Audition Requirements
Prospective music majors and minors audition on campus with the Department of Music. Review the classical requirements for your instrument or voice area below. When you are ready to reserve an audition or review audition policies, return to the Music Major Auditions page.
By Area
Classical Audition Requirements
Select your instrument or voice area for its specific requirements.
Voice
Prepare two contrasting solos (3 for performance majors):
- At least one classical in nature, to be performed from memory with accompaniment
- One foreign language piece preferred
- Folk song arrangements are acceptable
- One selection may be from the musical theatre repertoire
- A contemporary Christian song is acceptable
Examples of appropriate songs found in collections for auditioning students include but are not limited to:
- 24 Italian Songs & Arias of the 17th and 18th Centuries, published by G. Schirmer (available in Medium High & Medium Low vocal ranges)
- 26 Italian Songs & Arias of the 17th and 18th Centuries, ed. by Paton, published by Alfred (available in Medium High & Medium Low vocal ranges)
- First Book of Solos, ed. by Boytim, published by Hal Leonard (available in Soprano, Mezzo/Alto, Tenor, and Baritone/Bass volumes)
- First Book of Broadway Solos, ed. by Boytim, published by Hal Leonard (available in Soprano, Mezzo/Alto, Tenor, and Baritone/Bass volumes)
Have questions about repertoire? You are encouraged to reach out to the appropriate studio faculty:
- Laurissa Backlin — Associate Professor of Music; Director of Vocal Studies · lbacklin@cn.edu
- Cody Boling — Assistant Professor of Voice; Music Director of Lyric Theatre & Opera · cboling@cn.edu
- LaVista Benson — Adjunct Professor of Voice · lbenson@cn.edu
Woodwinds
- Two solos, movements, or etudes of contrasting styles. Memorization is optional.
- All major scales, full range of the instrument, at least two octaves
- Optional: up to three orchestral excerpts of your choice are encouraged, but not required
- Sight-reading
Saxophones: students may play the above audition on alto, tenor, or baritone saxophone.
Have questions about repertoire? You are encouraged to reach out to the appropriate studio faculty:
- Sherbie Hampson — Adjunct Professor of Flute · shampson@cn.edu
- Hunter Collins — Adjunct Professor of Oboe · hcollins1912@cn.edu
- Tara Scruggs — Adjunct Professor of Clarinet · tscruggs@cn.edu
- Nathan Keedy — Adjunct Professor of Saxophone · nkeedy@cn.edu
Brass
- Two contrasting etudes demonstrating lyrical and more technical playing
- All major scales, two octaves if possible
- Sight-reading
- Standard orchestral excerpts of your choice are highly encouraged, but optional
- One significant solo work; memorization is optional
Have questions about repertoire? You are encouraged to reach out to the appropriate studio faculty:
- Joel Tillman — Adjunct Professor of Trumpet · jtillman@cn.edu
- Jason Glashauser — Adjunct Professor of Horn · jglashauser@cn.edu
- Kyle Davidson — Adjunct Professor of Trombone · kdavidson@cn.edu
- David Gonzalez — Assistant Professor of Music · dgonzalez@cn.edu
Percussion
Keyboard Percussion
(Carson-Newman will provide a 5-octave Musser synthetic marimba with adjustable height for the audition.) Prospective students need to prepare:
- A two-mallet or four-mallet solo to demonstrate technique and musicianship
- Twelve major scales and the chromatic scale, full range on the marimba
- Sight-reading at the marimba
Snare Drum
(Carson-Newman will provide a Yamaha Grand Symphonic Rosewood (GSR 1450) snare drum for the audition.) Prospective students need to prepare:
- A concert or rudimental solo or etude to demonstrate technique and musicianship
- The 40 PAS rudiments, to be played slow-fast-slow
- The multiple bounce roll, to be played soft-loud-soft
- Sight-reading in a concert style
Timpani
(Carson-Newman will provide 4 Adams timpani (32", 29", 26", 23") with tuning gauges for the audition.) Prospective students need to prepare:
- A solo or etude to demonstrate technique, musicianship, and tuning ability on timpani
Optional Audition Material
- Multiple Percussion: prospective students may choose to perform an etude/solo on any combination of percussion instruments. Please verify in advance that any needed instruments will be available.
- Drumset: prospective students may choose to perform a solo or other material to demonstrate time-keeping and stylistic proficiency on drumset. Please verify in advance that any needed sound equipment for play-along tracks will be available on the audition day.
Have questions about repertoire? You are encouraged to reach out to the appropriate studio faculty:
- Matt Weyer — Adjunct Professor of Percussion · mweyer@cn.edu
Piano
A total of two selections (3 for performance majors), by memory, representing two or more of the following categories:
- A selection of J.S. Bach, from the Two- or Three-Part Inventions, Well-Tempered Clavier, Suites, Partitas, etc.
- A movement of a sonatina or sonata by Clementi, Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven
- A work from 19th-century repertoire by such composers as Chopin, Schumann, or Mendelssohn
- A selection from 20th-century composers such as Shostakovitch, Kabalevsky, Bartok, Barber, Debussy, etc.
Have questions about repertoire? You are encouraged to reach out to the appropriate studio faculty:
- Ryan Fogg — Professor of Music; Director of Keyboard Studies · rfogg@cn.edu
Organ
A total of two selections representing two of the following categories:
- One prelude and fugue from the Eight Little Preludes and Fugues by Bach
- An organ composition of a contrasting nature
- A hymn similar in difficulty to "Holy, Holy, Holy," "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee," or "Faith of Our Fathers"
A piano audition may be substituted by a student who has no previous organ study.
Have questions about repertoire? You are encouraged to reach out to the appropriate studio faculty:
- Ryan Fogg — Professor of Music; Director of Keyboard Studies · rfogg@cn.edu
Strings
Selections from as many of the following as possible:
- Any three-octave scales with arpeggios (two octaves for double bass)
- One etude or caprice
- Any concerto, solo, or concert piece that best represents your playing ability at the time of the audition
Memorization is recommended but not required for the strings audition.
Have questions about repertoire? You are encouraged to reach out to the appropriate studio faculty:
- Edward Pulgar — Adjunct Professor of Strings · epulgar@cn.edu
- Andrew Bryenton — Adjunct Professor of Cello · abryenton@cn.edu
Guitar
- Major and minor scales, first position
- Chords: Major 7th, Dominant 7th, Minor 7th, Half-diminished 7th, and Diminished 7th
- Repertoire: two classical pieces in contrasting style and/or tempo
- Examples: Fernando Sor, Ferdinando Carulli, Matteo Carcassi, J.S. Bach
- Optional third piece in a jazz, rock, blues, or other modern style
Have questions about repertoire? You are encouraged to reach out to the appropriate studio faculty:
- Andrew McCoy — Adjunct Professor of Guitar · amccoy@cn.edu
BA in Worship Leadership (Guitar / Piano / Voice)
- Two contemporary worship pieces of the student's choice: one in simple meter (4/4) and one in compound meter (6/8)
- A traditional hymn
- Optional fourth piece in classical, jazz, rock, or blues
Have questions about repertoire? You are encouraged to reach out to the appropriate studio faculty:
- Chris Headley — Chair & Associate Professor of Music; Director of Worship Leadership · cheadley@cn.edu