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Question: Auditioning for Music Major (UMW)!?
I'm currently a theatre major, but recently I've been thinking about changing to music!. I was just accepted to University of Mary Washington as a transfer student, and I found out that you have to audition for a music major!. I've always been doing some sort of music, so it's not like I'm a complete rookie!. The thing is, I'm interested in guitar and voice, but I've only been playing guitar seriously for about six months (and electric at that) and I haven't done voice since middle-school!. All the other instruments I play I only "dabble" in!.
My question is how formal is the audition!? What are they expecting!? Can I just go in with my guitar and accompany myself with chords to, I dunno, Doll Parts to prove yes I /can/ play guitar and I /can/ sing!? Or are they expecting me to play amazing scale progessions and sing Over the Rainbow flawlessly!?
I'm planning on contacting UMW and asking, but I wanted to see if anyone here has an answer first!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Music school auditions are very formal and serious!. It is one thing to be accepted to a college for admission, its a completely different thing to be accepted to a music program!.
If you are auditioning for voice the standard is 5 to 6 pieces, with vocal selections ranging from 1 operatic aria, 1 modern selection, pieces in 3 languages (Italian, German and French) and a solo selection of your choice (but that does not mean you sing a pop tune)!. You have to hire and accompanist as well to play the piano parts for your audition!.
For guitar you will have to audition with selections of Bach, and 3 other contrasting styles!. Classical music styles so again, pop music or playing a riff does not count!. Guitar programs for music schools are classical guitar and nothing else!.
So going in with your guitar and singing Over the Rainbow will not suffice!. Lots of people can sing and strum a few notes on the guitar but what you have in mind would not even be taken seriously by the audition committee!. To be a music major, everyone has to audition no matter the school!. Music majors candidates have been working on audition material for years now and spend a good portion of the two years before admission practicing for their audition!. In addition, you have to write a music theory and history proficiency exam, partake in aural skills exams which includes sight singing and melodic dictation (where they play a melody and you have to write it down after hearing it a few times)!. The audition is serious in all regards!. You cannot just walk in a play a couple tunes - they want to hear material from the standard classical music genre so for guitar it would be composers from this list!.!.!.
http://www!.musicated!.com/CGCL/music/CGCL!.!.!.
and for voice you are looking at
Mozart, Bach, Schubert, Debussy, Schumann, Brahms, Handel, and many many more!.
In terms of what a University wants and your description, you are a complete rookie!. They are looking for someone with more advanced and refined skills and experience then what you have!.
Not trying to burst your bubble but letting you know the truth!.
You can look at the University website and check their music program audition requirements!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Think of the audition as a kind of litmus test!. The school wants to know if they will be able to teach you!. And don't forget, you will want to know if the school can teach you!.
If you were already able to perform flawlessly, then there wouldn't be a need for you to study music performance at school, would there!? The school knows this and factors that into the audition criteria!.
Miles Davis, one of the greatest Jazz musicians, studied at the Juilliard School (a very prestigious music school in NYC) before dropping out because he didn't need to finish his degree to be a successful musician!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
We can't advise you -- each school will have set audition requirements!.
However, you are going to need to decide what you want to study -- voice, guitar, bagpipes, whatever -- because that will dictate what the audition requirements are!.
That being said, they will want to hear you display some aptitude for the instrument!. They're certainly not going to expect you to be a world-class virtuoso, but they want to hear if you have 1) a flair for music and 2) some potential for growth!. If you haven't sung since childhood, they may find that a bit odd, even asking you why you suddenly want to start singing again!.
One option would be to try to take a couple of music classes at your current school if possible, to both help refine your talent and, frankly, determine whether you have a true passion for music or just a sideline interest!.Www@QuestionHome@Com