Bachelor of Music: Performance

Auditions Requirements 2024-2025

Prospective students interested in the Bachelor of Music in Performance will complete a live audition OR submit video recordings of the categories listed below. With each video submission, state your full name and the music program for which you are auditioning. You may also submit a resume or other materials that you feel are relevant for the Music Department Audition Committee.

• Live Auditions: When participating in a live audition, you will complete your audition and participate in interviews (if required by your program) on your audition day. We highly encourage this option.
• Recorded Auditions: Students who choose to submit a recorded audition must also complete any Zoom interviews required by your program. The department will contact you to schedule these sessions after your application is approved. Students cannot be considered for admission to the music program until all of these steps have been completed.

For guideline and requirement questions please contact: 313-577-1783 or musicadmissions@wayne.edu. 

Brass, Harp, Woodwind and Percussion Instruments

1. Scales: Applicants will select one 3-octave major of their choice, one 3-octave minor of their choice, and the chromatic scale demonstrating their instrument’s full range.
2. Music Selections: Two prepared selections in contrasting tempo and historical styles: Selections can be chosen from etudes, solo works, single movements of concertos, sonatas, suites, etc.

Percussion

Demonstrate percussion skills on snare drum, marimba or xylophone, and timpani, as follows:

• Snare Drum:
  • Applicant-selected solo snare drum piece. Some suggestions:
    • Portraits in Rhythm by Cirone (any etude)
    • Douze Etudes pour Caisse-Claire by Jacques Delécluse (any etude)
    • Fourteen Contest Solos by Pratt (any of these)
    • or any solo of comparable difficulty
• Marimba or xylophone:
  • Three major scales, two octaves
  • Applicant-selected two or four-mallet solo (a four-mallet solo is required if auditioning for performance). Some suggestions:
    • Furioso and Valse by Hatch
    • Violin Sonata No.3 in F by G.F. Handel (2^nd movement)
    • Tambourin Chinois by Kreisler
    • Yellow After the Rain by Peters (4 mallet)
    • Rain Dance by Rife/Gomez (4 mallet)
    • or any solo of comparable difficulty
• Timpani
  • Solo for 2, 3 or 4 drums. Some suggestions:
    • Introduction and Allegro by Goodman
    • The Solo Timpanist by Firth (any etude from this)
    • Three Designs for Three Timpani by Muczynski
    • Sonata for Timpani by Beck
    • Or any solo work of comparable difficulty

Strings

1. Scales: One 3-octave major of the applicant's choice and one 3-octave melodic minor scale of the applicant's choice, with arpeggios.

2. Music Selections:

   • One movement from a solo J.S. Bach sonata, partita, or suite, or or one etude of the applicant's choice

   • One concerto movement or single-movement solo piece

Double Bass:

1. Scales: One 2-octave major of the applicant’s choice and one 2-octave melodic minor scale of the applicant’s choice, with arpeggios
2. Music Selections:
   • One movement from a solo J.S. Bach sonata, partita, or suite, or one etude of the applicant's choice
   • One concerto movement or single-movement solo piece

Piano

1. Scales: Select one major scale with arpeggios, four octaves; one minor scale with arpeggio, four octaves; chromatic scale, four octaves.
2. Music Selections: Two prepared pieces in contrasting styles.
   • Some suggestions: Bach, Little Preludes; Clementi, Sonatinas; Kuhlau, Sonatinas; short character pieces of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Organ

1. Scales: Chromatic, major and minor scales and arpeggios, two octaves (piano only)

2. Music Selections: Two prepared pieces in contrasting musical styles, performed on either organ or piano.

   • Some suggestions: A J.S. Bach preludes or two-part invention, standard hymns, a Mozart sonata.

For guideline and requirement questions please contact: 313-577-1783 or musicadmissions@wayne.edu. 

Updated: September 2024