Audition Repertoire
Audition Guidelines for Freshmen Music Majors or Minor, Transfer and 2nd-degree Applicants
The following are suggested works for undergraduate auditions at East Carolina University. For all instruments and voice parts, you may select compositions other than those listed. However, in every case, repertoire must reflect musical and technical proficiency expected of an incoming student. Consultation with a private teacher is strongly encouraged if not expected. Specific questions about the appropriateness of musical selections may be directed to the applied instructor of the specific instrument listed here. Memorization is not required, except for voice and piano. Sight-reading will be requested.
- Voice
- Keyboard Instruments
- Jazz
- Woodwind Instruments
- Brass Instruments
- Percussion
- String Instruments
Recorded Auditions
On-campus auditions are strongly recommended but recorded auditions are accepted. See Recorded Audition Guidelines in menu on left.
Voice Applicants
- Prepare one song in English. It may be from the standard repertoire classical repertoire or from the standard repertoire of the American Musical Theater, such as Broadway songs written before 1970 or Sondheim songs.
- Prepare one foreign-language song (Italian, German, French, or Spanish) from the standard classical repertoire.
- All selections must be performed from memory.
- Bring to the audition one copy of each musical selection.
- An accompanist will be provided for your audition.
- Pre-recorded accompaniments of any type are not allowed for face-to-face auditions.
For questions about audition selections contact the chair of the Vocal Studies Department, Professor John Kramar, KRAMARJ@ecu.edu.
Piano
Works from three of the four style periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th & 21st Century) are required. At least two of the three compositions must be performed from memory.
The auditioning committee will make requests from the following technical areas: all major and minor scales and all major and minor triad arpeggios in root position (four octaves). If you submit a recorded audition, select ONE major key and ONE minor key for scales and arpeggios.
Sight-reading portion of the audition will take place during the Audition Day interview with the piano faculty.
Suggested Repertoire:
Baroque
A two-part or three-part invention or a selection from the Well-Tempered Clavier by Bach, or an equivalent work from the same period.
Classical
One movement of a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or an equivalent work.
Romantic
A work by Mendelssohn, Chopin, Brahms, Schumann, or Liszt.
Contemporary
A work by Debussy, Bartok, Prokofiev, or another 20th or 21st century composer.
Organ
Works from three style periods (Baroque, Romantic, and Contemporary) and one hymn are required. The hymn may incorporate a free introduction and/or reharmonized verse(s). For prospective performance majors, memorization is encouraged.
Suggested Repertoire:
Baroque
Bach: Chorale Preludes from the Orgelbüchlein or one of the Eight “Little” Preludes and Fugues; Couperin: Pieces d’Orgue
Romantic
Selected movements from the Mendelssohn Sonatas; Vierne: 24 Pieces en Style Libre; Brahms: Chorale Preludes, Op. 122
Contemporary
Langlais: Organ Book; Dupré: Fifteen Antiphons for Organ; Schroeder: Kleine Präludien und Intermezzi, Op. 9
Additional organ audition information here.
Demonstrate the ability to perform “the head” to selected standard jazz compositions and the ability to improvise over the preexisting standard and altered chord changes. All auditions should focus on jazz interpretation, stylistic characteristics and each composition must be performed from memory. Sight reading will also be expected by all candidates. Please see Jazz Studies Audition Information for a list of required standards.
ECU Jazz Studies Program Recorded Audition Requirements and Material
Bass (Acoustic/String and Electric)
Demonstrate the ability to walk a 12-bar blues, perform a melody, and improvise over chord changes. The electric bass student should also demonstrate the thumb and pop style.
Drums and Percussion
Be prepared to play time and trade 4s in the following styles: rock, funk (hip-hop), swing (fast swing and shuffle), samba, mambo, bossa nova, salsa, etc.
Piano and Guitar
Demonstrate the ability to (comp) accompany a jazz soloist and/or jazz vocalist.
Voice
In addition to the above, all vocalists must perform “Autumn Leaves.” Particular emphasis and attention should be given to jazz vocal stylization/interpretation, swing-ability, jazz phrasing, and jazz improvisation. Vocalists may select their own key for the audition repertoire. Vocalists must also provide three prepared rhythm section parts for each audition selection. Instrumentation should be for piano/keys, bass, and drums.
Two works contrasting in style or tempo are desirable. All major and minor scales should be prepared in at least two octaves and the chromatic scale in the full range of the instrument. For recorded auditions play one major and one minor scale (2 octaves minimum) and one chromatic scale (2 octaves minimum) and announce the scales performed.
Flute
At least two contrasting works and/or movements from the standard literature including, but not limited to, works by Telemann, Handel, and Bach. One etude from Andersen, Gariboldi, Karg-Elert, or similar may be chosen to replace one of the standard works.
Clarinet
At least two contrasting works and/or movements from the standard literature including, but not limited to, works by Mozart, Weber, Schumann, and Stamitz. One etude may be chosen to replace one of the standard works.
Oboe
At least two contrasting works and/or movements from the standard literature including, but not limited to, works by Handel, Marcello, Cimarosa, Hanson, Albinoni, and Telemann. One etude may be chosen to replace one of the standard works.
Bassoon
At least two contrasting works and/or movements from the standard literature including, but not limited to, works by Mozart and Weber. One etude from Ferling: 48 Famous Studies, Weissenborn: Fifty Advanced Studies, or similar may be chosen to replace one of the standard works.
Saxophone (alto or tenor)
At least two contrasting works and/or movements from the standard literature including, but not limited to, works by Handel and Eccles (arr. Rascher). One etude from Voxman, Ferling, or similar may be chosen to replace one of the standard works.
Two works contrasting in style or tempo are desirable. All major and minor scales should be prepared in at least two octaves and the chromatic scale in the full range of the instrument. For recorded auditions play one major and one minor scale (2 octaves minimum) and one chromatic scale (2 octaves minimum) and announce the scales performed.
Trumpet
At least two contrasting works and/or movements from the standard literature including, but not limited to, works by Haydn, Hummel, Neruda, Kennan, Brandt, Ropartz and Balay. One etude by Arban, Brandt, Clarke, Sachse, Charlier, or similar may be chosen to replace one of the standard works. Be prepared to play all major scales and to learn something by ear and play it. If you have any questions, please contact Gabriel DiMartino at dimartinog16@ecu.edu.
Horn
At least two contrasting works and/or movements from the standard literature including, but not limited to, works by Mozart, Gliere, Saint-Saens, Strauss, or Dukas. One etude may be chosen to replace one of the standard works.
Trombone
At least two contrasting works and/or movements from the standard literature including, but not limited to, Guilmant, Marcello, Barat, or Morel. One etude from Bordogni: Melodious Etudes ed. Rochut or similar may be chosen to replace one of the standard works.
Euphonium
At least two contrasting works and/or movements from the standard literature including, but not limited to, Guilmant, Marcello, Barat, or Morel. One etude from Bordogni: Melodious Etudes ed. Rochut or similar may be chosen to replace one of the standard works.
If you have any questions, please contact Donald Palmire at palmired21@ecu.edu
Tuba
Music Therapy and Music Education Majors: One lyrical etude and one technical etude of your choosing. Major and minor scales through four sharps and four flats
Music Performance Majors: One lyrical etude, one technical etude, and all Major and natural minor scales. Pick two of the following excerpts: Die Meistersinger, Prokofiev Symphony #5, Lincolnshire Posy, Hindemith Symphony for Band.
If you have any questions, contact Dr. Williams williamsjarr17@ecu.edu
Undergraduates auditioning for percussion performance must perform in all four areas. All other undergraduate percussion applicants must audition on any three of the areas. Graduate and CAPS percussion applicants should contact Dr. Quintin Mallette for audition recommendations.
Snare Drum
Rudiments #1–26 from PAS list of 40 SD rudiments. A prepared solo/etude. (Etudes from Cirone: Portraits in Rhythm or similar).
Mallets
All major scales two octaves leading with either hand. All major triad arpeggios 2 octaves leading with either hand. Prepared solo for two mallets. (Selection from McMillan: Masterpieces for Marimba or similar).
Timpani
Tune the timpani to a given pitch. Tune to a P4 or P5 above or below a given pitch. Long roll, ppp to fff. Prepared solo. (Selection from Firth: The Solo Timpanist or similar).
Drum Set
Be prepared to play time and trade 4s in the following styles: rock, funk, swing, samba, mambo. Read a big-band chart with accompaniment.
Violin and Viola
At least two contrasting works and/or movements from the standard literature. One etude from Kreutzer, Dont, or similar may be chosen to replace one of the standard works.
Cello
One or two movements from Bach: Suites for the Unaccompanied Cello and one movement of a concerto from the standard repertoire.
String Bass
At least two contrasting works and/or movements from the standard literature. One etude may be chosen to replace one of the standard works.
Guitar
Any study by Sor, Carcassi, or Aguado from Shearer: Classic Guitar Technique, Vol. II; Hirsch: Chanson (p. 121) or Reverie (p. 188) from Shearer: Learning the Classic Guitar, Part 2; any solo after p. 131 in Noad: Solo Guitar Playing, Book One; Brouwer: Etudes Simples 1–10. Scales: Major scales, two and three octaves, four notes per beat at M.M. 60.