonatina
  • A selection from the Mendelssohn Songs Without Words
  • Any Chopin Waltz or Mazurka
  • A selection from Schumann’s Album for the Young, the Grieg Lyric Pieces, or a comparable piece

Guitar

Andante or Waltz by Ferdinando Carulli (from his Method, Op. 27)

Study in e minor Op. 35 #8 by Fernando Sor’s from The Classical Guitar, compiled by Frederick Noad

Violin

2 octave scale and arpeggios

An Etude from Wohlfart Book II, Preparing for Kreutzer, Book I or II

2 contrasting movements from a Concerto (suggestions – Vivaldi, or Bach, Accolay, deBeriot, Viotti); or from a Sonata by Handel

Viola

An Etude from Wohlfart, Book I

Presto—Marcello Sonata

Bouree I—Bach Suite #1 for Viola

Violoncello

G Major scale, 2 octaves

Selection from Suzuki Book #4 or beyond

Bass

One-octave F, B-flat, or G Major scale and arpeggio

Any selection from Bach for Bass, Schirmer pub.

Harp

Two contrasting solos of student’s choice. No scales are necessary. Sight reading required.

Percussion Instructions