Please contact Mr. Calvin Robinson, auditions coordinator for the Department of Music, at (410) 543-6385 or jcrobinson@salisbury.edu for more information.

Requirements

[Audition Form (PDF)]

All students who wish to be admitted to the Bachelor of Arts in music program must first be admitted to the university, then must successfully pass a music audition and take a theory advisory test. The Department of Music has an open audition policy and audition times can be arranged at our mutual convenience. Most students and their parents coordinate the audition with one of the University Open Houses. When you contact the above contact person, please provide your name, instrument, and possible dates which would be convenient for you to audition. We will then establish a convenient date and time with the respective faculty. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Criteria of Evaluation For All Musicians:

intonation
phrasing, breath support
quality of tone
articulation and technique
range
ability to read music

Candidates are expected to provide a copy of all audition materials. Instrumentalists will perform without accompaniment. The department will provide an accompanist for vocalists, if necessary.

Recommended Materials for Instrumental Auditions: Etudes, orchestral excerpts, representative solo works such as sonatas and concerti.

For Instrumentalists including Brass, Woodwind, and Strings: Students entering into the B.A. in Music and B.A. in Music/ Teacher Certification tracks should prepare one or two pieces (excerpts, etudes, movements, solos), in contrasting styles, which best show your proficiency. Students wishing to audition into the B.A. in Music - Instrumental Performance track should prepare at least two pieces. Knowledge of major and minor scales is preferred.

For Classical Guitarists: Students entering into the B.A. in Music and B.A. in Music/ Teacher Certification tracks should prepare two pieces from the classical guitar repertoire, one of which may be an etude, which best show his/her proficiency. Students wishing to audition into the B.A. in Music - Instrumental Performance track should prepare three pieces in contrasting styles. All candidates will be asked to sight read a short piece, and discuss their knowledge of classical guitar repertoire, and their musical interests. Candidates are asked to please bring their music scores to the audition. A footstool will be provided.

For Percussionists: Students entering into the B.A. in Music or B.A. in Music/ Teacher Certification tracks should prepare one or two pieces (excerpts, etudes, movements, solos), in contrasting styles, which best show your proficiency on percussion instruments (including Mallets, Tympani or Snare). Students wishing to audition into the B.A. in Music - Instrumental Performance track should prepare at least two pieces. For all students, the audition will also include sight reading on marimba and snare drum; timpani and drum set solos are encouraged but optional.

For Pianists: Students entering into the B.A. in Music and B.A. in Music/ Teacher Certification tracks should prepare two pieces of your choice, in contrasting styles, which best show your proficiency. At least one of the pieces must be memorized. Students wishing to audition into the B.A. in Music - Instrumental Performance track, should have three pieces prepared, two of which must be memorized. A movement of a composition is considered to be one piece. Knowledge of major and minor scales should be demonstrated at the audition for all tracks.

For Organists: Students entering into the B.A. in Music and B.A. in Music/ Teacher Certification tracks should prepare two pieces of your choice, in contrasting styles, which best show your proficiency. For students wishing to audition into the B.A. in Music -Instrumental Performance track, there should be three pieces prepared, two of which must be memorized. A movement of a composition is considered to be one piece. In addition, students will be asked to sight read a hymn. Piano skills will be evaluated.

For Vocalists: Students entering into the B.A. Music and B.A. in Music/ Teacher Certification tracks should prepare two pieces of your choice, one in English and one in a foreign language. For students wishing to audition into the B.A. in Music - Vocal Performance track, there should be three pieces, one in English and the other two in at least one other language. For all tracks, audition pieces should be selected from the art song repertoire. Memorization is required of all vocalists.

** Selections for performance should demonstrate proficient knowledge and facility on the instrument as well as knowledge of standard repertoire.

NOTE: All perspective majors are requested to present a performance biography at their audition.

Include in chronological order:

All performance ensembles that you currently participate in. Include All-City, All-County, All-State ensembles, etc.
Include all solo contests/festivals that you have performed at. List only the solo repertoire performed during high school.
If you are presently studying with a private instructor, please list all current method books and repertoire that you have been working on.
This information should be typed and presented to the faculty representative at your audition.