Music Pre-Screening and Audition Guidelines

Undergraduate

Prescreening Audition

Please submit the following:

• One major and one minor two-octave scale and arpeggio.
• A solo of your choice.

Audition Video

For those selected for a second round audition, the audition will take place on either February 22nd or February 26th.

Your video should be 12-15 minutes in length and should include representative samples from all required repertoire. Please prepare any selections from the following:

• One major and one minor two-octave scale and arpeggio.
• A solo of your choice.
• Two contrasting orchestral excerpts.

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Graduate

Prescreening Audition

Please select two pieces in contrasting styles from the list below.

Audition Video

For those selected for a second round audition, the audition will take place on either February 22nd or February 26th.

Your video should be 12-15 minutes in length and should include representative samples from all required repertoire. Please prepare any selections from the following:

• Three-octave scales and arpeggios.
• Two contrasting solos of applicant’s choice.
• Three contrasting orchestral excerpts.

Undergraduate

Horn, tenor trombone, bass trombone, trumpet: audition on Bb and C trumpets only, tuba: audition on Eb, CC, or BBb only.

Prescreening Audition

Please prepare the following pieces:

• Two contrasting ètudes.
• Two contrasting movements from the solo repertoire.

Live Audition

For those selected for a second round audition, the audition will take place on February 21, 2022.

Please prepare the following selections:

• Two contrasting ètudes.
• Two contrasting movements from the solo repertoire.
• Sight-reading taken from the standard orchestral repertoire.

 

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Graduate

Horn; tenor trombone; bass trombone; trumpet, must audition on Bb and C trumpets, and can choose additional option of performing on D, Eb, and/or piccolo trumpets; tuba: addition on F, Eb, CC, or BBb tubas.

Prescreening Audition

Please select two pieces in contrasting styles from the list below.

Live Audition

For those selected for a second round audition, the audition will take place on February 21, 2022.

Please prepare all pieces.

• Two advanced, contrasting pieces, one of which must be an original work from the 20th-/21st-century repertoire. Performance of at least one piece from memory is desirable.
• Advanced sight reading taken from orchestral repertoire. Excerpts will include: Transposition for trumpet and horn; reading of alto or tenor clefs for trombone.

Undergraduate

Prescreening Audition

Please submit two selections in contrasting styles from the list below.

Audition Video

For those selected for a second round audition, the audition will take place on either February 22nd or February 26th. Please see below for audition repertoire requirements.

Your video should be 12-15 minutes in length and should include representative samples from all required repertoire. Please prepare any selections from the following:

• One movement of a concerto from the standard repertory.
• One movement from the Bach Unaccompanied Suites.
• A third contrasting work of your choice (can be an ètude, a contemporary work, a showpiece, or a movement of a sonata).

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Graduate

Prescreening Audition

Please select two pieces in contrasting styles from the list below.

Audition Video

For those selected for a second round audition, the audition will take place on either February 22nd or February 26th. Please see below for audition repertoire requirements.

Your video should be 12-15 minutes in length and should include representative samples from all required repertoire. Please prepare any selections from the following:

• Two contrasting movements of a concerto from the standard repertory.
• Two contrasting movements from the Bach Unaccompanied Suites.
• A third contrasting work of your choice (an ètude, a contemporary work, a showpiece, or a movement of a sonata).

Undergraduate

Prescreening Audition

Please select two pieces in contrasting styles from the classical guitar repertoire.

Live Audition

For those selected for a second round audition, the audition will take place on February 22nd.

Please prepare three works of contrasting style (Renaissance, Baroque, Romantic, and/or contemporary) from the classical guitar repertoire. You will also be asked to sight-read.

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Graduate

Prescreening Audition

For those selected for a second round audition, the audition will take place on February 22nd.

Please select two pieces in contrasting styles from the list below.

Live Audition

Please prepare:

• A Bach suite, violin sonata/partita, or a work from Bach’s lute music.
• A major work from the Classical or Romantic period.
• A 20th-century work.

Undergraduate and Graduate

Prescreening Audition

Please submit two original scores (required) and recordings (if available), one of which must have been written within the last two years. No MIDI, please.

Live Audition

For those selected for a second round audition, auditions will take place on February 21, 22, and 24th.

Please bring three pieces as described below.

• Applicants should present three original works notated conventionally, if appropriate, and recorded or performed live. While live performance recordings are preferred, it is advisable to bring MIDI recordings to your audition rather than no audio at all.
• The composition interview/live audition entails a brief ear training exam (interval recognition, chords, pitch matching, and scales), a discussion on general theoretical and/or historical topics and a demonstration of basic instrument proficiency. Students must prepare one short work on their solo instrument of choice.

Undergraduate

Prescreening Audition

Please submit two pieces in contrasting styles from the standard harp repertoire.

Live Audition

For those selected for a second round audition, the audition will take place on February 22nd.

Please prepare:

• One Pozzoli étude.
• Two contrasting works or movements from the standard harp repertoire.

You will be asked to sight-read at your live audition.

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Graduate

Prescreening Audition

Please select two pieces in contrasting styles from the list below.

Live Audition

For those selected for a second round audition, the audition will take place on February 22nd.

Please prepare all pieces. All compositions must be performed from memory.

• Mozart Concerto for Flute and Harp (1st movement, no cadenza)
• One contemporary or 19th-century work from the standard harp repertoire on the level of Hindemith’s Sonata or Faure’s Impromptu
• 1st harp part from Symphone Fantastique/Berloiz, and one cadenza from Young Person’s/ Britten or Lucia/Donizetti, or Swan Lake/ Tchaikowsky

Please note that we offer the following instruments as part of the Jazz Studies program: saxophone, trombone, trumpet, piano, acoustic bass, guitar, drums, and voice.

Undergraduate and Graduate

Pre-Screening Audition (must be uploaded in video format)*

*For fall applicants only. If you are applying for spring, please go directly to the Final Audition section below and follow the requirements listed there.

The total length of your materials should not exceed 10 minutes.

• All applicants (see below for discipline-specific instructions/exceptions) should upload two separate videos, of two selections, one in medium/up-tempo, one as a ballad, from the following repertoire list, preferably with rhythm section or play-along recording, in whichever keys are most comfortable for the applicants. Perform the melody and at least a one-chorus improvised solo:
  
  • There Will Never Be Another You
  • Confirmation
  • Embraceable You
  • 12-bar Blues
• Special instructions for various disciplines:
  
  • Singers need not improvise a solo.
  • Double-bassists should include one chorus of walking bass lines in addition to the melody and improvised solo. (Note: a major concentration in electric bass guitar is not offered. Please audition on acoustic bass only.)
  • Drummers should play brushes and sticks in the context of a trio or a small jazz combo. Please trade fours, eights, or choruses on either the medium or up-tempo swing tune.

Final Audition*

*For fall applicants only: Only those applicants who pass the prescreening audition will be invited for a final in person audition on February 25 or 26th. You will be playing in a jazz combo with the tunes below.

 

• All applicants (see below for discipline-specific instructions/exceptions) should be prepared to play the melody and a one-chorus improvised solo with the specified keys listed below.
  
  • All the Things You Are: A flat Major
  • What Is This Thing Called Love? C Major
  • On Green Dolphin Street: C or E Flat Major
  • Body and Soul: D flat Major
  • 12-bar Blue: Any key
• Special instructions for various disciplines:
  
  • Singers need not improvise a solo, but must bring three copies of a lead sheet in your key for each of the above selections.
    
  • Pianists and guitarists should include one chorus of comping (perhaps for the bass solo) in addition to the melody and improvised solo.
  • Drummers should play brushes and sticks in the context of a trio or a small jazz combo. Please trade fours, eights, or choruses on either the medium or up-tempo swing tune.

Undergraduate

Prescreening Audition

Please submit two selections from the list below.

Live Audition*

Live auditions will take place in-person on February 24th. Please prepare all three selections from the list below:

• Snare drum: One ètude of your choice from Cirone’s Portraits in Rhythm or equivalent
• Marimba: One 2-mallet or 4-mallet ètude or solo
• Timpani: One ètude of your choice from Goodman’s Modern Method for Timpani or equivalent

*For the live audition, all applicants must provide percussion faculty with two copies of all audition pieces.

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Graduate

Prescreening Audition

Please submit two contrasting selections from the five “required” selections listed below.

Live Audition*

Live auditions will take place in-person on February 24th. Please prepare all five “required” selections.

Required

• Snare drum: One ètude from Delecluse’s Douze Etudes or equivalent
• 4 Mallets: One 4-mallet solo from the standard solo repertoire
• 2 Mallets: One 2-mallet movement from J.S. Bach Six Suites for Solo Cello or Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin (no repeats)
• Timpani: One solo from the standard repertoire
• Orchestral Excerpts: One standard orchestral excerpt on each of the following: Snare Drum, Xylophone, and Timpani

Optional

• Multiple percussion solo: For the prescreening audition, in addition to submitting two of the above required selections, you may submit a work from the standard solo repertoire.

*For the live audition, all applicants must provide percussion faculty with two copies of all audition pieces

Undergraduate and Graduate

Prescreening Audition

Please select two pieces in contrasting styles from the list below.

Live Audition

For those selected for a second round audition, the audition will take place on February 26th.

Please prepare all pieces. All compositions must be performed from memory.

• A prelude and fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier or another work of Bach containing a fugue
• One sonata by Mozart, Beethoven (including Op. 49 and Op. 79), Haydn, or Schubert. (Single movement for the pre-screening audition, full sonata for the live audition)
• A major composition by a 19th-century composer.
• A composition by a representative 20th-century composer.

Here are a few videos to help students better understand the difference between Studio Composition and Studio Production.

Music and Technology Program Differences

Studio Composition Portfolio Info

Studio Production Portfolio Info

 

Undergraduate

Prescreening Audition

• Submit 2-3 samples of your music accompanied by a statement clearly describing your role in the writing and recording process for each piece.
• Submit a professional resume explaining your experience writing and/or performing music, your professional training (lessons, etc.), and anything else you feel is relevant to your application. This can be uploaded as an additional media item.
• If possible, please submit scores, lead sheets, and lyric sheets (if applicable).
• Submit a cover letter stating why you would like to attend Purchase College for studio composition, as well as your career goals.

Note: The statement, charts, resume, and cover letter may be combined into one document and uploaded as an additional media item.

Applicants are expected to have basic music theory skills, including sight reading and the ability to hear and sing back intervals and chords.

Live Audition

For those selected for a second round audition, the audition will take place via Zoom on either February 24th or 25th.

• Applicants with a successful prescreen audition will be invited to a live Zoom online audition.
• Please prepare 2-3 original pieces for the live Zoom online audition. You may play a pre-recorded track or demo of your compositions, or you may perform your music live (or a mix of the two).
• If your composition is pre-recorded, you can play it back via Zoom, or you can choose from one of your application portal submissions.
• If possible, please have scores, lead sheets, lyric sheets (if applicable), and any pre-recorded tracks of your compositions available for faculty to review during the live Zoom online audition.
• The live Zoom online audition will also include an interview with the studio composition faculty discussing your experience, goals for the program, and music theory knowledge.

Note: Only those who are selected for a live Zoom online audition will be considered for admission. You must attend the live Zoom online audition to be considered for the program.

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Graduate

Prescreening Audition

For those selected for a second round audition, the audition will take place via Zoom on February 23rd.

• Submit 2-3 samples of your music accompanied by a statement clearly describing your role in the writing and recording process for each piece. These statements can be combined into one document and uploaded as an additional media item.
• Also submit a professional resume explaining your experience writing and/or performing music, your professional training (lessons, etc.) and anything else you feel is relevant to your application. This can be uploaded as an additional media item.

Applicants are expected to have basic music theory skills, including sight reading and the ability to hear and sing back intervals and chords.

Live Audition

Please prepare the following:

• Five original works, either recorded or notated conventionally and performed live Compositions should demonstrate technical and aesthetic abilities as a performer, composer, and producers.
• Written evidence of musical and/or professional accomplishments to date.
• Interview with studio composition faculty.

Here are a few videos to better understand the difference between Studio Composition and Studio Production.

Music and Technology Program Differences

Studio Composition Portfolio Info

Studio Production Portfolio Info

 

Undergraduate

Prescreening Audition

• Your submission must contain three selections equaling not more than 15 minutes of music, and it must display your skill and ability in microphone placement, instrument recording, vocal recording, sound processing, and mixing. Materials must also display your musical aesthetics and a producer, and must be engineered and produced by you. Selections do not have to be original compositions. Any recording format may be used.
• Upload a chart detailing all aspects of each production including room size (if applicable), microphones used, recording device used, and any other pertinent data.
• Submit a resume with educational background including training in production, engineering, music theory and instrument instruction, if any. The resume must also include experience in the field, if any.
• Submit a cover letter stating why you would like to attend Purchase College for studio production as well as your career goals.

Note: the charts, resume and, cover letter may be combined into one document and uploaded as an additional media item.

Live Interview/Audition

Applicants with a successful prescreening audition will be invited to a live Zoom audition/interview which will take place on either February 21st or February 22nd.  The live  Zoom audition is really an interview with the studio production faculty where applicants discuss their experience, their goals for the program, and receive further testing in studio production, studio engineering, and music theory.

You will not be asked to play your instrument as part of your Studio Production audition/interview. You do not need to bring or prepare anything specific beyond being able to speak to the topics listed above.

Only those who are selected for a live audition/interview will be considered for admission.

Undergraduate

Prescreening Audition

Please submit two selections in contrasting styles from the list below.

Audition Video

For those selected for a second round audition, the audition will take place on either February 22nd or February 26th.

Your video should be 12-15 minutes in length and should include representative samples from all required repertoire. Please prepare any selections from the following:

• One movement of a concerto from the standard repertory (such as Hindemith, Bartok, Walton, Stamitz, Hoffmeister, etc.).
• One movement of a Suite for Unaccompanied Cello by J.S. Bach.
• Two contrasting movements from a concerto or sonata from a period other than the Baroque.

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Graduate

Prescreening Audition

Please select two pieces in contrasting styles from the list below.

Audition Video

For those selected for a second round audition, the audition will take place on either February 22nd or February 26th.

Your video should be 12-15 minutes in length and should include representative samples from all required repertoire. Please prepare any selections from the following:

• Two contrasting movements from a Suite for Unaccompanied Cello by J.S Bach.
• Two movements from a concerto for sonata or equivalent, such as Hindemith’s Der Schwanendreher, Bloch’s Suite, concerto by Bartok and Walton, and sonatas by Brahms and Hindemith.

Undergraduate

Prescreening Audition

Please submit two selections in contrasting styles from the list below.

Audition Video

For those selected for a second round audition, the audition will take place on either February 22nd or February 26th.

Your video should be 12-15 minutes in length and should include representative samples from all required repertoire. Please prepare any selections from the following:

• One movement of a concerto from the standard repertory or comparable work.
• One movement from the Bach Unaccompanied Sonatas and Partitas.
• A third contrasting work of your choice (can be an ètude, a contemporary work, a showpiece, or a movement of a sonata).

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Graduate

Prescreening Audition

Please select two pieces in contrasting styles from the list below.

Audition Video

For those selected for a second round audition, the audition will take place on either February 22nd or February 26th.

Your video should be 12-15 minutes in length and should include representative samples from all required repertoire. Please prepare any selections from the following:

• Two contrasting movements of a concerto from the standard repertory.
• Two contrasting movements from the Bach Unaccompanied Sonatas and Partitas.
• A third contrasting work of your choice (an ètude, a contemporary work, a showpiece, or a movement of a sonata).

Undergraduate

Prescreening Audition

Recording should not exceed 15 minutes in length and should include the following songs which should be in contrasting styles. One must be from the 20th-century repertoire:

• One Italian art song.
• One German or French art song
• One song in English (not a translation)

Interview

Only those applicants who pass the prescreening audition will be contacted for an interview which will take place on one of these days; February 21, February 24, or February 26th.

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Graduate

Prescreening Audition

Your recording should not exceed 15 minutes in length and should include the following songs. The songs should be in contrasting styles, and one must be from the 20th-century repertoire:

• Four art songs: one Italian, one French, one German, one English
• One standard aria from an opera, the rest may be art songs. If aria is in one of the above required languages, you may eliminate that language from your art song requirement.

Interview

Only those applicants who pass the prescreening audition will be contacted for an interview which will take place on one of these days; February 21, February 24, or February 26th.

Please note that we do not offer classical saxophone.

Undergraduate

Flute

Prescreening Audition

Please select two pieces in contrasting styles from the list below:

• A movement from a baroque sonata or classical concerto
• A 19th- or 20th-century piece
• An orchestral excerpt of your choice

Live Audition

For students who pass the prescreening audition, second round auditions are yet to be determined.

Please prepare all pieces from the list below:

• Two contrasting selections/movements from the concerto/sonata literature (Ex. Mozart concerto, Bach sonata, etc.)
• A 19th- or 20th-century piece (Ex. Dutilleux, Sonatine, Prokofiev Sonata, etc.)
• Two excerpts from the orchestral repertoire.

Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon

Prescreening Audition

Please select two pieces in contrasting styles from the list below.

• Two contrasting movements from a major concerto in the standard repertoire.
• Two contrasting etudes showing the applicant’s level of technical and lyrical abilities.
• Two excerpts from the orchestral repertoire.

Live Audition

For students who pass the prescreening audition, second round auditions are yet to be determined.

Please prepare all pieces from the list below:

• Two contrasting selections/movements from the concerto/sonata literature (Ex. Mozart concerto, Bach sonata, etc.)
• A 19th- or 20th-century piece (Ex. Dutilleux, Sonatine, Prokofiev Sonata, etc.)
• Two excerpts from the orchestral repertoire.

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Graduate

Flute

Prescreening Audition

Please submit selections from the list below:

• A movement from a baroque sonata or classical concerto
• A 19th- or 20th-century piece
• An orchestral excerpt of your choice

Live Audition

For students who pass the prescreening audition, second round auditions are yet to be determined.

Please prepare all pieces from the list below:

• Two contrasting selections/movements from the concerto/sonata literature (Ex. Mozart concerto, Bach sonata, etc.)
• A 19th- or 20th-century piece (Ex. Dutilleux, Sonatine, Prokofiev Sonata, etc.)
• Two excerpts from the orchestral repertoire.

Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon

Prescreening Audition

Please select two pieces in contrasting styles from the list below:

• Two contrasting movements from a major concerto in the standard repertoire
• Two contrasting etudes showing the applicant’s level of technical and lyrical abilities.
• Two excerpts from the orchestral repertoire.

Live Audition

For students who pass the prescreening audition, second round auditions are yet to be determined.

Please prepare all pieces from the list below:

• Two contrasting movements from a major concerto in the standard repertoire
• Two contrasting etudes showing the applicant’s level of technical and lyrical abilities.
• Two excerpts from the orchestral repertoire.