There are two steps to becoming a Music major at Wayne State. Prospective Music students must:

1. Apply and be accepted to the University through WSU Admissions.  Prospective students should apply to WSU at least one month prior to Department of Music audition date. 

2. Present a successful audition on a principal instrument or voice. Audition requirements for the various programs are listed below.

Audition dates for Winter-Fall 2010 are:

• Friday, November 13, 2009 (Deadline to submit form: Friday, Novemer 6.)
• Friday, February 5, 2010
  
• Friday, February 19, 2010 (Additional date for Voice, Strings and Piano)
• Friday, March 5, 2010  (Talent-based Dept. of Music scholarship deadline) 
  

Undergraduate Audition Request Form

Civic Ensemble Member Audition Request Form

Graduate Audition Request Form

The deadline to submit an Audition Request Form is three weeks before the audition date you choose. You will recieve your audition time via e-mail one week before your audition date. 

Undergraduate applicants take the Theory Placement Exam on audition day. Graduate applicants will take Graduate Diagnostic Exams the week before classes begin of their first semester.

Undergraduate Audition Requirements

Bachelor of Music in Performance

Brass, Harp, Woodwind and Percussion Instruments
Contact: Prof. Douglas Bianchi
(313) 577-2615  ad3364@wayne.edu

All Brass, Harp, Woodwind and Percussion instrumentalists
•    Michigan Proficiency Major, minor, and chromatic scales  (www.msboa.org)
•    Two prepared etudes in contrasting tempo and style.
•    Two prepared solo works from different eras. One must be a complete concerto, sonata, or suite.
•    Sight reading
•    Theory placement examination

Additional requirements for:
Harp
Scales and arpeggios (or representative etudes)
•    two prepared solos in contrasting musical styles
•    sight reading
•    Theory Placement Examination

Percussion
Demonstrate percussion skills on snare drum, marimba or xylophone, and timpani, as follows:
Snare drum:
•    long roll, open-closed-open, pp-ff-pp
•    5,7,9,13,17-stroke rolls
•    flams, flam accent no. 1 & 2, ruff, paradiddles,ratamaque, flam tap
•    sight reading
•    solo piece (non-rudimental)

Marimba or xylophone:
•    major scales, two octaves, keys of C,F,G,D,E,A,Bb,Eb,Ab
•    chromatic scale
•    major and minor arpeggios, two octaves, for each of above keys
•    sight reading
•    three or four-mallet solo

Timpani:
•    for two drums, tune major 2nds, 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, 6ths, 7ths; minor 3rds, 6ths; octaves
•    perform page 19 in the Goodman Timpani Method plus any two exercises for two or three drums
•    sight reading
•    Theory Placement Examination

Voice
Contact: Prof. Frances Brockington
(313) 577-2619 ad3353@wayne.edu

Three prepared pieces in different historical and contrasting styles, one English art song, one foreign-language art song (preferably Italian), one other song (in any language) or aria appropriate to the auditionee’s level
•    Student must have piano accompaniments for their repertoire in the correct key
•    No recorded accompaniments
•    Scores should be legible and accessible
•    Music must be memorized
•    Sight reading
•    Theory Placement Examination

String Instruments
Contact: Dr. Laura Roelofs
(313) 993-4206 llroelofs@wayne.edu

Performance or Instrumental Music Education
Violin
•    One 3-octave major and one melodic minor scale, with arpeggios
•    One movement from solo Bach sonatas and partitas
•    An etude of applicant's choice
•    One concerto movement or single-movement solo piece
•    Sight-reading
•    Theory Placement Examination

Viola
•    One 3-octave major and one melodic minor scale, with arpeggios
•    One movement of solo Bach
•    An etude of applicant's choice
•    One concerto movement or single-movement solo piece
•    Sight-reading
•    Theory Placement Examination

Cello
•    One 3-octave major and one melodic minor scales, with arpeggios
•    One movement from the solo Bach Suites
•    An etude of applicant's choice
•    One concerto movement or single-movement solo piece
•    Sight-reading
•    Theory Placement Examination

Bass
•    One 2-octave major and one melodic minor scales, with arpeggios
•    One movement of solo Bach or an etude of applicant's choice
•    One concerto movement or single-movement solo piece
•    Sight-reading
•    Theory Placement Examination

Guitar (classical)
Contact: Lee Dyament
(313) 577-2614  ad7674@wayne.edu

Applicants should demonstrate technical ability consistent with the satisfactory completion of method books such as Frederick Noad: Book 1 - Solo Guitar Playing, Julio Sagreras Book 1, or similar methods.
•    major and minor scales in several positions
•    demonstrate knowledge of chord types in several positions
•    Perform, from memory, studies and/or etudes such as those by Aguado, Brouwer, Carcassi, Giuliani, Sor, and Tarrega
•    sight reading
•    Theory placement examination

Organ
Contact: Dr. Norah Duncan IV
(313) 577-1775  ac8468@wayne.edu
Two prepared pieces in contrasting musical style, performed on either organ or piano
•    For organ, selections should be at the level of J.S. Bach's simpler Preludes or standard hymns
•    For piano, selections should be at the level of Bach's two-part Inventions or a simpler sonata by Mozart
•    chromatic, major and minor scales and arpeggios, two octaves (piano only)
•    sight reading of hymns (organ only)
•    Theory Placement Examination

Piano
Contact: Dr. Robert Conway 
(313) 577-2676  ad4914@wayne.edu

Performance, Composition/Theory with Piano Principal, or Vocal Music Education with Piano Principal
•    chromatic scale, major and minor scales and arpeggios, four octaves
•    from memory, three works representing any three historical styles.
Examples:
    o    Baroque:  a Sinfonia or Prelude and Fugue from The Well-Tempered Clavier by Bach; a pair of Sonata movements by Beethoven, Haydn or Mozart
    o    Romantic: standard work of medium difficulty, e.g., an Intermezzo by Brahms; a Mazurka, Prelude, Waltz, or Nocturne by Chopin; a selection from Songs Without Words by Mendelssohn; an Impromptu by Schubert
    o    Impressionist: a standard work of medium difficulty by Debussy, Faure, or Ravel
    o    Contemporary: a piece from Bartok, Mikrokosmos, Book VI; Schoenberg, Six Little Piano Pieces Op. 19; Prokofiev Sarcasms; Barber Excursions; Copland, Piano Blues
•    Sight reading
•    Theory placement examination

Bachelor of Music in Music Education
Instrumental Music Education
Dr. Terese Volk
(313) 577-2674 ag7658@wayne.edu

Brass and woodwind players
•    Michigan Proficiency Major, minor, Chromatic Scales (www.msboa.org)
•    Two prepared selections in contrasting tempo and historical styles:  Selections can be chosen from:  etudes, solo works, single movements of concertos, sonatas, suites, etc.
•    Sight reading
•    Theory placement examination

Percussionists
•    See Percussion Performance requirements (link)

Instrumental Music Education as a Strings Principal
•    See Strings Perfromance requirements (link)

Vocal Music Education as a Voice Principal
Contact: Dr. Abigail Butler
(313) 577-2673 abby.butler@wayne.edu

•    Two prepared pieces in different historical and contrasting styles, one English art song and one foreign language art song (preferably Italian); an aria or other appropriate song may be substituted for the second song
•    Students must have piano accompaniment for their repertoire in the correct key
•    Scores must be legible and accessible
•    No recorded accompaniments
•    Music must be memorized
•    Sight reading
•    Theory placement examination

Vocal Music Education as a Piano Principal (see Piano)

Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies

Contact: Prof. Chris Collins
(313) 577-1780  ac4080@wayne.edu

All iazz instrumentalists
•    major and minor scales
•    one prepared piece (applicant's choice)
•    sight reading
•    improvisation

Additional requirements for:
Drummers (full set)
•    demonstrate ability to play different styles - bossa nova, Latin, jazz waltz, straight time, contemporary pop styles
•    demonstrate reading abiity

Guitar or Bass (electric or acoustic)
•    read chord symbols

Keyboard, woodwind, and brass players
•    demonstrate technical ability and range

Bachelor of Music in Composition / Theory
Contact: Dr. James Hartway
(313) 577-1771  ac2554@wayne.edu

Brass, Percussion, Strings, Voice, or Woodwinds principal instrument
•    Michigan Proficiency Major, minor, Chromatic Scales (www.msboa.org)
•    Two prepared selections in contrasting tempo and historical styles:  Selections can be chosen from:  etudes, solo works, single movements of concertos, sonatas, suites, etc.
•    Sight reading

Piano principal instrument (see Piano)

Bachelor of Music in Music Business
Contact: Dr. Dennis J. Tini
(313) 577-2545  aa5272@wayne.edu

•    Instrumental or vocal audition on principal instrument
•    Michigan Proficiency Major, minor, Chromatic Scales (www.msboa.org)
•    Two prepared selections in contrasting tempo and historical styles:  Selections can be chosen from:  etudes, solo works, single movements of concertos, sonatas, suites, etc.
•    Sight reading
•    Interview with area coordinator to assess preparedness for studies in music and business
•    Theory placement examination

Bachelor of Music in Music Technology
Contact: Thomas Court
(313) 993-7550  aa6520@wayne.edu

•    Instrumental or vocal audition on principal instrument
•    Michigan Proficiency Major, minor, Chromatic Scales (www.msboa.org)
•    Two prepared selections in contrasting tempo and historical styles:  Selections can be chosen from:  etudes, solo works, single movements of concertos, sonatas, suites, etc.
•    Sight reading
•    Theory placement examination
•    Interview with program advisor to assess preparedness for studies in engineering technology, recording techniques, MIDI and computer-based music production

Bachelor of Arts in Music
•    Instrumental principals: Michigan Proficiency Major, minor, Chromatic Scales  (www.msboa.org)
•    Two prepared selections in contrasting tempo and historical styles:  Selections can be chosen from:  etudes, solo works, single movements of concertos, sonatas, suites, etc.
•    Sight reading
•    Theory Placement Examination

 Graduate Audition Requirements

Master of Music in Performance

Brass, Harp, Woodwind and Percussion Instruments
Contact: Prof. Douglas Bianchi
(313) 577-2615  ad3364@wayne.edu

Brass
•    three prepared pieces in different historical styles, including at least one entire concerto, sonata or suite 
 
•    three contrasting orchestral excerpts

Percussion
•    three prepared pieces, one each on snare drums, mallets, and timpani
•    snare drum: non-rudimental solo
•    keyboard: four-mallet solo
•    timpani: four-drum solo that displays tuning
•    sight reading on all three instruments

Harp
•    three prepared solos or concerto movements representing at least two different musical eras, or two solos and one substantial orchestral harp part, e.g., Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique or Wagner's Fire Music. At least one piece should be memorized.

Piano
Contact: Dr. Robert Conway
(313) 577-2676  ad4914@wayne.edu

•    chromatic scale, major and minor scales and arpeggios, four octaves
•    from memory, four works representing at least three historical styles.
      Examples: 

•    Baroque: an English suite, French suite, Partita, Toccata, or the Italian Concerto by Bach; sonatas by Scarlatti
•    Classical: a complete sonata by Beethoven, Haydn or Mozart
•    Romantic: major works by Brahms, Chopin,Liszt, Schubert, Schumann, Rachmaninoff, etc.
•    Impressionist: major works by Debussy or Ravel
•    Contemporary: major work by a composer working in a 20th-/21st-century idiom
•    Sight reading

Strings (MMus, Graduate Certificate Orchestral Studies)
Contact: Prof. Laura Roelofs
(313) 993-4206 l  av1230@wayne.edu

•    Three prepared works representing a variety of historical periods and styles. At least one work must be a complete solo concerto or solo suite.
•    standard orchestral excerpts
•    sight reading

Voice
Contact: Prof. Frances Brockington
(313) 577-2619 ad3353@wayne.edu

Applicants should bring a resume, including a repertoire list, and a short biographical sketch.
•    minimum of three memorized selections, including one one from operatic literature, one from oratorio literature, and one 20th-century art song. Applicants should demonstrate ability in French, Italian, and German diction.
•    sight singing

Guitar (classical)
Contact: Lee Dyament
(313) 577-2614   ad7674@wayne.edu

Three prepared pieces representing at least two different historical styles
Examples:
•    Renaissance: works by Narvaez, Dowland, or Milan
•    Baroque: a suite by J.S. Bach
•    Classical: larger works by Tarrega, Albeniz, or Granados
•    Contemporary: works by Ponce, Brouwer, or Henze

Organ
Contact: Dr. Norah Duncan IV
(313) 577-1775  ac8468@wayne.edu

Three standard organ works representing at least two different historical styles
Examples:
•    Baroque:  noels by Daquin, a Leipzig prelude and fugue by Bach
•     Romantic:  movements from the symphonies of Widor or Vierne
•     Contemporary: works by Alain

Master of Music in Jazz Performance
Contact: Prof. Chris Collins
(313) 577-1780  ac4080@wayne.edu

All instrumentalists:
•    major and minor scales
•    one prepared piece (applicant's choice)
•    sight reading
•    improvisation

Additional requirements for:
Drummers (full set):
•    demonstrate ability to play different styles - bossa nova, Latin, jazz waltz, straight time, contemporary pop styles
•    demonstrate reading abiity

Guitar or Bass (electric or acoustic)
•    read chord symbols

Keyboard, woodwind, and brass players
•    demonstrate technical ability and range

Master of Music in Conducting
Contact: Dr. Norah Duncan IV
(313) 577-2545  ac8468@wayne.edu

Interview required. Please bring resume and undergraduate transcript(s). In general, applicants should have:
•    a Bachelor of Music degree in, vocal music education, vocal performance, piano, organ, church music, or in a related concentration with extensive conducting experience
•    a strong undergraduate background in theory, analysis, music history, ear training, and piano/keyboard
•    strong writing, research, and interpersonal communication skills
•    for choral conductors: knowledge of diction in at least three foreign languages (German, French, Italian, Latin)
Audition requirements include:
•    open-score reading (SATB) at the piano
•    one prepared piano piece at the intermediate level, e.g., a two-part Invention or Sinfonia by Bach, or a movement from a Mozart or Beethoven sonata
•    one prepared conducting exercise with a student ensemble

Master of Music in Composition / Theory
Contact: Dr. James Hartway
(313) 577-1771  ac2554@wayne.edu

Interview required. Please bring transcript and portfolio of compositions (composition majors) or papers (theory majors). Admission to graduate programs in Composition and Theory will be based on portfolios as well as undergraduate grades in written theory, ear training, counterpoint, and related courses.

Master of Music in Music Education
Contact: Dr. Terese Volk
(313) 577-2674 ag7658@wayne.edu

Interview required. Must have undergraduate degree in music education and teaching certificate.