For general information about admission to the School of Music, visit
To view audition requirements for an instrument, choose the instrument from the following list:
Requirements for B.M. degrees in performance and performance/music education:
- One complete major work -- a concerto, sonata, or suite
- Two smaller works (or movements from a major work) of a contrasting style
- Major and minor scales
- Sight-reading
Requirements for all other music degrees:
- Approximately 15 minutes of music -- two or three works in contrasting styles
- Scales and arpeggios
- Sight-reading
Requirements for B.M. degrees in performance and performance/music education:
- Movement from a major work -- concerto, sonata, or suite -- preferably playing from memory
- Two contrasting movements from the J. S. Bach unaccompanied suites
- One technical étude or study
- Scales and arpeggios in three octaves, major and melodic minor
Requirements for all other music degrees:
- Approximately 15 minutes of music -- two or three works in contrasting styles demonstrating range of technique and musicianship (preferably from memory)
- Major and melodic minor scales
Requirements for B.M. degrees in performance and performance/music education:
- One complete major work -- a concerto, sonata, or suite
- Two smaller works (or movements from a major work) of a contrasting style
- Major and melodic minor scales in two octaves and a chromatic scale in three octaves, in 16th notes
- Sight-reading
Requirements for all other music degrees:
- Two works in contrasting styles
- Major and melodic minor scales in two octaves and a chromatic scale in three octaves, in 16th notes
- Sight-reading
Please note that we are not accepting auditions for fall 2008.
Requirements for B.M. degrees in performance and performance/music education:
- Two contrasting movements from a sonata, suite, or concerto (transcriptions are permitted)
- One other complete composition, or two orchestral excerpts from the standard literature
- One technical etude
- Major scales in three octaves, minor scales in two octaves
Requirements for all other music degrees:
- Two contrasting movements of a sonata, suite, or concerto (transcriptions are permitted)
- One technical étude
- Major and minor scales in two octaves
Requirements for B.M. degrees in performance and performance/music education:
- One complete major work -- a concerto, sonata, or suite
- Two smaller works (or movements from a major work) of a contrasting style
- Major and harmonic minor scales in two octaves; chromatic scale (from C to C) in three octaves
- Sight-reading
Requirements for all other music degrees:
- Two works in contrasting styles
- Major and harmonic minor scales in two octaves; chromatic scale (from C to C) in three octaves
- Sight-reading
- Three pieces from the concert repertoire and from contrasting eras (e.g., works by Milan, Dowland, J. S. Bach, Weiss, Sor, Giuliani, Carcassi, Aguado, Tarrega, Villa-Lobos, Brouwer, Ponce)
- Scales (two and three octaves); arpeggio exercises for the right hand; slurs and trills for the left hand
- Sight-reading
- Performance from memory is not required but encouraged.
Note: All guitarists must audition on nylon string classical guitar.
Note: Please note that we are not accepting auditions for jazz guitar for fall 2008.
Requirements for B.M. degrees in performance and performance/music education:
- One complete, multi-movement work from any historical period (concerto, sonata, or suite)
- Two shorter works in contrasting style (may be individual movements from longer works)
- All major and minor scales, in quarter notes, quarter = 120 minimum
Requirements for all other music degrees:
- Major scales, one octave
- One multi-movement composition or three works of differing styles
- Sight-reading
For specific information on musical theater auditions, please see the "B.F.A. Musical Theater Additional Requirements" section in the Department of Theatre Arts website:
Or contact the department at
Department of Theatre Arts
Ithaca College
201 Dillingham Center
Ithaca, NY 14850-7293
(607) 274-3345
Requirements for B.M. degrees in performance and performance/music education:
- One complete major work - a concerto, sonata, or suite
- Two smaller works (or movements from a major work) of a contrasting style
- Major and harmonic minor scales
- Sight-reading
Requirements for all other music degrees:
- Two prepared solo pieces in contrasting styles
- Major or harmonic minor scales
- Sight-reading
A typical audition program might include any of the preludes and fugues, trio sonatas, or large chorale works of J. S. Bach; a comparable work by Buxtehude or a French classic composer; and a romantic work by a composer such as Franck or Reger.
Other audition programs may be approved after discussion with the major teacher involved. Contact the School of Music with any questions.
Requirements for B.M. degrees in performance and performance/music education:
Mallets. 8 minutes. Marimba or vibes.
Marimba
- Two-mallet étude, comparable to or chosen from the following: Modern School for Marimba, by Morris Goldenberg ("39 Etudes" section); Tone-Row Exercises for Marimba, by Howard Zwickler; Style Studies, by John Bergamo
- Four-mallet solo (optional, but recommended)
- Scales and arpeggios in all major and minor keys (at least two octaves)
Vibes
- Etude, chosen from Vibraphone Technique, by David Friedman (Etudes 1-10)
- Four-mallet solo
- Scales and arpeggios in all major and minor keys (at least two octaves)
Timpani. 8 minutes.
- Etude, comparable to or chosen from the following: Modern Method for Timpani, by Saul Goodman (pp. 46-60); Etuden für Timpani, by Richard Hockrainer (nos. 10-25); Timpani Method, by Friese/Lepak (Section 3, nos. 5-15); or a solo using four drums
- Tuning and intonation suggested study guide: Timpani Method, by Friese/Lepak (Section 3, pp. 35-43)
Snare Drum. 8 minutes.
- Solo (concert style), comparable to or chosen from the following: Modern School for Snare Drum, by Morris Goldenberg (pp. 44-51); Portraits in Rhythm, by Anthony Cirone; 20th-Century Orchestral Snare Drum Studies, by Thomas McMillan
- Solo (rudimental style), comparable to or chosen from the following: Modern Rudimental Swing Solos, by Charles Wilcoxon; 14 Modern Contest Solos, by John S. Pratt
Drum Set (optional, but recommended). 6 minutes.
- Demonstration of knowledge of various contemporary styles, including jazz (swing), rock, various Latin beats.
The audition normally is 30 minutes (drum set included). Substitutions for any of the above may be made by advance consultation with Gordon Stout, (607) 274-3427.
Requirements for all other music degrees:
Concert Snare Drum Solo
- Illustrating use of closed rolls, flams, ruffs, and rhythms
- Sight-reading
Timpani Solo
Illustrating use of rolls and rhythms
Timpani Ear Training
Demonstrating the ability to match pitches and tune the drums with the intervals of seconds, thirds, fourths, and fifths
Mallets
- Two- or four-mallet solo. Select music you feel represents the best of what you can perform at the time of your audition.
- All major and minor scales and arpeggios
- Sight-reading
General Audition Notes for Percussion
- It is fine if you do not have a four-mallet solo to play on marimba or vibes. Many students who come here have very little or no experience in this area. However, I would encourage you to play something with four mallets if you do have the experience.
- Multiple percussion solos are not recommended for the audition. Set-up time and logistics make this difficult.
- All required instruments will be provided for your warm-up and audition. You may bring your own snare drum or mallet instrument if it helps you to feel more comfortable. Do not plan on bringing your own drum set to the audition. Although I would most like to hear excellent performances on mallets, snare drum, timpani, and drum set, potential is equally important with achievement. Therefore, if you are not experienced in one or more areas of percussion, you are still encouraged to audition. Prepare whatever you can in your weaker areas of performance to help put together the best audition possible.
Requirements for B.M. degrees in performance, collaborative emphasis, and performance/music education:
- J. S. Bach: A prelude and fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier or three movements of a suite.
- A complete sonata by Beethoven (excluding op. 49), Schubert, or Mozart, or a Haydn sonata of comparable difficulty
- One large-scale (approximately 10 minutes) work or a group of shorter pieces from the 19th or 20th century representing lyrical and virtuoso styles
- Sight-reading
- All music is to be played from memory.
- For the collaborative emphasis program, an interview with the faculty conductor of the program is recommended.
Requirements for all other music degrees:
- A work of J. S. Bach
- A movement from a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven
- A third work of comparable difficulty of the candidate's choice (no jazz, pop, or self-composed pieces)
- Sight-reading
- All music is to be played from memory.
Requirements for minor in music:
- Three contrasting pieces (no jazz, pop, or self-composed pieces)
- One piece to be played from memory
Requirements for all degrees:
- At least two movements of a multi-movement work from the standard saxophone literature
- One shorter work in contrasting style (e.g., a movement from a larger piece, an étude, or a shorter piece)
- All major scales
- Sight-reading
Requirements for B.M. degrees in performance and performance/music education:
- One complete, multi-movement work from any historical period (concerto, sonata, or suite)
- Two shorter works in contrasting style (may be individual movements from longer works)
- Scales
- Sight-reading
Requirements for all other music degrees:
- Prepared solo piece(s)
- Scales
- Sight-reading
Requirements for all B.M. degrees:
- Two movements from a multi-movement work (concerto, sonata, or suite) from any historical period
- One shorter work in a contrasting style (e.g., individual movements from multi-movement works, études, or shorter pieces)
- All major scales from memory
- Sight-reading
All those auditioning are expected to perform without accompaniment.
Requirements for B.M. degrees in performance and performance/music education:
- One complete, multi-movement work (concerto, sonata, or suite) from any historical period
- Two shorter works in contrasting style (may be individual movements from longer works)
- All major and minor scales, in quarter notes, quarter = 120 minimum
Requirements for all other music degrees:
- All major scales
- Sight-reading
- Prepared solo
Requirements for B.M. degrees in performance and performance/music education:
- Concerto from standard violin repertoire -- first movement with cadenza memorized
- Two contrasting movements from solo J. S. Bach sonatas and partitas. Etude or study
- Three-octave scales and arpeggios in major and melodic minor
- Sight-reading
Requirements for all other music degrees
- Two contrasting works from the standard violin repertoire. Playing from memory on at least one work is preferred
- Etude or study
- Three-octave scales and arpeggios in major and melodic minor in two or more keys
- Sight-reading
Requirements for B.M. in performance and performance/music education:
- Movement from a major work -- concerto, sonata, or suite -- preferably playing from memory
- Two contrasting movements from the J. S. Bach unaccompanied suites
- Étude or study
- Three-octave major and melodic minor scales
- Sight-reading
Requirements for all other music degrees:
- Two contrasting works for the standard viola repertoire. Playing from memory on at least one work is preferred
- Étude or study
- Three-octave major and melodic minor scales in two or more keys
- Sight-reading
Requirements for B.M. degrees in performance and performance/music education:
- Four memorized songs chosen from classical solo voice literature only. These four songs should be one 16th- to 18th-century Italian song or aria; one 19th-century German or 20th-century German or French art song; one 20th-century American or British art song
- One additional song of your choice from traditional vocal literature. (Musical theater selections, jazz, or original compositions are not acceptable.)
Requirements for all other music degrees:
- Three memorized songs chosen from solo voice literature. These three songs must include one 16th- to 18th-century Italian art song or aria; one 20th-century British or American art song.
- One additional song of your choice from traditional vocal literature. (Musical theater selections, jazz, or original compositions are not acceptable.)
Note on Accompaniment:
You must provide your own accompanist if you choose to audition at a regional audition site. If you are auditioning at Ithaca College, it is preferable that you furnish your own accompanist. You may make arrangements through the music office (607-274-3366) to use an Ithaca College accompanist. Your music -- original copies -- and a check for $30 (made payable to Ithaca College School of Music -- non-refundable) must be received a minimum of two weeks prior to the audition date. Mail the music and check to
The School of Music
Director of Music Admission
3322 Whalen Center
Ithaca College
Ithaca, NY 14850-7240Recorded accompaniment is unacceptable. We cannot honor late requests for accompanists.
