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In addition to a completed application,
all prospective School of Music students must perform an audition.
**
NEW ** Request an audition through our online system
Auditions
are held on campus and throughout the United States during
January and February. Candidates who are not able to audition
in person may instead submit a high-quality recording. All percussion
auditions must be performed on campus or via recording. Please
be advised that faculty members in all instrument areas may NOT
be hearing auditions on every published on-campus audition date.
Additionally, space may be limited on particular audition dates.
Consequently, applicants should not schedule travel until it
has been confirmed by the Northwestern University School of Music
Admission Office that there is space on the requested date. Auditions
must be requested online.
Bachelor of Music in Performance Audition Requirements
Bachelor of Music in Music Studies Audition Requirements
Note: a performance audition is required
for all programs.
Specializations in musicology, music theory, music cognition,
music technology, and composition.
Bassoon
The titles suggested illustrate the
kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition. Applicants
are free to choose a program that will best show their ability,
using music from this list or of comparable quality. Whenever
possible, music should be selected from a variety of stylistic
periods. The audition program should consist of four different
compositions, or in some cases three compositions and orchestral
excerpts. Students should be prepared to play all major and minor
scales (harmonic and melodic), two octaves
slurred.
- Sonata by Telemann or Gailliard
- Concerto by Vivaldi, Mozart, or Weber
- Advanced étude by Weissenborn or Milde
- Orchestral excerpts
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Cello
The titles suggested illustrate the
kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition. Applicants
are free to choose a program that will best show their ability,
using music from this list or of comparable quality. Whenever
possible, music should be selected from a variety of stylistic
periods. The audition program should consist of four different
compositions, or in some cases three compositions and orchestral
excerpts. Students should be prepared to play scales in all keys.
- Études by Duport, Popper
- Two contrasting movements from Bach Suite for Cello
- Movement from concertos by Haydn, Tchaikovsky, Schumann,
Elgar, Shostakovich
- Other pieces from the standard repertoire
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Clarinet
Required repertoire:
- Several major and minor scales may be heard and need not be from memory (Baermann
method preferred).
- Two contrasting études from Rose 32 Études
for Clarinet.
- Mozart concerto.
- One prepared piece of the applicant’s choice.
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Double bass
Please note that these
requirements were recently altered. Applicants
who have prepared their audition repertoire based upon previously
published information are welcome to continue with their planned
program.
Applicant should be prepared to play one major scale, one harmonic
minor scale, and one melodic minor scale of their choice in
two or three octaves.
Additional required repertoire includes:
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Euphonium
Two contrasting solo pieces demonstrating style, tone, range,
rhythm, and technique. Major scales and sight-reading are
required.
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Flute
The titles suggested illustrate the
kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition. Applicants
are free to choose a program that will best show their ability,
using music from this list or of comparable quality. Whenever
possible, music should be selected from a variety of stylistic
periods. The audition program should consist of four different
compositions, or in some cases three compositions and orchestral
excerpts. Students should be prepared to play scales in
all keys. Sight-reading is required.
Solo works:
- Bach Sonatas in E-flat Major or E Major
- Sonatas by Handel, Poulenc, Hindemith
- Mozart concertos
- Griffes Poem
- Chaminade Concertino
- Fauré Fantasie
- Debussy Syrinx
Orchestral excerpts:
- Brahms Symphony No. 4
- Beethoven Leonore Overture No. 3
- Debussy Prélude à l’après-midi
d’un
faune
Sight reading is required.
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Guitar
The titles suggested illustrate the
kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition. Applicants
are free to choose a program that will best show their ability,
using music from this list or of comparable quality. Whenever
possible, music should be selected from a variety of stylistic
periods. The audition program should consist of four different
compositions, or in some cases three compositions and orchestral
excerpts. Students should be prepared to play scales in all keys.
A program of varied solo literature and études, including:
- One or two movements from a Bach suite
- Preludes, sonatas, or theme and variations by Sor, Giuliani,
Ponce, Torroba, Turina, Villa-Lobos, or Brouwer, or equivalent
repertoire
- Études by Carcassi, Sor, Brouwer, Villa-Lobos
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Harp
The titles suggested illustrate the
kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition. Applicants
are free to choose a program that will best show their ability,
using music from this list or of comparable quality. Whenever
possible, music should be selected from a variety of stylistic
periods. The audition program should consist of four different
compositions, or in some cases three compositions and orchestral
excerpts. Students should be prepared to play scales in all keys.
Solo works:
- First movements of Mozart Concerto for Flute and Harp and
Handel Concerto
- Ravel Introduction et Allegro
- Debussy Danse sacrée et Danse profane
Orchestral excerpts:
- Strauss Death and Transfiguration
- Britten Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra
- Debussy Prélude à l’après-midi
d’un faune
- Stravinsky Firebird Suite
- Chabrier España
- Tchaikovsky Overture to Romeo and Juliet
- Puccini La Boheme (Act 3), Madama Butterfly (Act
1)
- Wagner "Prelude" and "Liebestod" from Tristan
und Isolde
Cadenzas:
- Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty
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Horn
Contrasting repertoire. Applicants are required to choose one
from each of the following required categories:
- Concertos
by Mozart, Franz Strauss, or Concerto No. 1 by Richard Strauss
- Sonatas by Beethoven, Heiden, or Hindemith
- Études from Kopprasch Book No. 1 and Maxim-Alphonse
Book No. 3
- Orchestral excerpts:
- Beethoven Symphony No. 6
- Brahms Symphony No. 3
- Strauss Till Eulenspiegel
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Oboe
The titles suggested illustrate the
kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition. Applicants
are free to choose a program that will best show their ability,
using music from this list or of comparable quality. Whenever
possible, music should be selected from a variety of stylistic
periods. The audition program should consist of four different
compositions, or in some cases three compositions and orchestral
excerpts. Students should be prepared to play scales in
all keys.
- Concertos by Cimarosa, Marcello, Handel, Mozart, or Vivaldi
- Sonatas by Telemann, Handel, Hindemith
- Schumann Three Romances
- Britten Six Metamorphoses
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Percussion
The titles suggested illustrate the
kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition. Applicants
are free to choose a program that will best show their ability,
using music from this list or music of comparable quality. Whenever
possible, music should be selected from a variety of stylistic
periods. The audition program should consist of four different
compositions, or in some cases three compositions and orchestral
excerpts. Students should be prepared to play scales in all keys. Sight-reading
required.
Audition must include snare drum, timpani,
and keyboard percussion. Audition may also include
drum set. Sight reading is required. Suggested repertoire and
methods for:
Snare drum:
- Cirone Portraits in Rhythm
- Delecluse 12 Études, Étude Nos. 1
or 6
- Peters Intermediate or Advanced Studies
Timpani:
- Beck Sonata for Timpani
- Carter Eight Pieces for Solo
Timpani
- Firth The Solo Timpanist
Keyboard percussion:
- Bach from the Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin
or Suites for Solo Cello
- Abe Michi, second movement
- Creston Concertino for Marimba
- Tanaka Two Movements for Marimba
- Musser Études
and Preludes
- Stout Mexican Dances and Astral
Dance
- Rosauro Concerto for Marimba
- G.H. Green Xylophone Solos
- Burritt October Night
Orchestral excerpts from standard repertoire are also recommended.
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Piano
Program is required and must be memorized. Applicants
must also submit a list of significant repertoire studied during
the previous four years.
- Contrapuntal baroque composition equivalent in difficulty
to a three-voice fugue from Bach The Well-Tempered Clavier
- Sonata-allegro movement from a classical sonata preferably
by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert
- Romantic work
- Work from the impressionist or contemporary period
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Saxophone
The titles suggested illustrate the
kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition. Applicants
are free to choose a program that will best show their ability,
using music from this list or of comparable quality. Whenever
possible, music should be selected from a variety of stylistic
periods. The audition program should consist of four different
compositions, or in some cases three compositions and orchestral
excerpts. Students should be prepared to play scales in
all keys.
- Sonatas by Creston, Heiden, or Hindemith
- Concertos by Glazunov, Husa, Ibert, or Tomasi
- Compositions by Maurice, Noda, Milhaud, Robert, Villa-Lobos,
or Gotkowsky
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Trombone (Tenor)
Required repertoire (no substitutions):
- Solo: Saint-Saëns Cavatine
- Orchestral excerpts:
- Berlioz Hungarian March (2nd
trombone)
- Mozart Requiem, "Tuba Mirum" (2nd
trombone)
- Ravel Bolero
- Saint-Saëns Symphony No. 3 in C Minor (slow movement)
- Wagner Ride of the Valkyries (B major
section only)
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Trombone (Bass)
Required repertoire (no substitutions):
- Solo: Lebedev Concerto
- Orchestral excerpts:
- Berlioz Hungarian March
- Haydn The Creation, No. 26
- Mahler Symphony No. 7, first movement
- Schumann Symphony No. 3, fourth movement
- Wagner Ride of the Valkyries (B major
section only)
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Trumpet
Required repertoire (no substitutions):
- Solo: Enesco Legend
- Étude: Charlier Études Transcendantes No.2
- Other contrasting solos and/or études of your choice
- Orchestral excerpt: Stravinsky Petrouchka 1947, ballerina's
dance and waltz
- Optional: Other contrasting orchestral excerpts
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Tuba
Two contrasting solo pieces demonstrating style, tone, range,
rhythm, and technique. Major scales and sight reading are required.
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Viola
The titles suggested illustrate the
kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition. Applicants
are free to choose a program that will best show their ability,
using music from this list or of comparable quality. Whenever
possible, music should be selected from a variety of stylistic
periods. The audition program should consist of four different
compositions, or in some cases three compositions and orchestral
excerpts. Students should be prepared to play scales in all keys.
Program should include:
- Two contrasting movements of unaccompanied Bach,
- Kreutzer Étude or a Campagnoli Caprice
- A movement from a concerto by Stamitz, Hoffmeister, Bartók,
or Walton
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Violin
The titles suggested illustrate the
kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition. Applicants
are free to choose a program that will best show their ability,
using music from this list or of comparable quality. Whenever
possible, music should be selected from a variety of stylistic
periods. The audition program should consist of four different
compositions, or in some cases three compositions and orchestral
excerpts. Students should be prepared to play scales in all keys. Memorization
is required, except for études.
Program should include:
- Two contrasting movements of unaccompanied Bach
- First movement of a major concerto
- Any standard étude
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Voice
Applicants
are free to choose a program that will best show their ability.
Whenever possible, music should be selected from a variety of
stylistic periods. The program should be performed from memory and
with accompaniment. Note: An accompanist will
be provided at campus auditions, but you must provide
your own accompanist at regional auditions.
Four memorized selections. Songs may be from
the art song repertoire, or a combination of art songs and arias
from opera/oratorio. No more than two selections may be arias.
One selection must be in Italian, one in English, one in either
French or German, and one in any language of your choice.
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Jazz Studies
Jazz auditions are performed in a combo setting. The combos
will be organized as follows:
- Trumpets,
saxophones and trombones auditioning will perform
with a rhythm section consisting of piano (or guitar), bass,
and drums.
- Guitarists auditioning
will perform with piano, bass and drums.
- Pianists auditioning
will perform with bass and drums.
- Bassists auditioning
perform with piano (or guitar) and drums.
- Drummers auditioning
will perform selections with piano (or guitar) and bass.
For your audition, choose one tune from each of the following
four categories and be prepared to perform the tune’s melody. Rhythm
section instruments should demonstrate the ability to accompany
a soloist.
- Rhythm Changes
- Oleo – Sonny Rollins – Bb
major
- Moose the Mooche – Charlie Parker – Bb major
- Dexterity – Charlie Parker – Bb
major
- Blues
- Au Privave – Charlie Parker – F
major
- Tenor Madness – Sonny Rollins – Bb major
- Blue Monk – Thelonious Monk– Bb
major
- Bessie’s Blues – John Coltrane – Eb
major
- Ballads
- In A Sentimental Mood – Duke Ellington – F
major
- I Can’t Get Started – Vernon Duke – C
major
- Embraceable You – George Gershwin – Eb
major
- You
Don’t Know What Love Is – F minor
- Waltz
- Jitterbug Waltz – Fats Waller – Eb
major
- Someday My Prince Will Come – Frank Churchill
- Bb major
- Emily – Johnny Mandel – Bb
NOTE TO DRUMMERS: In addition to the
selections listed above drummers should prepare the following
grooves:
- Swing grove with sticks
(slow, medium and fast)
- Swing groove with brushes
(slow, medium and fast)
- New Orleans groove
- Afro-Cuban 6/8 groove
- Shuffle groove with backbeat
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Bachelor of Music in Music Studies Requirements
Specialization
(Major) in Music Composition
In addition to a performance audition, the applicant
should prepare a portfolio which includes three well-produced
scores for a variety of performance media, preferably with recordings
of performances (CDs or tapes.) At least one score must be composed
for acoustic instrumentation. Scores produced with notation software
will be expected to demonstrate the applicant’s skill in
using the software as well as their compositional sophistication.
Handwritten scores are not required, but well-executed handwritten
musical notation will be considered a positive attribute. The
complete portfolio should also include: one research paper written
while in high school (a music subject is preferred); any related
documents (e.g., programs of performances, awards, names of composition
teachers, etc.); and a recording which demonstrates performance
ability.
Applicants who are applying for the Bachelor
of Arts in Music should refer to Bachelor
of Arts in Music Requirements for the audition requirements
for that degree program.
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Specialization
(Major) in Music Cognition or Music Theory
In addition to the performance audition, applicant should
submit an essay discussing a piece of music of their choice addressing
formal, stylistic, or performance-related aspects of the work.
Applicants who are applying for the Bachelor of Arts
in Music should refer to Bachelor
of Arts in Music Requirements for the audition requirements
for that degree program.
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Specialization (Major) in
Music Education
In addition to the performance audition, the applicant
must answer each of the following questions. Please use complete
sentences and limit your answers to one paragraph each.
- Describe any of your teaching and/or leadership experiences.
- Why are you interested in teaching music?
- What are some of your personal qualities that will
allow you to be an effective music teacher?
- What person or experience has inspired you to
pursue music education?
- What do you hope to learn from your music
education experience at Northwestern University?
Your essay must be sent to the School of Music Office of Music
Admission and Financial Aid, and then an interview will be scheduled
at a later time with a music education faculty member.
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Specialization (Major)
in Musicology
In addition to the performance audition, applicants
should submit both:
- one high school research paper (preferably
on a musical subject)
- a brief essay describing their
musical background, interests, and goals. It should
include:
- performing experience (lessons, solos, ensembles, etc.)
- any training in music theory
- repertoire with which the applicant is familiar (orchestral,
vocal, or piano literature, popular or non-Western music,
etc.)
- any study in related areas (foreign languages, literature,
history)
Applicants who are applying for the Bachelor of Arts
in Music should refer to Bachelor
of Arts in Music Requirements for the audition requirements
for that degree program.
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Specialization (Major)
in Music Technology
In addition to the performance audition, the applicant should
submit examples of projects they have created, such as recordings
of music compositions or examples of computer programs. The applicant
should also submit a brief essay describing their goals, their
background in music and technology, and the reasons they
have chosen music technology as a concentration.
Applicants who are applying for the Bachelor of Arts
in Music should refer to Bachelor
of Arts in Music Requirements for the audition requirements
for that degree program.
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Bachelor of Arts in Music
Requirements
Choice of specialization: musicology, music theory,
music cognition, music technology, and music
composition)
The applicant is required to submit each of the following:
- An example of musicianship, such as: a traditional audition,
a performance on an instrument outside the traditional Western
canon, music compositions, electronic arts, performance art,
etc. Note: Applicants must be able to read
music.
- Test scores and/or transcripts showing high academic qualifications
- Five-page essay on a musical topic relevant to applicant’s
interests
- One-page "Statement of Purpose" on intended area of specialization
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