Bachelor of Arts: Music (General)

At the Audition

• You will perform two pieces of contrasting styles, musical periods and tempos.
• The selections need to demonstrate your musical and technical abilities.
• You will be evaluated for your command of tone, phrasing, rhythmic accuracy, articulation, stylistic appropriateness and for your interpretation.
• Prepared to play any Major scale, 4 octaves, up and down.
• Show good control of key signatures and fingerings.

At the Audition

• Sing two memorized songs in contrasting styles and tempos that you are capable of singing on pitch and with some musical understanding.
  • The songs may be from the classical, Broadway, jazz, folk, or pop repertoire.
  • Email sheet music or a background track for each song to Dalia Puentes at dpuentes@cpp.edu by 1/15/26.
• Demonstrate tonal memory skills.
• Demonstrate vocal potential as shown through tone quality, clear diction, rhythmic aptitude and the ability to communicate emotion.

Flute

• Perform 2 contrasting pieces.
  • One should be a piece from the standard repertoire
  • One should be an etude by Andersen, Kohler or Garibaldi.
• Perform the following Major scales (2 octaves): C, G, D, A, F, Bb, and Eb.
• Play a two-octave chromatic scale.
  
  

Clarinet

• Perform 2 contrasting pieces.
  • One should be an etude (from 32 Etudes, by Camille Rose)
• Show capability of performing each piece with rhythmic accuracy and musical understanding.
• Perform the following Major Scales (two octaves): C, G, F, D, Bb, A and Eb as well as a full range Chromatic Scale (from E below the treble staff to F above the treble staff)
  
  

Oboe

• Perform 2 contrasting pieces
  • A classical etude
  • A classical solo (grade 3)
• Show capability of performing each piece with some rhythmic accuracy and musical understanding
• Perform the following Major Scales: C, G, F, D, Bb, A, Eb, E and Ab as well as a full range Chromatic Scale
  
  

• Perform 2 contrasting pieces
  • Suggested works include
    • A concerto by Mozart or Weber
    • Excerpts from Milde’s Concert Studies
    • Weisenborn’s Advanced Studies
• Perform all major, minor, and chromatic scales
  
  

Saxophone

• Perform 2 contrasting pieces
  • May be classical etude, classical solo, jazz solo or pop style solo that covers the entire range of the horn
• Show capability of performing each piece with rhythmic accuracy and musical understanding.
• Perform the following Major Scales (encompassing the range of the saxophone): C, G, F, D, Bb, A, Eb, E and Ab as well as a full range Chromatic Scale
  
  

French Horn

• Perform 2 contrasting pieces
  • One should be an Etude from either the Preparatory Melodies by Pottag, Book I or II by Maxime Alphonse or from a comparable book
• Perform major scales through 4 flats and sharps, one or two octaves
• Demonstrate a good tone, articulation, musicianship and rhythmic accuracy
  
  

Trumpet

• Perform major scales through 4 flats and sharps (one or two octaves) a chromatic scale for the full available range of the performer
• Perform an etude from 32 Etudes by Sigmund Herring or any comparable book/etude/solo in classical, or jazz styles demonstrating good tone, rhythm, intonation, articulation and musicianship
  
  

Trombone

• Perform one excerpt from the Melodious Etudes for Trombone, book 1 by Joannes Rochut
• Perform four major scales, two sharp and two flat of their choice
• Be prepared with all scales if asked to play more
• Perform one chromatic scale two octaves
  
  

Tuba/Euphonium

• Perform four major scales, two sharp and two flat of their choice
• Be prepared with all scales if asked to play more
• Perform one chromatic scale two octaves
• Perform
  • One etude
  • A legato study (such as Rochut)
  • A movement from solo literature or orchestral excerpts
    • Such as Wagner Overture to Die Meistersinger or Stravinsky Dancing Bear tuba solo in Petrushka

Violin and Viola

• Know basic fundamentals of violin or viola playing
  • Balanced Posture
  • Lefthand Position and Bow Arm Techniques
  • Open-String Exercises
  • Studies and Simple Pieces In First and Third Positions
  • 2-octave Scales and Arpeggios in the First Position
    • G major
    • A major
    • Bb major
    • C major
  • The 2-octave D Major Scale
    • which uses third position
• Repertoire should include 2 selections comparable to a movement by Vivaldi or Lully that demonstrate the student’s abilities on the instrument
  
  

Cello

• Know basic fundamentals of cello playing
  • Balanced Posture, Left-Hand Position and Bow Arm Techniques
  • Open-String Exercises
  • Studies and Simple Pieces in First Position and Third (or Fourth) Position
  • Forward and Backward Extensions
  • Scales and Arpeggios in the First Position
  • Two-octave Scales
    • C major
    • D major
    • Eb major
  • Two-octave F major scale using third position
• Repertoire should include two pieces comparable to or more advanced than those in Muffat’s Old Masters for Young Players or Cellist’s Favorite Contest Album, that demonstrate the student’s abilities on the instrument
  
  

Double Bass

• Demonstrate fundamental performance skills
  • Balanced Posture, Left-Hand Position and Bowing Techniques
  • Studies and Pieces in First, Half, and Third (or Fourth) Position
  • One-octave Scales and Arpeggios in Bb, C and D major
  • Two-octave scales
    • E major
    • F major
    • G major
• Repertoire should include two etudes or solo pieces comparable to a movement from a Marcello Sonata or something from Vance's Progressive Double Bass book three, or Sturm 110 Etudes

• Major scales from C to E
• A piece that demonstrates two-hand coordination and musicality

• Play one instrumental piece representing your highest level of accomplishment
  • Preferably from memory
• Play the two-octave major-scale form for the keys of C, D, and E
• You are expected to demonstrate a minimal level of potential as shown through tone quality, rhythmic aptitude and the ability to communicate.

• Performance (classical)
  • Three prepared etudes (snare, timpani, marimba)*
• Performance (commercial)
  • Three prepared chart excerpts (swing, latin, rock)
• Music Ed
  • One prepared etude (chosen from snare, timpani, marimba, drumset)
• Music Industry Studies
  • Choice of the above, in accordance with past experience

• Demonstrate tonal memory skills and give evidence of some knowledge of the rudiments of music
• Demonstrate the following:
  • Fundamental performance skills, studies and simple pieces
  • Scales and arpeggios in F, G, Bb, C and D major
• Required repertoire
  • Two etudes or transcriptions that demonstrate left- and right-hand technique
  • A walking bass line or an active rock/pop bass line played along with a backing is acceptable