Program Requirements

Bachelor of Music: Saxophone

Prescreening required; must be video recording. Prescreening may or may not include accompaniment at the discretion of the applicant.

Fall 2024 Audition Dates:

Early Decision: TBD ||| Regular Decision: TBD

    Fall 2024 Audition Formats

    FALL 2024 AUDITION FORMAT OPTIONS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE SUMMER OF 2023.

    2023 AUDITION FORMAT INFORMATION:

    Applicants will have the option to audition on campus or virtually. On-campus auditions are strongly encouraged. Those auditioning in person should prepare the repertoire found below.  
     
    For those unable to audition on campus, a two-part virtual audition option is available (note: applicants must pass the prescreening round in order to move ahead with the virtual audition round): 

    1. Submit a recorded audition via the Portfolio section of your Bienen School Supplement. After submitting your Bienen School Supplement and Common/Coalition Application and receiving your prescreening results (if applicable), you will receive an email that includes a link to the specific recorded audition repertoire requirements and video duration specifications. The recorded audition deadline is November 15 for the Early Decision round and February 1 for Regular Decision. Repertoire requirements will be pulled from the audition requirements found on this page.
    2. Complete a 10-minute Zoom meeting with faculty. Information on the meeting format will be available via the aforementioned email. The meeting may include playing. Applicants will receive their Zoom link 3-5 days before the meeting.
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    For Prescreening:

    • Spoken introduction which includes your name, hometown, school, teachers, brief information about your background on the saxophone, and which degree(s) you are interested in pursuing at Northwestern.
    • Two full-range major scales of the applicant's choice; one should be presented slurred and the second should be performed in a slur two/tongue six pattern.
    • Two full-range minor arpeggios of the applicant's choice; one slurred, one tongued.
    • Two contrasting études by Ferling, Berbiguier/Mule, J.L. Small, Labanchi, Voxman Selected Studies, or similar
    • One complete, multi-movement classical work or two to three contrasting movements from different works. Suggested repertoire includes works by Creston, Glazunov, Ibert, Tomasi, Bach, Fasch, Debussy, Heiden, Muczynski, Rueff, Boutry, Bozza, and Milhaud.
    • Optional: If you have a background in jazz that you would like to demonstrate, you may present jazz selections such as a transcription, jazz étude, and/or improvisation (with play-along).

    For Final Audition:

    • All major and harmonic minor scales (full range), and chromatic scale (low Bb to high F#). 
    • Two contrasting études (one lyrical, one technical). These should NOT be the same études used in your prescreening video.
    • One complete, multi-movement classical work or two to three contrasting movements from different works.
    • Sight-reading may be presented. 
    • Optional: If you have a background in jazz that you would like to demonstrate, you may upload jazz selections such as a transcription, jazz étude, and/or improvisation.

    Other Degrees

    Master of Music: Saxophone