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, and
- 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
2 octave scales and arpeggios
Wohlfahrt etude Bk. I – any etude
Marcello Sonata – Presto
2 contrasting movements of a concerto (suggestions: Telemann, Handel, Zelter, JC Bach, Accolay)
Bach Suite No. 1 for Viola – Bourree I or any other movement
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.
Cello
2 octave scales and arpeggios
Must be fluent in first position through fifth position. Two contrasting solos. Suggested repertoire minimum level- La Cinquantaine, movements from a Vivaldi or Romberg sonata